THE requirement for impartiality in broadcast news has led to focus on spin rather than substance, according to a survey of broadcast journalists carried out by the Institute for Public Policy Research.

The IPPR is calling for a radical reform of the impartiality requirement in the Communications Bill.

The survey formed part of the research for a new book on the future of broadcast news, "New News: Impartial Broadcasting in the Digital Age", edited by Damian Tambini and Jamie Cowling which is published on Friday (July 12).

The survey found that while 70 per cent of respondents think that news is impartial in terms of political parties, only 56 per cent think that news does not represent the range of opinions in UK society.

Asked to consider the problems caused by the impartiality requirement, the overwhelming response was the danger of lapsing into 'dull news which fails to engage' according to a Channel 4 editor.

One BBC journalist suggested that "there is always a danger of producing bland broadcasting which recites fatuous argument, fails to expose the truth, and encourages laziness."

"It gives too much voice to people who do not deserve it," according to a BBC Radio 4 journalist. It amounts to "giving equal time to some of the most boring people on earth", according to a BBC producer. Tweet