Stephen Cushion
@stephencushion.bsky.social
📤 246
📥 98
📝 226
Professor of journalism & political communication at Cardiff University & night time 🚖 for my kids
reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Dr Keighley Perkins
about 7 hours ago
New research by the Impartiality project team (
@stephencushion.bsky.social
,
@mattwalshjourno.bsky.social
,
@maxwellmodell.bsky.social
& myself) tracked coverage of the Greens on BBC & ITV News at 10. 🔗
tinyurl.com/yzmeujxm
🧵👇
#impartiality
#GreenParty
#GortonandDenton
#byelection
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Why isn’t the Greens’ growing success reflected in media coverage?
Greens have not received more airtime in recognition of their growing popularity.
https://tinyurl.com/yzmeujxm
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Matt Walsh
3 days ago
Write up of our latest research on impartiality, and why the Greens are still struggling for a broadcast breakthrough
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Why isn’t the Greens’ growing success reflected in media coverage?
Greens have not received more airtime in recognition of their growing popularity.
https://theconversation.com/why-isnt-the-greens-growing-success-reflected-in-media-coverage-277137?utm_medium=article_native_share
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Maxwell Modell
3 days ago
New blog! The
@greenparty.org.uk
striking victory brings into focus how the broadcasters treat the party. Despite sustained improvements in opinion ratings, our new research suggests broadcasters still treat them as a minor party of little electoral significance.
tinyurl.com/35yzcsas
(1/6)
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After winning the by-election, should the Greens be given more airtime? — Researching the impartiality of political news
News programmes are leading their coverage this morning with the Greens’ historic victory in the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election – the first the party has ever achieved. But our new resear...
https://tinyurl.com/35yzcsas
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Our new research about the Green Party well summarised below 👇
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3 days ago
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Steph Brawn
about 1 month ago
EXCL: SNP appearances plummet and right-wing journos appear twice as often as left-wing...🤔 Some intriguing findings by media experts at
@cardiffuni.bsky.social
about Question Time in 2025👀 Thanks to
@maxwellmodell.bsky.social
for sharing insights!
www.thenational.scot/news/2577777...
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SNP appearances on BBC Question Time plummet, new research shows
SNP appearances on Question Time have dramatically dropped in the last year compared to the previous decade, fresh research by experts has revealed.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/25777778.snp-appearances-bbc-question-time-plummet-experts-find/
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Dr Keighley Perkins
about 1 month ago
A new blog from the Enhancing the Impartiality of News project takes a look at who appeared on Question Time throughout 2025 & what those guest choices reveal about how the programme interprets political balance. 🔗
bit.ly/4jLeYY2
🧵👇
#BBC
#QuestionTime
#impartiality
#impartialityproject
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The impartiality of Question Time: An analysis of panellists in 2025 — Researching the impartiality of political news
The BBC’s weekly debate political programme, Question Time , has long been a magnet for controversy. And 2025 has been no different, with critics regularly questioning its impartiality, most often be...
http://bit.ly/4jLeYY2
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Maxwell Modell
about 1 month ago
With Question Time returning to our screens for 2026, we decided to look back at who appeared on the programme in 2025 to assess how producers interpreted impartiality when selecting panellists, updating
@mattwalshjourno.bsky.social
's study of panellists from 2014-2024.
tinyurl.com/yc77s5mp
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The impartiality of Question Time: An analysis of panellists in 2025 — Researching the impartiality of political news
The BBC’s weekly debate political programme, Question Time , has long been a magnet for controversy. And 2025 has been no different, with critics regularly questioning its impartiality, most often be...
https://tinyurl.com/yc77s5mp
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Dr Keighley Perkins
about 2 months ago
🧵 7/7 The Impartiality Project consists of
@stephencushion.bsky.social
,
@mattwalshjourno.bsky.social
,
@maxwellmodell.bsky.social
& myself.
#impartiality
#impartialityproject
#politicalcommunication
#polsky
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Rise of Reform's coverage in TV coverage through 2025 well illustrated in our new
@cujournmedcul.bsky.social
study 👇
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2 months ago
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
David Leask
3 months ago
I must admit I have absolutely no understanding of TV news but I can see why devolution and the end of two-party politics pose big challenges for flagship network bulletins. Are BBC/ITN editors getting the balance right?
www.thetimes.com/article/0e0f...
