Page 97 - An Introduction to Political Communication Fifth Edition

Intro to Politics Communication (5th edn)-p.qxp 9/2/11 10:55 Page 76

POLITICS IN THE AGE OF MEDIATION
British broadcasting, as has been described, is bound by strict rules of
impartiality, which inevitably constrain the extent to which journalists can
match the strongly opinionated pundits of the press. They must be seen and
heard to be scrupulously fair, balanced and neutral, at least with regard to
constitutional politicians of the mainstream party system. We have already
noted the oft-made criticism of broadcast news for its deviations from the
ideal of ‘impartiality’, and the suggestion that in reality it contains a deep
structural bias towards the status quo. Our concern here, however, is with
the broadcasters’ tendency, and legally imposed responsibility in the interests
of a strong and healthy democracy, not to take sides in political disputes.
One expression of this impartiality is the broadcasters’ role as transmitters
of political discourse. The press can report what a politician says, but the
broadcasters can transmit it live, in colour. Despite the controversy which
accompanied the first live broadcasts of Parliament, on radio and then
television, it has now become an accepted component of the British political
process (Hetherington et al., 1990; Franklin, 1992). Live transmission on the
main channels remains restricted to Prime Minister’s Question Time and
special occasions, but has gradually expanded (helped by Sky News) into a
range of ‘review’ programmes which give the interested viewer and listener
a more substantial overview of parliamentary business.
In 1992 a consortium of British cable operators set up the Parliamentary
Channel, a non-profit service transmitting live coverage of debates in the
Houses of Commons and Lords, the proceedings of select committees, and
sessions of the European parliament. The service was taken over by the BBC
in August 1998 and renamed BBC Parliament. Although as yet watched only
by a small number of cable and freeview subscribers, it has expanded its
reach in the digital era. Through this output the citizen encounters, in a
uniquely raw and unedited fashion, the process of political debate, and may
judge the performances of participants accordingly.

Debates and talk-shows
Another format in which the broadcaster can provide a platform for the
exchange of political views is the structured debate programme, exemplified
by the BBC’s Question Time on television and Any Questions on radio. On
these programmes an impartial chairperson presides over a debate between
four or five participants, usually grouped into, broadly-speaking, right, left,
and centre (though non-politicians are also included). The ‘public’ makes
their contribution by asking questions which the panelists must answer,
prodded and shepherded when necessary by the presenter. Here, one might
argue, the liberal democratic role of broadcasting is found in its purest form,
mediating between the public and its politicians, providing the former with
access to raw political discourse, and providing the politicians with a channel
of direct access to the people.

76