Spectrum In The Soup Again

Spectrum Radio has been fined once again by the Radio Authority for breaching its Codes. The station breached the Authority’s News and Current Affairs Code and its Advertising and Sponsorship Code. The breaches occurred during two editions of a weekend phone-in programme that were hosted by a politician. The Authority was particularly dissatisfied with Spectrum’s failure to exert editorial control over its programme providers. The Authority judged that a politician was not a suitable host for a radio programme, unless another politician, with opposing viewpoints, was co-presenting In a separate edition of the programme the presenter endorsed a publication that he publishes. This was seen to compromise the impartially of the presenter’s programming role.

This is not the first time that Spectrum has been fined for breaching the Codes (see Newsline). The Authority has fined Spectrum £2,000 and has warned the station that any further breaches of this nature would be likely to incur more serious penalties.

Radio Authority: 0171 405 7058