Complaint
The programme included a report on the general election campaign in the Upper Bann constituency, followed by a discussion with two guests, one described as a 鈥減olitical commentator鈥 and the other as a 鈥渇ormer SDLP MLA鈥.聽 John O鈥橠owd, the Sinn Fein candidate in the constituency, complained that the latter was in no sense an independent commentator (having signed the nomination papers of his SDLP opponent) and that the item was unfair to him and lacked impartiality in relation to his party.
Outcome
The guest in question was not presented as an independent commentator, and the description of her as a 鈥渇ormer SDLP MLA鈥 gave listeners sufficient indication of her likely viewpoint.聽 However, she was given considerable opportunity to dispute Mr O鈥橠owd鈥檚 statement in the report that 鈥淭here鈥檚 only two parties that can win this seat. It鈥檚 either the DUP or Sinn Fein鈥 and to put the case for voting for the SDLP in the constituency.聽 While this did not amount to unfairness to Mr O鈥橠owd personally, it fell short of due impartiality in relation to his party.
Partly upheld
Further action
The management of 大象传媒 Northern Ireland briefed the teams involved on key learnings as these related to due impartiality and the handling of discussions of this sort. They subsequently took care to ensure that commentators who had signed the nomination papers for candidates in the general election were not invited to take part in constituency-specific discussions and also that any relevant party political affiliations were made clear to 大象传媒 audiences.