Channel 4 Complaint FAILS

The attempt by former Sun editor Kelvin McFilth to bully Channel 4 News, and presenter Fatima Manji, following her fronting the edition of the programme following the Nice seafront killings, began last month in Kel’s usual bigoted style, ranting “Why did Channel 4 have a presenter in a hijab fronting coverage of Muslim terror in Nice? … Was it appropriate for her to be on camera when there had been yet another shocking slaughter by a Muslim?” But Channel 4 News did not yield to his demands.

Fatima Manji

Nor did the Government yield to Kel’s further demand: “I do hope that the new Culture Secretary flogs the joint as the country desperately needs the £1billion … It is coverage like this that raises a question mark over the future of Channel Four. They are a licensed business. Let’s sell that licence to somebody who can supply balance in these difficult times”. Thus the real agenda of the Murdoch mafiosi.

As a result of Channel 4 not taking the bigoted has-been seriously, Kel then told anyone prepared to listen that he was going to complain to Ofcom, and encouraged others to do the same. He was serious. Except he wasn’t serious, and Zelo Street duly called him out for turning tail and chickening out of lodging his complaint.

And so it came to pass that this blog was proved to have called it correctly once more: not only did Kel not make a complaint to Ofcom, but the 17 individuals who did complain have had their complaints thrown out. The Guardian has confirmed “Complaints about Channel 4 News presenter wearing hijab rejected … The Sun’s Kelvin MacKenzie did not complain himself about Fatima Manji despite calling for readers to contact watchdog”.

Ofcom was not impressed, as its spokesman told: “We received a small number of complaints that it was inappropriate for a presenter wearing a hijab to present a report on the attack in Nice … We won’t be taking the matter forward for investigation. The selection of a presenter is an editorial matter for the broadcaster, and the way in which the presenter chose to dress in this case did not raise any issues under our rules”.

The Guardian also pointed out that “The Sun distanced itself from MacKenzie’s column, deleting a tweet promoting it as his comments promoted widespread criticism … Manji accused MacKenzie of attempting to ‘smear’ her religion and ‘intimidate Muslims out of public life’ …  More than 800 people have complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation about the column”. And it gets worse for the Murdoch empire.

Also pointed out by the Guardian today is “Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News broke UK broadcasting rules by airing pro-Brexit views on the day of the EU referendum, including accusing the BBC of being like a ‘running ad for Remain’, Ofcom has said”. The culprit? “An edition of Your World with Neil Cavuto, a weekday business and financial news programme broadcast at 9pm in the UK and simulcast in the US”.

Cavuto’s show is part of the Fox “opinion” strand, which the Murdoch mafiosi can get away with under US rules, but not in the UK. Bad news all round for Creepy Uncle Rupe.

But well done Channel 4 News and Fatima Manji. Sometimes the good guys win.