This page includes apologies, significant corrections, statements and responses, and findings from the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust. It does not include routine corrections to news stories, minor on-air apologies and schedule changes.
Corrections and clarifications are published in the order that they were issued.
Reporting Scotland
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One Scotland, Tuesday 29 November 2016
On the 6.30pm edition of the television news programme Reporting Scotland, broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One Scotland on Tuesday 29 November, an error was made in an on-screen caption naming the Irish Foreign Minister (where the word 'Minister' was inadvertently replaced by the word 'Abuse', which had been intended to relate to a different story).
We would like to apologise to the Minister for any embarrassment and upset this error may have occasioned. The correct caption was broadcast in the late evening edition of the programme on 29 November.
06/12/2016
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News at Six
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Friday 29 July 2016
The bulletin included a report on the Pope's visit to Auschwitz. Lord Alton and Fr Leo Chamberlain of Ampleforth jointly complained that the reporter had presented a disputed view of the stance of the Catholic Church in relation to the Third Reich as if it were established fact.
The reporter said: "Silence was the response of the Catholic Church when Nazi Germany demonised Jewish people and then attempted to eradicate Jews from Europe". In the judgement of the ECU, this did not give due weight to public statements by successive Popes or the efforts made on the instructions of Pius XII to rescue Jews from Nazi persecution, and perpetuated a view which is at odds with the balance of evidence.
The complaint was upheld. The finding has been brought to the attention of the editorial team responsible for the report so that any future coverage might reflect historical understanding more closely.
06/12/2016
Heysel disaster: 30th anniversary marked in England, Belgium & Italy
Heysel disaster: English football's forgotten tragedy?
bbc.co.uk, Friday 29 May 2015
A reader of these articles had complained about the statement (which occurred in both of them): " when an internal wall collapsed at the ground in Brussels before the 1985 European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus".
As a result, it was changed to read: " when people were crushed against a wall that then collapsed at the ground in Brussels before the 1985 European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus".
He then complained to the ECU that the new form of words was also inaccurate as a description of a situation in which deaths had occurred at some distance from the wall, and there was no reason to believe that the wall's collapse had caused any deaths.
In the ECU's view, the revised statement did not convey the impression that deaths had resulted directly from the collapse of the wall, and was duly accurate as a description of a situation where the wall had blocked a possible avenue of retreat by the Juventus fans.
This aspect of the complaint was therefore resolved. However, the second article also contained the sentence: "Fleeing the threat, the latter [i.e. the Juventus supporters] ran towards a concrete retaining wall, which collapsed as they began to climb over, killing 39 people" (which had been overlooked when the changes noted above were made).
This perpetuated the impression the reader had complained of, and his complaint was upheld in that respect.
The complaint was resolved/upheld and the second article was corrected.
06/12/2016
Victoria Derbyshire
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News Channel, Monday 6 June 2016
A viewer complained that, during a debate on the issues in the referendum campaign, Victoria Derbyshire had misleadingly suggested that reallocating the UK's net contribution to the EU budget to other areas such as the NHS would have a severe impact on farm subsidies.
Challenging a point made by Jane Collins MEP, Victoria Derbyshire said: "...if that Β£8.5bn went to the NHS, that would mean farmers who get more than 50% of their income from the EU would be decimated".
This reflected a confusion between the UK's net contribution (of Β£8.5bn after payments from the EU to the UK, including agricultural subsidies, have been taken into account) and its gross contribution.
Although Ms Collins tried to rebut the suggestion, she did not do so in terms which would have removed the misleading impression.
The complaint was upheld and the relevant information was drawn to the presenter's attention after the broadcast, and will be borne in mind when the programme returns to the subject.
06/12/2016
Yemen conflict: Al-Qaeda joins coalition battle for Taiz
Newshour and News bulletins, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service; Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Arabic online; and Mohamed Yehia, Twitter, Monday 22 February 2016
The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates complained that these items gave the misleading impression that troops from coalition forces (including those of the UAE) had been fighting alongside those of al-Qaeda in Yemen.
