Media Democracy Festival disrupted by GB News reporter days before warning over “integrity and credibility” risks
A GB News reporter disrupted an annual Media Democracy Festival in Sheffield, two days before the organisation was criticised by Ofcom for its use of politicians as presenters.
The Ofcom code specifies politicians can't be used as presenters unless it is, exceptionally, editorially justified.
But during a panel discussion on Saturday titled "How to solve a problem like GB News", its reporter Charlie Peters claimed that "GB News was Britain’s number one news channel on at least one day last week", and said there was a place for the channel in today’s media landscape.
After the event, GB News published an article saying Mr Peters went along to see “what the panelists and audience at this lefty convention might say about us.”
Controversial internet personality Oli London posted on X: “Media democracy? More like media dictatorship wanting to silence Britain’s most popular news channel that speaks up for the British people.”
The statement issued by Ofcom after its investigation into having three MPs as hosts said: "In our view, the use of politicians to present the news risks undermining the integrity and credibility of regulated broadcast news."
After the event, the Media Reform Coalition said: "We were grateful that a GB News reporter attended the Festival and engaged constructively in the debate during the audience Q&A.
"This is in stark contrast to the mock outrage from his on-air colleagues at GB News, who have spent the last week attacking the Media Democracy Festival for daring to hold a free, public discussion about the channel.
"The panel's discussions on GB News have proved to be especially timely, given that the media regulator Ofcom has today ruled that GB News programming breached broadcasting standards for the 12th time in two years.
"We have always rejected the cynical implication by GB News that organising a public debate on the media in this country is a threat to freedom of speech. On the contrary, these kinds of discussions should be welcomed and celebrated as essential to a healthy democracy."
The festival’s initial advertisement for the talk on X (formerly Twitter) received backlash, with over 1,000 replies criticising what commenters saw as an unjustified attack on the channel.
The panel discussion on GB News focused on the regulation of the channel and the impact it has on the media landscape. During the talk, speaker Marcela Pizarro, former Al Jazeera producer, said that the “global rise of the far-right movement” was “relevant to this topic.”
Helen Belcher, of Trans Media Watch, said: “As a trans person I’ve not been brave enough to watch GB News.”
The panel also featured journalist and broadcaster Michael Crick, as well as Faisal Hanif from the Centre for Media Monitoring.
The Media Reform Coalition rejected the implication that the event was a threat to free speech, with Chair Tom Mills claiming the talk focused on obligations surrounding due impartiality.
The day also featured talks titled ‘The Media’s War on Gaza’, and ‘General Election 2024: Priorities for media reform’.
The closing keynote was delivered by Paul Fleming, General Secretary of Equity.
Back-to-back wins set up Steelers for historic season
A thrilling weekend of hockey for the Sheffield Steelers resulted in consecutive wins.
On Saturday night, the Steelers eked past the Nottingham Panthers in a tense 3-2 shootout win, their first match since their electric Challenge Cup Final win.
Aaron Fox said: “[I was] hopeful that the boys could find a way past Rok today. The ice was not great tonight so you weren’t seeing many moves or dekes, it was more of a shooting penalty shot tonight and just happy we were able to find a way [to win].”
The Steelers, fresh off winning their first Challenge Cup since 2020, are looking to claim its first Elite League championship since 2016 and first playoff championship since 2017.
Saturday’s game was gripping from the outset as the Steelers put contrast pressure on the Panthers. The Steelers were unable to find the back of the net as Panthers’ goaltender Rok Stojanovic routinely flashed his glove and pad, saving all of the Steelers’ 15 shots on goal in the first period.
Marc-Olivier Vallerand opened the scoring in the second period, giving the Steelers its first lead of the game. Vallerand deked towards the goal, missing his first shot attempt off Stojanovic’s pad, before knocking in an unassisted chip-shot goal off the rebound.
The Panthers quickly responded in less than two minutes thanks to a Westin Michaud goal, levelling the score to 1-1. The Steelers successfully killed off a two-minute slashing penalty by Brett Neumann before closing out the second period tied.
