Abortion: Broadcasters have ‘no obligation’ to give equal air time
Regulator advises against ‘mechanistic’ coverage of referendums ahead of abortion vote
March 13, 2018
Fiach Kelly
Broadcasters do not have to adhere to a strict 50:50 split in airtime between both sides in a referendum debate, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has said.
The BAI, which regulates the coverage of referendum and election campaigns across broadcast media, says radio and television stations often wrongly feel they have to evenly divide time between both sides of a debate.