Although it was made clear in the body of Newshour that coalition forces had not engaged the Houthis on the same occasions and in the same places as al-Qaeda, the introduction to the programme, and the further items which drew on it, gave the impression that they had been fighting alongside each other. This was misleading.
The complaint was upheld and online items were edited to remove the misleading impression.
06/12/2016
Newsnight
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, Tuesday 27 September 2016
In a Newsnight interview, Evan Davis said the Welsh government has "got the power to raise income tax. They are not using that power."
In fact, powers to vary income tax are still in the process of being devolved in the Wales Bill currently going through Parliament.
It is, however, accurate to say that the current majority Labour administration in Wales went into the last election with a manifesto promising that it would "guarantee not to increase income tax in the next Assembly term when these powers are devolved to the Welsh Parliament."
06/12/2016
Women write better code, study suggests
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News online, Friday 12 February 2016
A reader complained that the headline of this article was misleading, that the study on which it was based was so flawed as not to merit reporting, and that the terms of the report were not duly impartial in relation to the question of the benefits or otherwise of workforce diversity in particular fields of employment.
Whether the study should have been reported was a matter of legitimate editorial discretion and, in the ECU's view, the article did not deal with matters which were controversial in the sense which would require a balance of views. However, there were no grounds for believing that the women among the cohort selected by the study were representative of women in general, and thus no basis for generalising about women's relative ability. To that extent, the headline was inaccurate.
The complaint was partially upheld. The headline and the text of the article have been amended to reflect the finding.
06/12/2016
Panorama: Diabetes - The Hidden Killer
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Monday 3 October 2016
In this programme Type One Diabetes was referred to as "the sort you're born with". We acknowledge that this is not a medically accurate description.
Although it commonly develops in childhood, often to genetically predisposed individuals, Type One diabetes can develop at any age. It results from immune mediated injury to the pancreas and it is not known exactly what triggers the immune system to attack the pancreas.
03/10/2016
Dashcam captures lorry shunting car on M1
bbc.co.uk
The article reported an incident in which a lorry had cut in on, and allegedly bumped, a car on the M1. The driver had called the police while following the lorry, and had been critical of the slow police response. Footage of the incident, captured on the driver's dashcam, was embedded in the article, with a soundtrack of the call to the police. The driver complained that this gave the misleading impression that he had made the call while the incident was occurring.
In a longer report elsewhere on bbc.co.uk the text of the article made clear that the driver had called the police after the initial incident. There was no such clarification in the text of the article complained of, so there was nothing to correct the impression created by the combination of footage and soundtrack that the call was contemporaneous with the incident. The complaint was upheld. The website team has been reminded that edited material may affect the audience's understanding of the timeline of a story if it is not set in context by accompanying text.
03/10/2016
Strictly Come Dancing
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Sunday 2 October 2016
We received complaints from some viewers unhappy that Anastacia progressed in the competition without taking part in the Dance Off. Anastacia was unable to perform in the Dance Off due to an injury, meaning Melvin Odoom became the first to leave the new series.
03/10/2016
Scotland's Game
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One Scotland, Thursday 25 August 2016
In the first episode of Scotland's Game broadcast on 25 August 2016 at 9pm on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One Scotland the financial difficulties experienced by Hibernian in 1991 were described as follows in voiceover: "Hidden in the small print of the newly-formed Hibernian plc was the acquisition of a loss-making restaurant chain, trading in the south of England - and owned by one of David Rowland's companies. Haemorrhaging massive debt - it dragged Hibs into receivership." This referred to Edinburgh Hibernian plc, the parent company which owned Hibernian FC Ltd among various other companies. We would like to clarify that it was this parent company and not the football club which went into receivership.
