Ofcom has issued new censorship rules to broadcasters about politicians presenting news The guidance, which comes into force immediately, reflects the modern news landscape and sets guardrails for broadcasters who use politicians as presenters in
programmes that include news. Specifically, our revised guidance explains the interaction between our due accuracy and due impartiality in news rule (5.1 under the Broadcasting Code), and the rule which prevents politicians from presenting news
programmes (5.3). It also updates the definition of politician to provide greater clarity. Access to duly accurate and duly impartial news on television and radio is fundamental to a democratic society. As such, broadcast news is afforded a higher
level of protection under UK law compared to non-news content. The news landscape has evolved in recent years. The distinction between news and current affairs content has become more blurred for audiences [3] , and while politicians presenting
current affairs programmes isnt new, it has become a more established editorial practice. Responses to our consultation were polarised, reflecting the broad range of views overall, and there was a high level of consensus amongst broadcasters in favour
of retaining the wording of Rule 5.3. Many respondents were concerned that amending Rule 5.3 would introduce significant practical challenges and operational uncertainty for broadcasters, and that it would inadvertently result in a de facto ban on
politicians presenting any kind of programmes. Our decision in detail The wording of Rule 5.3 will remain unchanged. Instead, we have decided that there is sufficient protection for audiences through the existing combination of Rules
5.1 and 5.3, but we have issued amended Guidance to make the relationship between them clearer, and more relevant to the modern news landscape. Specifically, we have decided to: update our Guidance to Rule 5.1, which states that news, in
whatever form, must be reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. Our amendments make explicit that if an MP presented news in a non-news programme, then their status as an MP would likely be a relevant factor in
considering whether that news was presented with due impartiality. We explain that we would also take into account all other relevant factors -- including, for example, the nature and subject of the news in question and the MPs political position on that
issue. The new guidance also signposts that where politicians present news in news programmes, Rule 5.3 applies. update our Guidance to Rule 5.3 , which states that no politician may be used as a newsreader, interviewer or reporter in
any news programmes unless, exceptionally, it is editorially justified . In that case, the political allegiance of that person must be made clear to the audience.
Our amended guidance offers further clarification on the meaning of
exceptional circumstances -- defined as those which cannot be controlled or foreseen by the broadcaster. We also make clear that we would expect such situations to be rare, and for licensees who use politicians as presenters to put appropriate
contingency arrangements in place to avoid these situations. update the definition of politician in our Guidance The new definition now includes a reference to members of the House of Lords and representatives of political
parties, while the reference to activists has been removed. These changes to the Guidance come into force from today. Politicians as presenters in non-news programmes, including current affairs programmes There is no Ofcom rule that prevents a
politician from presenting or appearing on a TV or radio programme -- providing they arent standing in an election taking place, or about to take place, and that the programme otherwise complies with the Broadcasting Code | 
