Sky News defends Kay Burley's interview treatment of 38 Degrees director

Protesters have called for Sky News presenter Kay Burley to be sacked, but the broadcaster has defended her interview with the executive director of the campaign group 38 Degrees.

On 8 May Burley reported from London as protesters campaigned for change to the electoral system. Her live interview with campaign co-ordinator David Babbs was criticised by many online commenters and Twitter users as aggressive and biased.

When Burley later returned to the interview, a protester chanted in the background: "Sack Kay Burley; watch the BBC". Before abandoning the interview, Kay Burley said: "they don't like The Sun, they don't like us, they don't like Rupert."

"We invited Mr Babbs on air to articulate the views of the protestors," a Sky News spokesperson told Journalism.co.uk. "The interview was conducted in a fair and rigorous manner."

38 Degrees has not planned further action over the interview, and are instead focusing on its campaigns for voting reform and against BBC cuts, the group told Journalism.co.uk.

Sky News is currently warding off other allegations of bias. Sky News political correspondent Adam Boulton yesterday reacted strongly to Alastair Campbell's suggestion that he supported David Cameron. Full transcript and video at this link.

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