THE GUARDIAN:
· BBC fears lost generation as audiences dwindle
The media watchdog Ofcom warned yesterday that one of the only ways to get young people and ethnic minorities to engage with television news might be to sweep away impartiality rules, ushering in opinionated bulletins and more politicised news channels.
In the US, where there are no rules demanding impartiality in television news, the rightwing network Fox News has won viewers at the expense of traditional bulletins.
Ofcom said that discarding restrictions for broadcasters other than the main public service channels might lead to a wider range of voices and help re-engage viewers turned off by the homogeneity of views elsewhere. It said the requirement for impartiality may have "fostered a middle-of-the-road culture" in mainstream news.
A recent BBC study into impartiality also called for a more sophisticated approach to reflect a wider diversity of views. TV news 'a turn-off for young and ethnic minorities' (more) By Owen Gibson
Mark Alexander
