Complaint
Megha Mohan, the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Gender and Identity Reporter, posted a tweet sharing an online story from the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔβs Washington Bureau about a transgender teenager, commenting on how well it had been edited but not soliciting ideas. Β Edwina Wolstencroft, a former ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3 Editor, responded with a different but related story idea, to which Ms Mohan replied in terms which implied criticism of Ms Wolstencroftβs relations with minority groups while at the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ. Β Ms Wolstencroft complained about what she considered a defamatory statement, and called attention to her award-winning record of promoting work by under-represented composers, including women and minority groups.Β
Outcome
The ECU cannot offer a view on legal questions such as defamation, which are for the courts to decide, but is tasked with making a judgement on whether the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔβs editorial standards and the Guidelines and Guidance which express them have been complied with. Β Accordingly, it considered the complaint in the light of the Guidance on Social Media, which says: βStaff should also not post offensive or derogatory comments or content on social media and avoid abusing their position as a ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ employee in personal interactionsβ. Β In the ECUβs judgement, the tweetβs reference to Ms Wolstencroftβs alleged record at ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ did not comply with this Guidance. Β Though the tweet was deleted within five days of being posted, the ECU considered that, in the absence of a further posting to explain why the original tweet had been deleted, this did not suffice to resolve the issue of complaint.
Upheld
Further action
The finding was reported to the management of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service and discussed with Ms Mohan.