Following a Steelers two-minute minor penalty for too many men on the ice, the Panthers took a 2-1 lead on an Otto Nieminen power play goal, but the Steelers levelled the score within four minutes after English-born captain Robert Dowd knocked in the tying score.
In the three vs three sudden-death overtime period, the Steelers peppered Stojanovic with shots but were routinely denied, and a five shot penalty shootout ensued.
After a denial on the first penalty shot, Vallerand took an early lead in the shootout before the Panthers’ Lunsjo tied it up. Forward Patrick Watling claimed the lead for the Steelers after he calmly glided towards the crease and nailed the puck in the back of the net.
Both the Steelers and Panthers saw shots bounce off the post and crossbar while the tension mounted but a stellar performance throughout the game and into the shootout by Matthew Greenfield gave the home side a win. He denied the Panthers’ final attempt and erupted with… before being mobbed by his teammates on the ice.
The success continued into the following day, after the Steelers thrashed the Blaze 7-3. They opened the game with two goals in the opening two minutes, part of a four game first period.
Vallerand and Daniel Ciampini both scored two goals on the offensive end, while defensively, the Steelers were able to kill four Blaze power plays.
The Steelers travel to Cardiff this Wednesday to face the second place Devils.
Two more Tory peers take seats on red benches in House of Lords
A leading barrister and a former council chief have taken their seats on the Tory benches in the House of Lords.
Lord Banner KC wore the traditional scarlet robes for the short introduction ceremony in the Lords, where he swore the oath of allegiance to the King.
The 43-year-old, who was called to the Bar in 2004 and has lectured in law at Oxford, was supported by fellow Conservative peers Lord Blencathra and Lord Wolfson of Tredegar KC.
Also joining the unelected chamber was Lord Jamieson, who previously led Central Bedfordshire Council and chaired the Local Government Association.
Conservative MP says government makes it “difficult” for long-term sick to access financial support
The Government makes it “difficult” for the long-term sick to access financial support when they are unable to work, a Conservative MP told the Commons.
Duncan Baker (North Norfolk) said a constituent of his who is being treated for cancer had difficulty accessing universal credit and Personal Independence Payments (PIP). He added: “Why should she have to come to my office, an MP’s office to get help, when someone is seriously ill? Why do we make it so arduous and difficult to give people that need treatment help?”
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: “My department does a great deal to support the long-term sick and disabled, including through the universal credit and health element and also through PIP.”
He added that he would meet with Mr Baker to look at his constituent’s circumstances in more detail.
Labour MP Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) called for the “flawed and outdated” PIP system to be replaced with a “framework that is fit for purpose”.
Mr Stride replied: “We always keep all benefits under review at the department, including PIP and the assessment processes. There is quite rightly as (Marsha De Cordova) points out, an appeals process for those who are not happy with the conclusions of those assessments, we keep those under review.”
Obama arrives at Downing Street for private meeting
Former US president Barack Obama has arrived at Downing Street for an undisclosed private meeting.
Mr Obama, who served in the White House from 2009 to 2017, smiled and waved at members of the press before he entered No 10 shortly after 3pm.
‘Controlling and coercive’ man jailed for 14 years for manslaughter of his baby
A “controlling and coercive” father who shook his three-month-old daughter, causing her un-survivable head injuries, has been jailed for 14 years.
Samuel Warnock, 29, of Devizes in Wiltshire, previously pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court to the manslaughter of Maya Warnock in 2021.
His wife and Maya’s mother, Jasmine Warnock, 29, was also sentenced to a three-year community order with 30 rehabilitation days after pleading guilty to child cruelty for failing to stop her husband from assaulting their daughter.
Sentencing the pair, the judge, Mrs Justice May, said that the death came against a background of domestic abuse by Warnock against his wife.
She described Warnock as a “reckless and irresponsible new father, prone to anger, easily frustrated, profoundly needy and dangerously incapable of caring properly for a tiny new baby”.