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Little airtime for Scottish politics on UK news TV, study finds
Reform got the most coverage in BBC and ITV’s evening bulletins, while the SNP featured in only 38 items across nine months, researchers said
https://www.thetimes.com/article/0e0f264b-617e-40b2-af9b-f087b4beac25?shareToken=28429c5494a3afa116040fcff959fa02
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Our new Cardiff University study picked up in the
@thelondoneconomic.bsky.social
👇
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3 months ago
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Stephen Cushion
The London Economic
3 months ago
In September, Reform overtook the Tories as the most referenced oppositional party on the BBC and ITV News at Ten programmes
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Our new Cardiff University study featured today in
@scotnational.bsky.social
👇
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3 months ago
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Dr Keighley Perkins
3 months ago
In our latest blog, we (
@stephencushion.bsky.social
,
@mattwalshjourno.bsky.social
,
@maxwellmodell.bsky.social
& myself) analyse how BBC News at Ten & ITV News at Ten cover opposition parties & their leaders. 🔗
tinyurl.com/5ypk7wv4
#impartialityproject
#politicaljournalism
#mediastandards
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Exclusive: Reform overtakes the Conservatives in media mentions
New research from Cardiff University finds Reform is now treated as the opposition party on mainstream news shows
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/12/exclusive-reform-overtakes-the-conservatives-in-media-mentions
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Rachel Cunliffe
3 months ago
Exclusive: Reform overtook the Tories as the most referenced opposition party on both the BBC and ITV. “Reform UK was the dominant party in more than twice as many stories as the Conservatives and just under four times more stories than the Liberal Democrats."
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
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Exclusive: Reform overtakes the Conservatives in media mentions
New research from Cardiff University finds Reform is now treated as the opposition party on mainstream news shows
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/12/exclusive-reform-overtakes-the-conservatives-in-media-mentions
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Our new study 🚨'Are broadcasters reflecting multi-party politics in the UK? An analysis of BBC News at Ten and ITV News at Ten in 2025' written up brilliantly by
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social
in The
@newstatesman1913.bsky.social
Thread with headlines:
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
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Exclusive: Reform overtakes the Conservatives in media mentions
New research from Cardiff University finds Reform is now treated as the opposition party on mainstream news shows
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/12/exclusive-reform-overtakes-the-conservatives-in-media-mentions
3 months ago
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Laura Phillips
3 months ago
“While our study found no breaches of the UK's rules on due impartiality, we concluded that broadcasters may want to execute some caution when reporting parties on the basis of setting the political weather – otherwise it could encourage parties to adopt extreme positions/policies”
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BBC use wide range of criteria to allocate airtime to parties - our new research suggests they’re relying more on opinion polls and which party sets the political weather which is why Reform now covered more than Cons in evening bulletins:
bsky.app/profile/step...
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3 months ago
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Samira Ahmed
3 months ago
BBC coverage of Nigel Farage and Reform UK under scrutiny on latest Newswatch. From midnight Fri on link/Sat 745am on BBC1 Breakfast
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
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BBC News - Newswatch, 13/12/2025
Your views on the coverage of events by BBC News.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002nqk0
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You can see how far flagship tv bulletins covered the greens in this new study:
bsky.app/profile/step...
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3 months ago
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Sunder Katwala (sundersays)
3 months ago
Research illuminates what different people do think and don't think about when hearing about "illegal immigration" or "illegal immigrants" in media, political and policy discourse
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Maxwell Modell
3 months ago
Detailed summary of our latest report on opposition party coverage in broadcast news 👇
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Our new study 🚨'Are broadcasters reflecting multi-party politics in the UK? An analysis of BBC News at Ten and ITV News at Ten in 2025' written up brilliantly by
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social
in The
@newstatesman1913.bsky.social
Thread with headlines:
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
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Exclusive: Reform overtakes the Conservatives in media mentions
New research from Cardiff University finds Reform is now treated as the opposition party on mainstream news shows
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/12/exclusive-reform-overtakes-the-conservatives-in-media-mentions
3 months ago
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Great summary of our Caerphilly by election media study 👇
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3 months ago
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Dr Keighley Perkins
4 months ago
A new article by
@stephencushion.bsky.social
for
@theconversation.com
highlights while the BBC is no stranger to accusations of bias, the Prescott memo is far from the rigorous assessment many assumed it to be. 🔗
tinyurl.com/3cx8edjp
🧵👇
#journalism
#journalismstudies
#BBC
#mediareporting
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BBC bias? The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands
The Prescott memo contained no research questions or objectives, method, sample, time frame or, crucially, analytical framework for examining output.
https://tinyurl.com/3cx8edjp
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
@bobhudson.bsky.social
4 months ago
The roof is falling in at the BBC on the back of the Prescott investigation, but the report itself is badly flawed. Good piece here by
@stephencushion.bsky.social
.
theconversation.com/bbc-bias-the...