08/10/2016
Newsnight
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, Wednesday 17 August 2016
Coverage of a Conservative party inquiry into allegations of bullying referred to "twelve other individuals [other than Elliott Johnson] who complained of bullying or inappropriate behaviour by [Mark] Clarke in the previous twenty months." This was at variance with the published summary of the report by solicitors Clifford Chance.
They said it is "debatable" whether Mr Clarke's conduct amounted to bullying, harassment or other inappropriate conduct in seven of these cases. They also said it is "unclear" whether six people had in fact complained to Conservative Campaign headquarters (CCHQ). Four complaints had been made to CCHQ where, they considered, conduct did amount to bullying, harassment or inappropriate behaviour.
17/08/2016
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News Channel, Friday 5 August 2016
A report on UK Black Lives Matter included a clip from one of the campaign's online videos which stated '1562 deaths in police custody in my lifetime'. In fact, this figure, compiled by Inquest to cover the period from 1990 to 2016, also includes numbers arising from road traffic incidents, pursuit, and shootings involving the police. The number of deaths in police custody over this period was 1028.
10/08/2016
Front Row
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Monday 22 February 2016
The programme included an interview with the Israeli writer A B Yehoshua during which the interviewer referred to a novel by Dorit Rabinyan as having been "banned" by the Israeli Minister of Culture. A listener complained that this was inaccurate, as the book had not been banned and the Minister of Culture had not been involved in the matter. The ECU found that a decision had been taken by the Pedagogic Secretariat of the Ministry of Education that the novel, Border Life, which deals with the relationship between an Israeli woman and a Palestinian man, would not be included in the list of required reading for the equivalent of A-Levels. Although the decision and the reasons advanced for it have given rise to controversy, the book remains freely available in Israel, and it was misleading to refer to it as "banned".
20/07/2016
Farming Today
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Thursday 4 February 2016
The programme included an item about homeopathic treatment of farm animals. A representative of Good Thinking Society complained that it gave a wholly positive impression of homeopathy, whereas extensive testing has not shown it to be effective in treating any medical condition in animals or humans. In response to the complaint, the Editor of the programme acknowledged that the item had not met the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's editorial standards and reminded the programme team of the need for accurate and balanced reporting in relation to scientific matters. In the ECU's view, this sufficed to resolve the issue of complaint.
19/07/2016
Steve Wright in the Afternoon
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2, Thursday 3 December 2015
The programme included an interview with the editor of the monthly magazine What Doctors Don't Tell You. A representative of Good Thinking Society complained that it was not made clear that the interviewee represented a particular viewpoint on the efficacy conventional medicine, and had been allowed to make unchallenged claims in support of that viewpoint. The ECU agreed that the interview did not make clear that the magazine is attended by a degree of controversy, and that Ms McTaggart's views weren't challenged in an appropriate way. As a result, listeners might well have formed an impression of the relative efficacy of orthodox medicine and alternative therapies which was less than accurate or balanced.
18/07/2016
Today
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Thursday 3 December 2015
Two listeners complained that the programme had inaccurately reported that a peaceful vigil in Walthamstow, in protest against the decision to bomb targets in Syria, had targeted the home of the local MP, Stella Creasy, and had been part of a pattern of intimidation towards Labour MPs who had supported the decision. The claim that the demonstration had targeted Ms Creasy's home, and the implication that it was intimidatory in nature, originated from a single Facebook posting which later proved to be misleading (the demonstration's destination was Ms Creasy's constituency office, which was unoccupied at the time, not her home, and it was peaceful).
Nevertheless, it had been taken up by a number of commentators on social media and by reputable news outlets, including The Independent and The Guardian. The first reference to the story in the 3 December edition of Today was in a review of the morning's papers. Later in the programme, a report by Ross Hawkins included an audio clip from the demonstration, stated that it had taken place outside the constituency office, and carried an interview with one of the organisers who described it as "very peaceful". Shortly after this, Nick Robinson interviewed John McDonnell about divisions in the Labour Party in relation to the vote on bombing Syria in terms which reflected the belief that the demonstration had taken place outside Ms Creasy's home and had been an instance of bullying and intimidation (a belief which Mr McDonnell did not contest).
