|
From The Chairman
20 July 2001
Dear Mr Boyd Hunt,
Complaint against Granada Television
We would like to thank you and Mr Gittos for coming into the ITC on 27 June to give oral evidence. We found it most helpful.
The Sub-Committee of the Commission has now had the opportunity to review and discuss in full your complaint. The Sub-Committee's view was that Granada Television did not breach the Programme Code in its coverage of the Neil Hamilton/Al Fayed affair. This view was recommended to the Commission and was approved by them on 19 July.
As I explained to you, when you met the Sub-Committee on 27 June, the purpose of the review was to consider whether Granada Television had covered the 'cash for questions' affair in accordance with its statutory requirement to maintain "due impartiality" in its news coverage. Having reviewed the relevant evidence (including oral and written statements as well as coverage broadcast on Granada's service), the Sub-Committee came to the view that the licensee had done so.
In particular, after careful consideration of the evidence the Commission took the view that Granada reflected a sufficient range of points of views in reporting this case and that "due impartiality" was accordingly maintained in its news service.
We are of course aware that you feel there was an obligation on Granada Television independently to examine the claims made by The Guardian. However, the ITC does not have a statutory locus to intervene in editorial judgements of this nature. We took account of the fact that your research received some coverage on regional BBC News, BBC News 24, and in the Daily Telegraph. But we also noted that Granada Television was far from being the only news outlet not to cover it.
It has not been, of course, for the Commission to reach a view on Neil Hamilton's guilt or innocence. Nor is the Commission's decision in any way a judgement on the quality of your work. We appreciate the dedication you have shown over the years to this issue.
As Michael Redley informed you in his letter of 5 April 2001, the Commission's decision is final. I know this outcome will be a disappointment to you but may I thank you again for giving evidence in person to the Sub-Committee.
Yours sincerely
|
|