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BBC bias? The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands
The Prescott memo contained no research questions or objectives, method, sample, time frame or, crucially, analytical framework for examining output.
https://theconversation.com/bbc-bias-the-prescott-memo-falls-well-short-of-the-standards-of-impartiality-it-demands-269576?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20November%2017%202025%20-%203583336575&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20November%2017%202025%20-%203583336575+CID_6119c596205f54d161660842007e7f9b&utm_source=campaign_monitor_uk&utm_term=BBC%20bias%20The%20Prescott%20memo%20falls%20well%20short%20of%20the%20standards%20of%20impartiality%20it%20demands
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Ian Fraser
4 months ago
The Prescott memo which sparked chaos at the BBC was in no sense a rigorous, systematic or scientific document. All it did was cherrypick a few examples of alleged bias, as well as a couple of mistakes. So why isn’t the memo being put under greater scrutiny, asks
@stephencushion.bsky.social
?
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BBC bias? The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands
The Prescott memo contained no research questions or objectives, method, sample, time frame or, crucially, analytical framework for examining output.
https://theconversation.com/bbc-bias-the-prescott-memo-falls-well-short-of-the-standards-of-impartiality-it-demands-269576
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Raymond Deane
4 months ago
BBC bias? The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands
theconversation.com/bbc-bias-the...
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BBC bias? The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands
The Prescott memo contained no research questions or objectives, method, sample, time frame or, crucially, analytical framework for examining output.
https://theconversation.com/bbc-bias-the-prescott-memo-falls-well-short-of-the-standards-of-impartiality-it-demands-269576?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=bylineblueskybutton
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Robert Reiner
4 months ago
theconversation.com/bbc-bias-the...
Claims of bias against the BBC in the recent furore rest on the ‘Prescott Report’. Apart from the wrongful editing of Trump on Panorama for which the BBC has apologised the claims do not meet normal research standards, as this expert refutation shows.
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BBC bias? The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands
The Prescott memo contained no research questions or objectives, method, sample, time frame or, crucially, analytical framework for examining output.
https://theconversation.com/bbc-bias-the-prescott-memo-falls-well-short-of-the-standards-of-impartiality-it-demands-269576?utm_medium=article_native_share&utm_source=theconversation.com
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Laura Phillips
4 months ago
And as
@stephencushion.bsky.social
has written ‘The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands’
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BBC bias? The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands
The Prescott memo contained no research questions or objectives, method, sample, time frame or, crucially, analytical framework for examining output.
https://theconversation.com/bbc-bias-the-prescott-memo-falls-well-short-of-the-standards-of-impartiality-it-demands-269576
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Michael Savage
4 months ago
NEW: What on earth happened at the BBC this week? And why would anyone want to replace Tim Davie? The behind the scenes concerns about this week’s impact on the BBC’s future:
www.theguardian.com/media/ng-int...
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‘Not for the faint-hearted’: is running the BBC an impossible job?
After Tim Davie’s resignation, the next director general will face internal strife, external noise and looming talks over the corporation’s existence and purpose
https://www.theguardian.com/media/ng-interactive/2025/nov/15/is-running-the-bbc-an-impossible-job?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
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Our new
@cujournmedcul.bsky.social
analysis of the Prescott Memo - the research informing was not impartial. We need more rigorous and robust research 👇
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4 months ago
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Laura Phillips
4 months ago
“Broadly speaking, we have not found evidence of any systemic [
#BBC
]
#bias
as alleged in the
#Prescott
memo. Nor have we alleged flagrant breaches of broadcast
#impartiality
. We have, however, identified blind spots where more context, background and explanation would help audiences…”
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Stephen Cushion
Maxwell Modell
4 months ago
Excellent article from
@stephencushion.bsky.social
interrogating the quality of evidence in the Prescott memo and whether it proves its claims of systematic bias in the BBC. Ultimately, it is a rallying cry for robust, transparent and clearly evidenced research into the impartiality.
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Stephen Cushion
Samira Ahmed
4 months ago
Talking about the BBC News crisis to
@markurban.bsky.social
& former dep chief exec of BBC News Richard Ayre for latest BBC Newswatch. From midnight Fri on link or BBC1 Sat 745am
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
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BBC News - Newswatch, 15/11/2025
Your views on the coverage of events by BBC News.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002mj70
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I’ve just published a new article in the
@uk.theconversation.com
entitled 'BBC bias? The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands’ Thread 1/8:
theconversation.com/bbc-bias-the...
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BBC bias? The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands
The Prescott memo contained no research questions or objectives, method, sample, time frame or, crucially, analytical framework for examining output.
https://theconversation.com/bbc-bias-the-prescott-memo-falls-well-short-of-the-standards-of-impartiality-it-demands-269576
4 months ago
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Is there political bias at BBC Wales News - favouring
@plaidcymru.bsky.social
? Our new systematic study of the Caerphilly by-election coverage on BBC TV, online and social media found NO evidence supporting this allegation - BBC Wales broadly balanced coverage of the major parties 👇
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4 months ago
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reposted by
Stephen Cushion
Dr Keighley Perkins
4 months ago
Since joining the impartiality project, I’ve been been diving into debates on impartiality (trying to catch up with
@stephencushion.bsky.social
,
@mattwalshjourno.bsky.social
&
@maxwellmodell.bsky.social
!). Nick Bradshaw’s new IDA piece is a must-read. 🔗
tinyurl.com/ycxkbu8s
🧵👇
#impartiality
#BBC
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The Explainer: What Is British Impartiality (And Can It Survive)?
