The media and government: Parliament in the open
What happens in Parliament is shown on television and printed in an official record called Hansard. You can read the written record in large libraries and on the Parliament website.
Hansard was a real person. In the early 19th century, reports of the debates were printed by a printer named Thomas Curson Hansard. Parliament later took over the job itself, but his name has stuck to this day.
Most people learn about politics from newspapers (often called "the press"), television, radio and the internet.
- The UK has a free press: the government does not control what newspapers write. Some newspaper owners and editors have strong political views and run campaigns to sway government policy and public opinion.
- Television and radio are different: by law, they must give balanced coverage of the political parties and allow equal time for opposing views.
Quiz
Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Parliamentary debates are written down and published in an official record called Hansard.
True. Parliament's proceedings are also shown on TV. Watch out for another trick question: newspapers are free from government control, but TV and radio must by law be balanced. Don't mix the two up.