Guy (M0GUY)

Channel: Sky News Programme: Live News Coverage / @SamCoatesSky Date/Time: 12 May 2026 Nature of Complaint: I am writing to formally complain about the conduct and broadcast content featuring Sam Coates on Sky News. During the broadcast, Mr Coates made serious, unsubstantiated allegations, referring to official press photographs of the Prime Minister as 'govt propaganda' and 'fake news'. Key Points of Concern: • Accuracy and Verification: Mr Coates explicitly claimed the images came from No.10 and were 'fake news'. However, it was later clarified by Mark Austin on air that these were in fact PA (Press Association) photographs. This demonstrates a significant failure to verify facts before making inflammatory claims on a public service broadcast. • Professional Standards and Bias: The use of terms like 'fake news' and 'propaganda' to describe standard photojournalism, without factual basis, shows a clear lack of due impartiality and objectivity. • Public Trust: Such 'Trumpian' tactics and the refusal to offer a proper apology for these false claims, instead framing it as a 'correction of the truth', undermine the public's trust in broadcast journalism. Conclusion: This behaviour violates the Ofcom Broadcasting Code regarding accuracy and impartiality. I request that Ofcom investigates this instance of misinformation and the biased conduct displayed by Sam Coates, which falls far below the standards expected of a licensed UK broadcaster.