Ofcom, the UK's media watchdog, censured George Galloway and his radio show for broadcasts during the Gaza war. The BBC sums it up in a nutshell:
Ofcom ruled the show "crossed the line from legitimate and provocative debate" to one calling listeners to action.
However it also ruled the show did not break rules on offering opposing views.
Ofcom said that although Galloway did not in any way encourage or incite hatred or violence, he turned the debate into "active campaigning on a major matter of political controversy".
Times of London columnist Oliver Kamm disagrees with Ofcom's decision that Galloway was fair about presenting opposing views. Kamm writes:
Well, I was one of those guests (in "a blazing on-air row" according to an impeccable and respected source) and I'm unconvinced that Ofcom has got this right. I realised this only after our discussion, but Galloway made liberal use of the fader button to make sure that my replies to his questions were not heard. He would ask a question and block the answer from the airwaves after literally two or three seconds.
Now, some readers will doubtless think I should have been grateful to be a contributor to Galloway's programme and that the format of a radio programme is the prerogative of the host rather than the guest. But even so, the radio station itself acknowledged that my observation was correct. I have no doubt that Talksport has a sincere policy of allowing different points of view to be heard. But from my experience, that doesn't happen on Galloway's programme.
By the way, the Iranian public should censure Galloway too. Here's a great video of Galloway shilling for the mullahs on Iran's Press TV (video via Rob Breakenridge).
