When journalism and satire merge: The implications for impartiality, engagement and ‘post-truth’ politics – A UK perspective on the serious side of US TV comedy

Abstract

This article examines the development of US and British TV satire and the consequences for political truth-telling. Different paths have been followed, with the pre-eminence of the First Amendment shaping a US culture in contrast to the centrality of impartiality in the UK. The transforming political environments mean satirists as well as journalists in UK broadcasting are being challenged to redefine the “due” in “due impartiality.” As both try to maintain their classic function of holding those in power fully to account, they face a perception of partisanship which risks further eroding the vital relationships of trust with the broader audience.