A free press is treated by the handbook as part of British life because it allows citizens to scrutinise the actions of government. Newspapers in the UK are not licensed by the state and can openly support or oppose political parties. Broadcast media (television and radio) are subject to stricter rules: they must report news with due impartiality, set out in the Communications Act and enforced by the regulator Ofcom.
Further reading: an editorial guide on this topic opens in a new window for additional context.
The BBC is funded by the licence fee paid by households that watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer. Its editorial independence from government is set out in its royal charter. Commercial broadcasters such as ITV, Channel 4 and Sky are funded by advertising or subscriptions but follow the same impartiality rules.
You may be asked which broadcaster is funded by the licence fee, who regulates UK broadcasting, or whether UK newspapers are required to be politically impartial (they are not).
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