State-funded RT network is subject to ten investigations into ‘media bias’

The state-funded RT network is currently the subject of ten investigations into media bias, including its coverage of the Salisbury poisoning.

Ofcom is investigating the broadcaster, funded by the Russian government, following concerns over due impartiality in its news coverage and discussion shows.

The coverage of the fatal Salisbury incident in March this year is the most recent broadcast to spark an investigation by the UK media watchdog.

This news comes as media minister Jeremy Wright is set to castigate the perceived misinformation of the “Kremlinbacked” news sources in a speech to the Royal Television Society.

RT’S Sputnik programme is being assessed for its discussion of former FSB secret service officer, Ser- gei Skripal and his daughter Yulia and whether it was sufficiently balanced. The programme was hosted by george Galloway and Gayatri Pertiwi.

Former first minister Alex Salmond has been heavily criticised for continuing to make a weekly show for RT.

Ofcom ruled in January that The Alex Salmond Show breached broadcasting standards when Mr Salmond read out tweets and emails purporting to be from members of the public.