The 7 December edition of Today included a correction which made the venue of the demonstration clear but did not address the question of intimidation. The ECU found that the 3 December programme had been duly accurate in its review of the papers, but inaccurate in the references to the matter during the interview with Mr McDonnell, and that the 7 December correction had left a significant element of inaccuracy to stand.
08/07/2016
Today
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Tuesday 24 May 2016
In an interview John Humphrys stated that the Institute for Fiscal Studies predicted that GDP would fall if the United Kingdom were to leave the European Union. In fact the IFS forecast that GDP could be lower by between 2.1 and 3.5% in 2019, in the event of leaving the EU than if it were to remain within it.
07/07/2016
Euro 2016: Wales v Belgium
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Friday 1 July 2016
We received complaints from some viewers unhappy with the commentary during the half-time period of the Wales v Belgium football match.
07/07/2016
Broadcasting House
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Sunday 6 December 2015
Following Hilary Benn's speech in the Commons debate on air strikes in Syria, the programme included an item on notable political speeches and their impact. Discussing the emergency debate on the Argentinian invasion of the Falklands in 3 April 1982, the presenter and guests agreed that Michael Foot's speech, though much superior to Mrs Thatcher's as a piece of oratory, had misjudged the mood of the occasion and led to the wrong outcome for him. A niece of Mr Foot's complained that the clip used in illustration was in fact from his speech of 29 April, and that his 3 April speech had been mischaracterised.
The ECU found that the programme had confused the two speeches, leading to a misleading impression of the reception of the 3 April speech (though what the presenter and guest said was fair comment in relation to the 29 April speech and its impact). In response to the complaint, a correction was published on the Corrections & Clarifications page, and a similar correction was later added to the page of the Broadcasting House website where the programme could be replayed. In the view of the ECU, this sufficed to resolve the issue of complaint.
01/07/2016
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News Channel, Thursday 10 March 2016
In a report from Fukushima a radiation detection device operated by a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ correspondent gave a reading of 2.8 micro Sieverts per hour. An expert contributor estimated an annual exposure per this level at an additional 1 millisievert (mSv) over a background level of 2 mSv. A correct figure for someone continuously exposed to this level would have been between 24.5-26.2 mSv.
01/07/2016
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News Online, Monday 22 February 2016
An article about the battle for Taiz in Yemen was headlined: "Al-Qaeda joins coalition battle for Taiz". Although a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ reporter identified a militia unit in the combat zone as being Ansar al-Sharia, an affiliate of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), it was wrong to imply that coalition forces, directed by the United Arab Emirates, were co-operating with these fighters. Accordingly the headline now reads: "Al-Qaeda seen at coalition battle for Taiz".
28/06/2016
The Big Questions
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Tuesday 15 March 2015
In a section of the programme headed: "Do British Muslims have a problem with apostates?", the presenter put the following question to one of the participants in the discussion: "You shared platforms with this London imam Haitham Al-Haddad, who says that female genital mutilation is obligatory, who supports wife-beating, who supports gays being killed, and he has said that apostates should be killed and that their blood is halal. Do you disown this disgusting bigot?" Dr Al-Haddad complained that these were either views which he did not hold or misleadingly sensationalised versions of mainstream Muslim beliefs, and objected to the description "disgusting bigot".
28/06/2016
The Papers
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News Channel, Sunday 19 June 2016
During our review of the newspapers at 11.30pm, the presenter gave an incorrect figure of 2% for the proportion of UK law emanating from the EU. The figure was wrong. There is a detailed article on the question of how much UK law comes from the EU on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Reality Check website.
