Broadcasters too reliant on vox pop interviews and failing to challenge politicians, says study

The researchers broadcasters were struggling to give due scrutiny to claims made by politicians. Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA

Broadcasters are letting down voters by relying on so-called vox pop interviews and failing to scrutinise political claims during election campaigns, according to researchers.

The study by Cardiff University looked at how this year’s national elections in Wales and Scotland, alongside the local elections in England, were reported on UK-wide television news between 2 March and 6 May.