Sydney shock jock Ben Fordham breached broadcasting disclosure rules when he spruiked the benefits of driving an Uber part-time without telling his 2GB listeners he was being paid to promote the ride-share company.
Guardian Australia first reported in August 2023 that the leading radio presenter, who reportedly earns $1.5m to host the Nine Radio breakfast show, claimed he was driving an Uber as a “side hustle” in a tough economy.
Fordham was quoted in numerous media articles saying he had taken his first passenger and “Wen was her name, lovely lady”.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority found Fordham had a commercial agreement with Uber, which was undisclosed on air when he “conveyed positive sentiments to promote Uber as a desirable employer for people who wanted to make extra money by driving a ride share vehicle”.
“The comments conveyed this desirability by stating how easy it was for people to book passengers and make money during their spare time,” the Acma investigation said.
During a regular segment with financial commentator Peter Switzer, Fordham said: “I told you I was going to get a side hustle. I’ve taken my first passenger in an Uber.”
Acma has issued a remedial direction to 2GB for the breach which, if not followed, will result in a fine.
The remedial action includes 2GB presenters, producers and sales staff having to undertake formal training. The licensee is also required to commission an external audit of its disclosure process because the top-rating station also breached disclosure rules in 2021.
A separate Acma investigation found Nine’s sister station in Melbourne, 3AW, breached the rules when afternoons presenter Jacqui Felgate made favourable remarks about BMW without disclosing a commercial agreement she has with the car manufacturer.
Acma said 2GB and 3AW failed to publish details on their websites of commercial agreements made by their current affairs presenters, as is required by the commercial disclosure rules, which were introduced after a cash-for-comment scandal in 1999.
Felgate had numerous deals with companies including Melbourne airport, La Roche Posay, Chemist Warehouse and Chadstone shopping centre, which were not updated on the website in time, Acma said.
Veteran broadcasters John Laws and Alan Jones were accused in 1999 of making favourable mention of sponsors, including banks and airlines, without disclosing they had commercial deals with them.
Authority member Creina Chapman said adequately disclosing commercial agreements is crucial for transparency.
“These kind of commercial disclosure breaches have the potential to erode the public’s trust in current affairs programming,” Chapman said.
“Listeners deserve to know what commercial agreements are in place and how those deals might relate to what they are hearing on-air.”
Uber told the Guardian last year Fordham was engaged “to MC Uber events, including an awards ceremony last year to celebrate our driver, delivery and restaurant partner community, as well as a pitch event as part of our business booster program for entrepreneurial drivers and delivery partners”.
The commercial deal does not involve Fordham driving or delivering for Uber.
