Complaint
A viewer who had seen footage of Boris Johnsonβs arrival at St Paulβs Cathedral for the Platinum Jubilee service both in ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Oneβs special programme on the event and in the 6pm News complained that, in the soundtrack of the latter, cheering had been changed to booing in an act of βdeliberate manipulationβ¦to suit the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔβs own narrativeβ.Β The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔβs editorial standards of accuracy and impartiality.
Outcome
The soundtrack was genuine, but not from the camera used in the relevant sequence of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One special.Β As explained in an earlier response to the complainant, many cameras had been used to cover the event.Β While it was true that booing was more prominent in the 6pm report than in the corresponding sequence of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One special, the ECU noted that it was similar to the soundtrack from the camera used at the same point in the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News Channelβs live coverage, which was better-placed to pick up sound from the crowd. Β The fact that Mr Johnson had been met by a negative reaction from parts of the crowd had been reported across the media, including in outlets normally supportive of him.Β The ECU saw no grounds for suspecting a breach of accuracy or impartiality in the use of footage which reflected this fact.Β
Not Upheld