Waitrose should not be allowed to veto Glenn Beck
I’m certainly no fan of Fox News’s Glenn Beck, wonderfully profiled here by Charlie Brooker, but I’m troubled by the news that Waitrose has pulled advertising from his show all the same.
It seems that in the United States, attempting to influence news by targeting advertisers is an acceptable campaign tool and Waitrose is following the lead of many US brands in removing its advertising from the Glenn Beck show.
Here in the UK we work much harder to preserve the editorial/advertising divide. While we allow programme sponsorship, the rules on what sponsors get for their money are strict and mere advertisers get even less.
It’s naive to expect that advertising will not influence programme making at all. Profit seeking television companies need to deliver lucrative audiences to advertisers, which means they will tend to chase younger more affluent viewers the hardest. But this is a long way from allowing an advertiser a direct say — or veto — over programme content and that’s the way it should be.
Comments (2 comments)
Why not? If an advertiser were taking this kind of stand against ITV News, then you might have a point, But then ITV news, like all broadcasters in the UK is bound by the broadcasting act and isn’t able to generate the kind of partisan nonsense that Beck and his fellow commentators broadcast on a daily basis. Therefore, it’s not likely that a UK broadcaster could be influenced by advertisers… is it? Or am I being naive? [insert conspiracy theories and / or media studies A level arguments about inherent, ideological bias of the media owners / bourgeoisie here]
We’re talking about a company, committed to some good values, listening to its customers and making a decision not to be associated with this rubbish. More power to them.
An interesting point might be why the Glenn Beck show is allowed to be aired in the UK. Strictly speaking, although it covers US politics, it isn’t adhering to ‘due impartiality’. One for you to refer to Ofcom, there Stephen? While it still exists?
Finally, anything that damages the interests of News International is fine in my book. Murdoch and family have spent too long being able to broker power in the UK. Hell, I might even vote Labour, just to spite them.
Stephen Bray / October 6th, 2009, 1:06 am / #
Sure, but what if Esso wanted to censor C4? Where would it end?
Stephen Newton / October 6th, 2009, 3:49 pm / #
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