All Sections

View and post jobs in journalism
  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Comment/Analysis
  • Editor's Pick
  • Interviews
  • News
    • Broadcast Journalism
    • Digital Journalism
    • Magazines
    • Media Law
    • National Newspapers
    • People
      • Appointments
      • Obituaries
    • Regional Newspapers
  • Press Gazette Podcast
  • British Journalism Awards
  • Press Gazette Email Newsletter

In the news

  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Interviews
  • Marketing
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • RSS
Close
[mashshare]
Skip to content
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • RSS
All sections

Search

Search pressgazette.co.uk

Close

Press Gazette

Subscribe to our email newsletter Journalism email newsletter
  • News
  • Comment
  • Data
  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Marketing
  • Awards
  • Jobs

Menu

  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Interviews
  • National Newspapers
  • Regional Newspapers
  • Digital Journalism
  • Broadcast Journalism
  • Media Law
  • Magazines
  • Wires and Agencies
  • Obituaries
  • News
  • Comment/Analysis
  • Jobs
  • British Journalism Awards

In the news

  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Interviews
  • Marketing
Close
Ofcom assessing 124 complaints, including from Tories, over Channel 4 News climate debate
Chinese journalist found guilty of slapping delegate at Conservative Party conference
November 29, 2019
  • Broadcast Journalism
  •    
  • Digital Journalism
  •    
  • News
  •    
  • Social media
  •    
  • Television Journalism
  •    

BBC condemns Conservative Facebook advert using footage of its journalists

By Charlotte Tobitt Twitter

Share this

  • Tweet
  • Share 0
  • Reddit
Comments
2

The BBC has demanded the Conservatives take down a “completely unacceptable” Facebook advert using clips from its journalists, claiming it could “damage perceptions of our impartiality”.

But the party has refused, defending its use of contemporary news footage and insisting “viewers can judge for themselves”.

Timeline

  • January 13, 2021

    Interview: New York Times explains the in-house adtech it is using to prepare for the death of third-party cookies

  • September 21, 2020

    Media in developing countries helped to diversify after ad revenue 'destruction' of up to 85%

  • September 10, 2020

    Content suggestion platforms Taboola and Outbrain cancel merger

The 15-second advert uses video and audio clips of BBC journalists reporting on defeats in the House of Commons that have further delayed Brexit since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister.

It begins with a clip of BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg (pictured) saying: “Pointless delay to Brexit,” before News at Ten anchor Huw Edwards is seen saying: “Another Brexit delay.”

Voiceover footage then features Kuenssberg proclaiming there has been “real drama there in the House of Commons tonight” and political correspondent Jonathan Blake describing “a result which means Parliament now holds the Prime Minister prisoner”.

The advert, which also shows former Commons speaker John Bercow and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, ends with the strapline: “Stop the chaos in Parliament. Get Brexit done.”

BBC News lawyers yesterday contacted Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly asking for the ad to be removed, but it remains online.

A BBC spokesperson said: “We’re aware of Conservative Party Facebook adverts using edited BBC content.

“This is a completely unacceptable use of BBC content which distorts our output and which could damage perceptions of our impartiality. We are asking the Conservatives to remove these adverts.”

The advert was posted by the official Conservative Facebook page yesterday and sponsored so it reaches more people in their news feeds, according to Facebook’s ad library which lists all political ads.

It has been seen by at least 125,000 people and cost up to £2,500 so far to promote, mostly to 35 to 54-year-olds.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: “This video uses contemporary news footage to remind voters of the deadlock and delay of the last three years caused by a broken Parliament that did everything it could to block Brexit.

“Viewers can judge for themselves, but it is clear the footage was not edited in a manner that misleads or changes the reporting.

“The only way to get Brexit done and avoid spending 2020 consumed by two more referendums – which would be accompanied by similar news reporting – is to vote for Boris Johnson on 12 December.”

Laura Kuenssberg in a Conservative Party Facebook advert about which the BBC has complained.

Picture: BBC

SIGN UP HERE FOR

MEDIA MONITOR

Press Gazette's weekly email providing strategic insight into the future of the media

Subscribe

Related Stories

  • Facebook takes down Tory election advert using 'distorted' BBC News footage
  • British Journalism Awards 2019 finalists revealed: 'Bravery is the quality that shines through'
  • Interview with Journalist of the Year Laura Kuenssberg: 'I would die in a ditch for the impartiality of the BBC'
  • BBC receives nearly 600 complaints over Boris Johnson interview

Explore these topics

  • Advertising
  • BBC
  • Conservative Party
  • Facebook
  • General Election 2019
Browse, search and add journalism jobs
Comments

2 thoughts on “BBC condemns Conservative Facebook advert using footage of its journalists”

  1. Kevin Lohse says:
    November 29, 2019 at 8:45 pm

    It’s a well-known fact that despite the BBC recieving significant sums of money from the EU, it is completely impartial on Brexit, so I dont see there’s a problem.

    Reply
  2. Alan says:
    November 29, 2019 at 5:05 pm

    Odd given impartiality is more a guideline where the BBC is concerned. M. Kuenssberg isn’t terribly good at maintaining the perception, hence the need to make such a fuss. Maybe the Tory party can claim it was an editorial mistake, you know from overworked staff.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More content

Post a job on Press Gazette

Most Popular

  1. cookies Enter Sandbox: How Google is building an internet without cookies - and why publishers are concerned
  2. Washington Post plans to grow newsroom to record size (1,000+ journalists) in 2021 after hitting digital ad and subscription peaks
  3. Independent TV launches as title reports revenue up 23% year on year
  4. PA wins High Court injunction against union issuing 'fake' press passes to 'citizen journalists'
  5. The Times Lucy Fisher On the Record: Times defence correspondent Lucy Fisher - 'Working in news is the best job in the world'

Latest Jobs

  • Editor in Chief, Scottish Sun
  • Features Producer, Economist Radio
Chinese journalist found guilty of slapping delegate at Conservative Party conference

© copyright 2021 Press Gazette Ltd. Made in Taiwan.