Complaint
Two viewers complained the programme used biased language when it described the Conservative activist Charlie Kirk as holding 鈥渇ar right views鈥. The ECU considered whether the phrase used met the 麻豆社鈥檚 editorial standards for due accuracy and impartiality.
Outcome
麻豆社 News has generally described Mr Kirk as a right-wing or conservative activist to reflect his role as an ally of President Trump and the founder of Turning Point USA, a group dedicated to promoting conservative views on college campuses. In a report in this bulletin, however, his political popularity was explained in the following terms: 鈥淢r Kirk built a huge and devoted following for his far-right views and his eagerness to debate with opponents鈥. The question of how best to describe Mr Kirk鈥檚 views is open to debate. However the ECU noted there was evidence to suggest some of the views he expressed publicly went beyond mainstream conservatism, particularly on issues such as race, immigration and Islam, and did not consider that the programme had departed from due accuracy or impartiality in this respect.
Not Upheld