21/06/2016
The Kaye Adams Programme
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Scotland, Wednesday 4 November 2015
Jeremy Vine
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2, Tuesday 8 December 2015
The programmes explored issues arising from the decision by the Scottish legal authorities not to prosecute the driver of a bin lorry which had killed six pedestrians in Glasgow. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service complained that both programmes included incorrect statements to the effect that the decision had been taken in order to allow the driver to give evidence at the Fatal Accident Inquiry, whereas it had been based on the view of independent counsel that there was insufficient evidence to merit a criminal prosecution. The ECU found that the statements complained of were inaccurate. In each case, however, the error had been duly acknowledged. In the ECU's view, this sufficed to resolve the issue of complaint.
20/06/2016
The Olympic Stadium: How the Hammers Struck Gold
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Thursday 6 August 2015
The programme looked at the tenancy agreement which had been reached with West Ham FC for the use of the Olympic Stadium and examined a number of concerns which had been raised about the terms of the agreement. It included brief extracts from an interview with David Goldstone, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), other parties involved in the agreement and the background to it having declined to take part. The LLDC complained that the programme had been unfair to it and biased overall, and that it had been inaccurate in a number of respects.
The ECU did not find overall bias, but did find that some significant points, which were made by Mr Goldstone in response to criticism of the agreement, about the benefit to taxpayers resulting from long-term arrangements for a multi-use stadium without the need for further subsidy, about the cost of converting the stadium being offset by the economic value brought about by its contribution to regeneration of the area, and about the detailed commercial rationale for not releasing financial details of the agreement with West Ham, had been omitted from the programme, resulting in unfairness to the LLDC and bias in relation to the points in question. As a consequence the ECU's finding was that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's editorial standards in the relevant areas had not been met. The ECU found no inaccuracy which would have materially affected viewers' understanding of the issues under discussion.
Further information was provided by the ECU: The production team has been reminded of the need to ensure that contributor's responses to criticisms are properly reflected in programmes, particularly when they are the sole representatives of those towards whom criticism has been directed.
17/06/2016
Don't Tell the Bride
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Three, Monday 25 January 2016, 8pm
In an exchange between the bride and her elder sister, the word "twat" was used. A viewer complained that this was inappropriate before the watershed, and should at least have been preceded by a warning. The Editorial Complaints Unit found that although not among the terms characterised by the Editorial Guidelines as "the strongest language" (which must not be used on television before the watershed), the word "twat" is unusual in having an innocent meaning for some viewers but an obscene meaning for others. On this occasion it was used in an affectionate context and without any sense of aggression, but this was not sufficient to mitigate the offence it is capable of causing to a segment of the audience.
Further information was provided by the ECU: The finding was widely discussed and debated by senior editorial figures in Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Television and has been noted.
08/06/2016
Newsnight
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, Tuesday 24 May 2016
In an introduction to a report on the latest situation in the city of Aleppo in Syria it was stated that: "The fragile ceasefire brokered between Russia and the US in the last two months has come under renewed threat as terrorist factions like Islamic State and Al Nusra continue their efforts to regain ground." We should have made clear that more moderate opposition groups are also fighting in the Aleppo area.
The fact that the Assad government's attempts to besiege the city was now the key military development, and the consequences of this use of force were however made clear in the story itself. When describing Aleppo, in the introduction, as "once a major stronghold of terrorists", we should have clearly stated that this was a Russian Government position rather than a statement of fact.
08/06/2016
Watchdog
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One and website, Thursday 11 and Thursday 18 June 2015
The 18 June edition included a report on conditions in a number of branches of Pets at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, and concluded that shortcomings identified in a programme broadcast in 2012 had not been effectively addressed. Solicitors representing Pets at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ complained that the trailer for the item in the 11 June edition, the website content linked to the item and the item itself were in various ways inaccurate and unfair to their client.
The ECU found that the terms of the trailer and the item were justified on the basis of what the programme-makers had observed and filmed at the branches of Pets at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ. The website included a version of the 18 June item made before Pets at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's points in reply to criticisms were incorporated, but in response to the complaint the programme-makers acknowledged that this represented a serious breach of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's editorial standards and replaced the item with a version which reflected Pets at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's points. In the view of the ECU, this sufficed to resolve the issue.
