Interactiv-ist Wednesday

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

How to complain to Ofcom.

Here at YBF we continually get annoyed at how biased the media is, not only when the media reports about politics but other things too such as ‘climate change’. Now a lot of people also feel the same way as us, as I’m sure you do reading this post. However, no-one ever does anything about it.

We all know the amount of complaints about an individual television programme or radio show are usually tiny because in the fast world we live in at the moment people do not have the time to find out how to complaint and fill in the online form.

Here at the YBF though, we can show you in quick and simple terms following just a few links how to complain to Ofcom about the content of television programmes or radio shows transmitted by broadcasters licensed in the UK.

1. You see an example of content that you wish to complain about.

2. Note down what was said/images you saw along with the name of the programme and the time it was aired.

3. Now go to http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/ Here you will see all the different sections you can complain to Ofcom about.

4. Select the link Programmes on TV or radio

5. Select the link A Specific Programme

Follow the onsite instructions until you come to the choices between – I saw/heard the programme or I was in the programme or involved in the make of it

In the majority of cases at this point you would select ‘I saw/heard the programme’. However, if you were ever involved in a programme and for some reason your comments were taken out of context or you were edited and made to look like you did something you didn’t, for example, select the’ I was in the programme or involved in the making of it’.

6. Now you come to a page asking you to select Complain to Ofcom or Complaint to the BBC about accuracy or impartiality.

“Ofcom can consider complaints about programmes transmitted by all broadcasters licensed in the UK as well as the BBC and S4C. However, we cannot consider complaints about accuracy in BBC TV and radio news or complaints about impartiality in BBC TV and radio programmes. These complaints have to be dealt with by the BBC.”

We will be showing you how to complain to the BBC next week so make sure you come back next Interactiv-ist Wednesday to find out how to do that!

7. Now you have selected Complain to Ofcom fill in your details scroll down and Pick the Programme on the Programme guide, then fill in Your Complaint.

Now Submit

You have now submitted your complaint to Ofcom.

If you have a complaint please feel free to make it known to Ofcom. If you feel it is something that needs advertising on a wider scale feel free to let the YBF know as well. Remember there are very few people who ever complain. If we get a mass campaign to complain about an incident Ofcom will have to take notice.