By Gabriel Princewill-
Channel 4’s offensive tweet to Piers Morgan amounted to unprofessional conduct, and calls for closer inspection about how this broadcaster operates in certain respects.
Representatives of the broadcaster recklessly tweeted a swear word to television presenter Piers Morgan in exchange for a £50 donation for charity. Social media representatives tweeted go fxxx yourself to Piers Morgan on twitter. The broadcaster’s actions were not ill intended but was patently irresponsible. This Eye Of Media.Com’s investigative team decided after a meeting today to pursue accountability of Channel 4 for its indiscretion.
We are calling for an internal investigation from the broadcaster over this incident, coupled with a transparent outcome of its investigation. Our investigation may be met with some resistance, but we will not relent in our determination for a productive and forward looking outcome.
This kind of foul and reckless language ought to be prohibited from being displayed on social media by responsible organisations. It smacks of both immaturity and unprofessionalism. Under Channel 4’s supplier’s code of conduct, the broadcaster prohibits offensive behaviour of any kind, including the persistent demeaning of individuals through words or actions, and the display or distribution of offensive material.
REPROACHABLE
The broadcaster also states that In fulfilling their remit, Channel 4 aspires to the highest
standards of ethics, honesty, and integrity in all its activities, and to comply with all relevant legislation at all times. Quite clearly, these principles were violated its on codes of conduct when it tweeted iys swear words. The words were offensive because our Thinktank team unanimously agreed that the conduct was unacceptable and reproachable. There were also other complaints by social media users. In fact, the incident was brought to The Eye Of Media.Com’s attention by an external researcher affiliated with our publication.
The media, more especially broadcasters, are supposed to act as custodians of societal behaviour. Comments made by broadcasters or members of the media on social media are not regulated by any regulator, but this cannot justify an unbridled show of disturbing and reprehensible conduct. Some broadcasters are deteriorating in their standards by failing to recognize the necessity to operate within reasonable limits in the entirety of their conducts.
If Ofcom’s code forbids broadcasters from airing harmful or offensive language on television before the watershed period of 9 pm, should social media platforms be more lax in its expectations? It therefore beggars belief why a broadcaster would consider it necessary to tweet a swear word on a social media platform.
Broadcasters are meant to be custodians of societal behaviour, devoid of the promotion of a slackening of conduct. Accepted standards in the broadcasting industry are expected to be applied across the board, but it appears Channel 4 has been flagrantly flouting the rules with impunity. Piers Morgan revealed Channel 4 has previously tweeted offensive language directed at himself, albeit one he took with pinch of salt. However, the broadcaster ought to be considerably more prudent in their public conduct.
RECKLESS
The transgression here is not the mere use of foul language, but the tendency to perpetuate a reckless and wayward manner of responding to people in certain situations. Swearing is not a practice that should be promoted by the media, irrespective of its prevalence in most societies today. An organisation that purports to have high ethical standards which it flouts is hypocritical. Hyporitical individuls or organisations cannot be trusted.
Children and impressionable youngsters still need to be shielded from the unbridled use of foul language as much as possible. Swearing on a social media platform that stores its contents is not only irresponsible, it is reckless. It is imperative for a broadcaster like Channel 4 which deals with serious issues to reflect the status of responsible journalism it purports to maintain.
The broadcaster should therefore redeem itself of this shameful incident by distancing itself from the culprit by taking appropriate actions. Our eyes will be watching, and so will the eyes of our trusted readers.