How the BBC elevated impartiality to its “very essence” amid documentary cancellations and regulatory pressures, and whether this embattled value can survive partisan challenges
https://tinyurl.com/ycxkbu8s
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Important thread about how the BBC mitigates political polarisation in the 🇬🇧 because it’s so widely consumed compared to the 🇺🇸 where people rely on a wide range of information sources 👇
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4 months ago
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Stephen Cushion
Josiah Mortimer
4 months ago
"The main UK BBC analysis of the Caerphilly result read: 'Extraordinary by-election humbles Westminster’s big beasts' with a narrative centred on the decline of Labour & the Tories. "Plaid Cymru, who won by 11%, was the fourth party mentioned." Its leader was not. Farage had a photo AND quotes.
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The worst person to be in Wales
A crisis we are just accepting
https://open.substack.com/pub/willhaywardwales/p/the-worst-person-to-be-in-wales?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1iqf2
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Important article shining a light on how BBC News regulates itself, including when confronted by allegations of breaching impartiality 👇
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4 months ago
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Stephen Cushion
Maxwell Modell
4 months ago
Great write-up of our latest Caerphilly by-election report by Martin Shipton and Nation Cymru
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Our new
@cujournmedcul.bsky.social
study of how the
#Caerphilly
by-election was reported featured in
@nation.cymru
- the distinction between how Wales and UK-wide media cover the Senedd elections next year could be significant given more people rely on news produced in England than in Wales 👇
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4 months ago
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Stephen Cushion
Huw Marshall 🏴
4 months ago
A really fascinating piece of research.
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Stephen Cushion
New impartiality study: Contrasting media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election in Wales with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? Thread 1/10
www.enhancingimpartiality.com/blog/caerphi...
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Contrasting media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election in Wales with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? — Researching the impartiality of political news
In UK-wide media, the Caerphilly by-election result was framed around Reform UK’s defeat, the terminal decline of Labour in Wales, and the implications for Keir Starmer’s UK government in Westminster....
https://www.enhancingimpartiality.com/blog/caerphilly-broadcasters-balance
4 months ago
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Stephen Cushion
Andy Dudfield
4 months ago
Despite shifting politics and declining support for the industry, Dudfield said the goal hasn’t changed. “We’re fact-checkers. We check facts,”
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The UK’s fact-checkers are sending their AI to help Americans cover elections - Poynter
From person-to-person coaching and intensive hands-on seminars to interactive online courses and media reporting, Poynter helps journalists sharpen skills and elevate storytelling throughout their car...
https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2025/the-uks-fact-checkers-are-sending-their-ai-to-help-americans-cover-elections/
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Stephen Cushion
Laura Phillips
4 months ago
“On BBC News at Ten, the time provided to the Reform candidate UK (1m 01s) was much longer than those given to candidates from Labour (36 seconds), Plaid Cymru (30 seconds) and the Conservatives (16 seconds). Nigel Farage was the only UK party leader referenced.”
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New impartiality study: Contrasting media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election in Wales with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? Thread 1/10
www.enhancingimpartiality.com/blog/caerphi...
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Contrasting media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election in Wales with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? — Researching the impartiality of political news
In UK-wide media, the Caerphilly by-election result was framed around Reform UK’s defeat, the terminal decline of Labour in Wales, and the implications for Keir Starmer’s UK government in Westminster....
https://www.enhancingimpartiality.com/blog/caerphilly-broadcasters-balance
4 months ago
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Stephen Cushion
Dr Keighley Perkins
4 months ago
Ofcom has ruled TalkTV breached its impartiality rules after host Kevin O’Sullivan claimed the UK Government had “cancelled” local elections out of fear of Reform UK’s rise in the polls. 🔗
tinyurl.com/u55jmwbp
TLDR 👇
#impartialityproject
#politicalnews
#politicaldiscourse
#Ofcom
#impartality
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TalkTV breached impartiality rules with allegations about cancelled local elections, Ofcom finds
Claim that elections were cancelled because ministers were ‘terrified of Reform’ given rare rebuke by regulator
https://tinyurl.com/u55jmwbp
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Stephen Cushion
Maxwell Modell
4 months ago
Today on Newscast Kemi Badenoch discussed her love of the Marvel, comparing her leadership to a superhero origin story. Kemi is not the first Tory leader to do this. Rishi Sunak also presented himself as a popular nerd, talking about Star War. I wrote about this in Journalism
tinyurl.com/49krntzr
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Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
https://tinyurl.com/49krntzr
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