The judge told Mrs Warnock: “You are to some extent a victim of controlling and coercive behaviour and this impacted your ability to recognise what he was doing but it didn’t render you entirely powerless.”
Unions concerned at proposals for Channel 4 regional production budget
Unions have raised concerns about Ofcom proposals which could allow Channel 4 to allocate 91% of its production budget to projects in England.
The broadcasting regulator is consulting on the licence renewal for Channel 4 as the current licence ends on December 31 this year.
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), representing a number of unions which work in broadcasting, says the “made outside England” quota should be increased to at least 16%, with a specific Scottish quota of 8%.
Union leaders say Scottish production companies could lose out under the proposals and a joint letter has been sent to Channel 4 and Ofcom.
Francesco Acerbi leaves Italy camp in wake of racist abuse allegation
Francesco Acerbi has left the Italy national squad ahead of upcoming friendlies in the United States after he was alleged to have racially abused Napoli defender Juan Jesus.
The Inter Milan defender is alleged to have racially abused Brazil international Jesus in Sunday’s 1-1 draw in Serie A, something Acerbi has denied.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said Acerbi has explained his version of events to Italy coach Luciano Spalletti and his team-mates and it has been agreed he will take no part in games against Venezuela and Ecuador.
A statement on the FIGC website read: “Francesco Acerbi, who arrived at the national team camp in Rome this morning, explained to head coach, Luciano Spalletti, and his team-mates his version of the alleged racist expression reported by Juan Jesus during Inter vs Napoli last night, as required by the internal policy of Club Italia.
“From the Nerazzurri defender’s report, in waiting for what happened to be reconstructed in compliance with the autonomy of sporting justice, it emerged that there was no defamatory, denigrating or racist intent on his part.
“However, it was agreed that Acerbi should be left out of the squad for the next two friendlies scheduled in the United States in order to let things settle for the national team and the player himself, who will return to his club today.
“As a result, Roma defender Gianluca Mancini, who was already part of a reserved squad list, has been called up.”
An Inter statement added: “FC Internazionale Milano takes note of the official statement released by the FIGC in relation to the events involving Francesco Acerbi during last night’s match against Napoli, and of the fact that FIGC and Acerbi have agreed that the player will not be involved in the national team’s next two friendlies scheduled in the United States.
“FC Internazionale Milano will meet with the player as soon as possible to shed light on the exact details of what happened last night.”
Starmer praises Sadiq Khan’s push for clean air in London after Ulez controversy
Sir Keir Starmer has praised Sadiq Khan’s commitment to clean air in London after last year urging the mayor to “reflect” on the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez).
The Labour leader, who lives in north-west London, said he did not want his children to “breathe in dirty air” as he appeared alongside Mr Khan for the launch of the mayor’s re-election campaign.
The Ulez scheme was expanded last August to cover the entirety of Greater London, a controversial move overseen by Mr Khan.
Sheffield kebab shop food hygiene rating drops to zero
The food hygiene rating at a Sheffield kebab shop has dropped from one to zero after mouse droppings and mould were found on the premises.
Adnan’s Fried Chicken on West Street, which serves up kebabs, fried chicken, pizzas, burgers have been told “urgent improvements are necessary”.
Police appeal for missing Doncaster woman
South Yorkshire Police are appealing for information about a Doncaster woman that was last seen on 14 March.
Shirley, aged 66, who also goes by the name of Pam, was last seen at 7:40pm leaving a property on Winchester Avenue in the Wheatley area of Doncaster.
Anyone who has seen Shirley has been asked to contact South Yorkshire Police.
Police appeal for missing Doncaster woman
South Yorkshire Police are appealing for information about a Doncaster woman that was last seen on 14 March.
Shirley, aged 66, who also goes by the name of Pam, was last seen at 7:40pm leaving a property on Winchester Avenue in the Wheatley area of Doncaster.
Anyone who has seen Shirley has been asked to contact South Yorkshire Police.