07/06/2016
Today
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Wednesday 1 June 2016
In a report in news bulletins it was stated that 'wind and solar sources' accounted for 'around a quarter' of the UK's electricity supplies in the first quarter of 2016. In fact wind and solar power accounted for 53.3% of renewable energy generation in this period; hydro and biomass plants made up 46.7% of this output, producing 22.4% of UK generated electricity.
03/06/2016
Week In Week Out
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One Wales
We received complaints from viewers unhappy with how the programme reported the challenges to public bodies in meeting the Welsh Government's new Welsh language Standards.
02/06/2016
Closure of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Food website
We received complaints about our decision to close the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Food website.
19/05/2016
Complaints and Appeals Board
Summary of appeal finding:
- Television Licensing Appeal: The conduct of a TV Licensing Visiting Officer and the content of enquiry letters
10/05/2016
Tom English
Mr Mitchell, a former Chief Executive of the Scottish Premier League, complained that Tom English's tweet "Just about to read Roger Mitchell's blueprint on Scottish football", which was accompanied by a picture of the front cover of an edition of The Beano featuring Roger the Dodger, amounted to personal abuse and ridicule. The ECU agreed that the tweet went beyond the licence for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ reporters to offer "a professional judgement rooted in evidence" and expressed an inappropriately personal view.
06/05/2016
Rip-Off Britain
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Saturday 19 September 2015
The programme included an item on the unexpectedly high energy bills received by occupants of a new housing development with a district heating scheme.
03/05/2016
Editorial Standards Committee Findings
Summary of findings:
- Today
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Friday 25 September 2015 - Today
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Friday 4 September 2015 - Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News Online report on a Hearing of the General Medical Council's Professional Conduct Committee Hearing in June 1999
28/04/2016
Newsnight
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, Thursday 7 April 2016
In an introduction to a report on a drugs trial at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden it was stated that the trial was being offered to patients who called a "sexual offenders helpline" and that the trial raised questions about whether a therapy could be provided for the most dangerous offenders before they have broken the law. However, the helpline, and trial, is for people experiencing unwanted sexuality, who have sought help, not for offenders. We should also clarify that while the trial has ethical approval, the scientists behind it are still seeking crowdfunding to complete it.
28/04/2016
London's Mayor: The Big Debate
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One London, Monday 18 April 2016
On the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's London Mayoral Debate programme on Monday night, our presenter Andrew Neil described Suliman Gani as being a supporter of Islamic State, rather than a supporter of an Islamic state as he intended. We apologise to Mr Gani for this error and any distress caused.
22/04/2016
Don't Make Me Laugh
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Thursday 21 April 2016
We received complaints from some listeners regarding jokes made about the Queen and the Royal Family in this programme
22/04/2016
Scottish Liberal Democrat Party Election Broadcast
7 April 2016
The wrong version of the Scottish Liberal Democrat Party Election Broadcast scheduled for Thursday 7 April was transmitted. This was the result of a scheduling error at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland. The correct version was broadcast in the same slot on Tuesday 12 April.
07/04/2016
Editorial Standards Committee Findings
Summary of findings:
- Panorama: GM Food - Cultivating Fear
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Monday 8 June 2015 - The Stephen Nolan Show
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 Live, Friday 3 April 2015 - and more generally
31/03/2016
The Boat Races coverage
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Sunday 27 March 2016
We received complaints from some viewers unhappy with aspects of our coverage of The Boat Races.
29/03/2016
The "sanitised narrative" of Hiroshima's atomic bombing
bbc.co.uk
According to this online article, the rationale that the use of the A-bombs was intended to shorten the war and avoid an indefinite number of casualties "was constructed after the war, by America's leaders, to justify what they had done". The historian Anthony Beevor complained that this stated as fact a view which conflicted with contemporaneous evidence.
