Royal spin doctors imposed ‘extraordinary restrictions’ on covering King Charles III’s accession, says ex-head of Sky News
Ryley told the audience in London the royal family regularly escaped real scrutiny by broadcasters.
He said he regretted that Sky News made the “bad decision” to provide Prince William with a full list of questions before an interview with the future king in 2017: “If a viewer had interrogated us about whether that was entirely in keeping with our core values of being honest with our audiences it would have been hard to mount a robust defence. Imagine submitting a list of questions to a top politician or business leader. Maybe in a puppet state.
He also explained how Buckingham Palace reacts when journalists try to ask questions directly to royal family members: “You already know – perhaps you don’t – that spin doctors at the royal palaces freak out when a broadcast journalist doorsteps a member of the royal family. Haughty emails, phone calls, and even a summons for a head of news to a meeting can swiftly follow. I’ve experienced this treatment.
Ryley also said that British news providers spent too long focusing on London-centric Westminster political intrigue rather than the impact of policies on the wider country. He also criticised moves by advertisers to boycott the right-wing GB News channel, which is facing multiple Ofcom investigations, has broadcast Covid disinformation, and has been accused by Jewish groups ofThe former Sky News boss said the advertiser boycott was a “threat to free speech” in Britain: “The new news channels have been launched to satisfy an increasing thirst in the UK for a diversity of opinions. It’s an awkward fact for some.
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