Ofcom has profoundly damaged the ‘right to be heard’ by this perverse ruling (see pages 51-108) The entire Channel 4 programme (Dispatches: What‟s In Your Breakfast?, Channel 4, 26 October 2009) was an attack on cereal manufacturers and their products. How Ofcom can declare there were ‘no significant allegations of wrong doing’ and therefore no need to give them a voice in the programme, defies any commonly held notion of fairness, but even worse in my opinion, paraphrases (intentionally misinterprets?) Section 7.11 of the Code, which actuallty states If a programme alleges wrongdoing, or incompetence or makes other significant allegations, those concerned should normally be given an appropriate and timely opportunity to respond. Ofcom might also look at their Rule 7.1 and Guidance Note 7.11 (20 March 2006).
