The Muslim Council of Britain rejects the framing by the ex Ofcom Chair, Michael Grade who recently claimed that GB News produces content that reflects the “agenda of the majority”. We know that the UK is a diverse nation in which people from different backgrounds and faith communities can live well together.
Content produced by the channel is not simply a matter of ‘different editorial choices’, it has a well documented history of misinformation, partial and misleading content which promotes fear and division between communities. The Centre for Media Monitoring in their 2024 Report titled ‘GB News: A Snapshot of Anti-Muslim Hate’ that GB News leads its editorial agenda with bias towards misrepresenting Muslims and Islam disproportionately as extremists and as a threat to British society. It openly leans into conspiracy around Muslims and other minority communities.
Ofcom must uphold its principles and standards of impartiality in how reporting is delivered in the wider media, review its framework in relation to current affairs programmes, and strengthen its role as the media watchdog by including mechanisms which challenge blatant bias towards Muslims as well as other minority groups in a discriminatory, hateful and prejudiced manner which put communities at great risk of harm.
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