Media

UK: Radio Caroline Censured for False King Charles Death Report

Was this an honest blunder or a serious failure that rightly warranted Ofcom's rebuke?

Published AUG 11

UK: Radio Caroline Censured for False King Charles Death Report

Story

Above: King Charles III at St Peter’s Church in London, U.K., on Dec. 4, 2024. Image credit: Mina Kim/WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Facts

Ofcom ruled on Monday that Radio Caroline breached broadcasting rules after it mistakenly aired three pre-recorded announcements during The Barry Marsh Show on May 19 falsely stating that King Charles III had died.
Ofcom
The false announcements were followed by the national anthem and approximately 16 minutes of silence on DAB+, while AM listeners heard back-up music. A correction and apology were not broadcast until around 30 minutes later.
Independent
Royal Central
Ofcom found the incident breached Rule 5.1, requiring news to be reported with due accuracy, and Rule 5.2, requiring significant mistakes to be corrected quickly, describing the false announcement as a "very significant inaccuracy" on a matter of a "very high level of public interest." No further financial or regulatory sanction, however, was imposed.
Ofcom
A staff member carrying out maintenance accessed pre-recorded obituary files intended for use only upon the King's death and played them "out of curiosity," accidentally cutting off the presenter's remote stream and putting the announcements on air.
Nine
ITV
Once the staff member realized what had occurred, they stopped the files and "panicked and left the premises." The station director only became aware of the incident after hearing continuous music instead of the scheduled programme.
The National
Daily Mail
BBC News
Following the incident, the staff member was reprimanded and the obituary files were moved from the studio desktop to an external drive. Radio Caroline, which it described as a "100% volunteer-led" operation, said it "took the matter very seriously" and acted "as soon as possible."
RadioToday UK
Joe.co.uk

Sources Split

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CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

This was an honest mistake by a curious volunteer who had no idea clicking those files would lead to announcing King Charles' death live on air. The staffer panicked, stopped the broadcast and the station reprimanded the worker and removed the obituary files from the studio computer to make sure it never happens again. Radio Caroline said it took the matter very seriously and acted as soon as possible.

Nine

Narrative B

Broadcasting a false announcement of the King's death and then leaving listeners in 16 minutes of silence before issuing a correction 30 minutes later is a serious failure that absolutely warranted Ofcom's breach ruling. Storing obituary files on a studio desktop where any staffer could accidentally air them shows a reckless lack of safeguards. Being volunteer-run is no excuse for failing basic broadcasting standards on something this consequential.

Royal Central