Ofcom'un radyo ve televizyon yayıncılığında gerekli tarafsızlık kararları: Azınlık ve yabancı kanallar örneği

This study investigates UK communications regulator Ofcom's decisions regarding due impartiality complaints it received from the public about radio and television broadcasters. Specifically, it examines the behaviour of Ofcom while investigating or dismissing the complaints on due impartiality, and reporting the results of investigations to the public for domestic mainstream channels and minority or foreign channels. Decisions made between September 2013 and September 2014 on due impartiality complaints and Ofcom's reports regarding the decisions were analysed. Accordingly, complaints about minority and foreign channels were more likely to lead to full Ofcom investigations than complaints about domestic mainstream channels. Additionally, while reports on cases of minority and foreign channels provided more references to the transcripts of the programmes, reports on domestic mainstream channels provided more references to legal and regulatory texts and statements from the complainants. The differences found here show that results of investigations on minority and foreign channels are reported and explained based heavily on content as a proof of misconduct.