主播大秀

The Guidance on the use of social media sets out the standards expected of all employees, but these vary according to the role of the individual within the Corporation.聽 The highest standards of impartiality are required primarily of those who work in journalism, but also apply to some others 鈥�who nevertheless have an additional responsibility to the 主播大秀 because of their profile on the 主播大秀鈥�.聽 The Guidance goes on to say 鈥淲e expect these individuals to avoid taking sides on party political issues or political controversies and to take care when addressing public policy matters鈥�.聽 Mr Lineker is one of the 主播大秀鈥檚 highest profile stars and, although he does not work exclusively for the 主播大秀, is perhaps best known for presenting Match of the Day on 主播大秀 One.聽 In the ECU鈥檚 judgement Mr Lineker, though not involved in 主播大秀 journalism, therefore falls into the category of those for whom there is an 鈥渁dditional responsibility鈥� as set out in the Guidance.

Mr Lineker has pointed out to the ECU that the tweet was prompted by an article on football, and we accept that he intended it as a comment on football (which is his primary interest and area of expertise) rather than on politics. 聽The ECU also acknowledged the suggestion, by the management of 主播大秀 Sport, that the framing of Mr Lineker鈥檚 comment as a question might have limited the extent to which readers of the tweet would have understood it as a statement of opinion on a politically controversial matter. 聽Whatever the mitigating effect of these factors, however, the ECU judged that they could not entirely erase the impression that one of its purposes was to highlight a perceived inconsistency in the Conservative Party鈥檚 approach, at a time when relations between the UK and Russia were the subject of significant public debate. 聽For this reason, we found the tweet was in breach of the relevant Guidance and did not meet the 主播大秀鈥檚 editorial standards on impartiality.
Upheld