STOP WATCHES will govern the appearing othe election during campaign. Under the Representation of the People Act and various broadcasting strict rules of 'balance' determine the time allocated to the main political parties.
So on the face of it the leaders of parties these shouldn't complain about.
A clue to what lies behind this neutral facade is given by Anthony Smith, liberal commentator on the media. in his The Politics Information:
*The broadcasting authorities in their commitment to coming more far-reaching anteconshat of harder to guarantee: that keeping society wedded to its political structure.' That marriage is, of course, that Jim Callaghan approves. Never mind maintaining the political structure provides the broadcasting authorities with their justificanon for the conservative broadly pro-Tory Acts, The routine attacks strikes; the silence over the war in Ireland; the promotion of existing WORECIS society; the pervasive racism; the reporting of international events from the standpoint of British imperialism are in line with the Labour government's policies.
And when it is these kinds of solutions that are offered to of deal with the present political and social crisis, TV interviewers are happy to restrict their questioning of politicians to this right-wing framework.
Alternative policies, including those of left democracy, will have virtually no airing in the coverage of the election; although one particular alternative is likely to figure - the National Front. that Making Britain a place fit for capitalism in these trying times nas made me ty controuers increasingly hostile to critical innerents treatment of political and social and therefore issues. Bread and circuses is the output of order of the day, with BBC's Tonight the latest target for the axe. surprisingly, sponse of most viewers to the place boredom and cynicism.
After the Michael Swann, - all these person of the BBC, said: "The risk of over-doing things is a very serious one, and we shall, I expect, set or endeavour to set a slower tempo and a lower key [for the EEC referendum than done But it is the narrow definition of politics and the stultifying approach to it which will cause the TV sets to be switched off.
Even live would make the coverage less preuictable cratic, are opposed by the party leaders. Only if the audience members are handpicked by the party organisers [in carefully worked out proportions] will 1978 — £81m.
the -IC- S. Pearson 1977- £44.9m.
'74 campaigns, then chair1977 - £22.5m.
for ordinar 1977 - £18m.
Trafalgar House 1978 debates, which demo Company/profits Reed International 28.8m.
Thomson Equitable Corp.
News International - £60.6m.
the party leaders participate.
So there is little chance of Callaghan facing left-wing
workers'