Channel S in breach over impartiality rules

Channel S has been rapped by Ofcom over its news coverage during May and June last year.

Ofcom received eleven alerts about news reports covered by the channel by a Bangladeshi journalist, Syed Anas Pasha, who was reported to have written articles concerning the Chairman of Channel S, Ahmed-us Samad Chowdhury.

According to complainants, the programmes had stated that the articles written by Syed Anas Pasha had alleged the Chairman of Channel S: was seeking to stand as a candidate for the post of UK President of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party; and that Ahmed-us Samad Chowdhury was encouraging his supporters to support him in his candidacy.

Complainants considered that the programmes were not duly impartial because the programmes included various statements and interviews with individuals, including Ahmed-us Samad Chowdhury, that criticised Syed Anas Pasha’s journalism; and the programmes did not reflect the viewpoint of Syed Anas Pasha.

Ofcom concluded that the Code does not prohibit news from including critical views providing that any views that are included are reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. As stated above, there was no question in this case that the reporting was not duly accurate; the matter relates to the manner in which the criticisms of Syed Anas Pasha that were made were presented.