The ECU agreed that there are contemporaneous sources which make clear that extremely high estimates of casualties in the event of an invasion of Japan played a major part in US thinking. The ECU concluded that what the article stated as a fact was strongly contested, on the basis of credible evidence.
29/03/2016
Today
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Thursday 17 March 2016
In an introduction to a report, it was stated that the Small Business sector "tends to be in the Leave camp when it comes to the EU referendum". In fact there is no evidence from opinion polls or surveys which would support this view.
22/03/2016
Top Gear filming
Sunday 13 March 2016
We received complaints from members of the public concerned by press reports that appeared to show Top Gear filming close to the Cenotaph.
15/03/2016
Newsnight
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, Monday 15 February 2016
In a discussion a contributor, Paris Lees, stated that the writer Julie Bindel has refused to 'engage in debate', has made 'personal attacks against individual trans people' and argued for 'conversion therapy'. Ms Bindel denies this. She says that she has 'always been open and willing to debate' that she 'has never personally attacked any individual trans people for being trans' and finally she has 'never argued for conversion therapy, a practice she abhors'. Newsnight wishes to clarify her position, and apologises for any offence which may have been caused to her.
16/02/2016
Complaints and Appeals Board
Summary of appeal finding:
- Development and support of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ apps for Windows Phone
08/03/2016
Editorial Standards Committee Finding
Summary of finding:
- Breakfast Show
Three Counties Radio, Tuesday 3 November 2015
08/03/2016
Chris Evans
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2, Monday 12 October 2015
A viewer complained that Chris Evans' references to the first of his upcoming series of TFI Friday on Channel 4 had been inappropriately promotional. The ECU noted that, as the producers of TFI Friday profit from its sale to Channel 4, it comes within the scope of the editorial guidelines dealing with references to commercial products, organisations and services. Contrary to those guidelines, the references to TFI Friday were largely promotional in character, and more numerous than was editorially justifiable.
04/03/2016
South East Today
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One South East, Thursday 5 November 2015
CofE abuse victim criticises bishop's 'no cover-up' response
bbc.co.uk, Thursday 5 November 2015
An item in the programme and an associated online piece, on the handling of allegations of sexual abuse against clergy in the Diocese of Chichester, stated that there were 11 cases in which men connected with the diocese had been proven to have been involved in sexual abuse, and that the late Bishop George Bell was among them.
The journalist Peter Hitchens complained that this was inaccurate, as the allegations against Bishop Bell had never been tested in court and, although the church authorities had recently apologised to and settled a civil claim with his accuser, they were not in a position to determine his guilt and had not in fact stated that they believed him guilty. The original statement by the church authorities had not explicitly said they believed Bishop Bell to have been guilty, but a subsequent statement said they had accepted the veracity of the allegations on the balance of probabilities.
This, however, did not warrant reporting as a matter of fact that the allegations had been proven. Noting that South East Today had accepted in previous correspondence that the term was inappropriate and had undertaken to avoid it in future, the ECU considered that the issue of complaint had been resolved.
03/03/2016
Danny Kelly
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ WM, Tuesday 28 July 2015
Conducting a phone-in on a recent Appeal Court case in which a woman had successfully challenged her estranged mother's will, Danny Kelly attributed the estrangement to an affair between her, at the age of 17, and her mother's boyfriend. A listener who had read newspaper reports of the case complained that this was inaccurate.
As reported in the press, the estrangement had been caused by the daughter's decision to marry a man of whom her mother disapproved (to whom she is still married), and Danny Kelly's remarks were seriously inaccurate. It had been made clear in previous correspondence, however, that he and his producer had been reprimanded and reminded of their responsibilities as Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ journalists by the Editor of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ WM, and this sufficed to resolve the issue of complaint.
02/03/2016
Look East (West)
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One East, Wednesday 21 October 2015
The programme included an item on the dispute over the contract for junior doctors. A viewer complained that it was inaccurate to describe junior doctors as "those working in hospitals below consultant level" and to say that their maximum basic salary was Β£69,325 a year. Although not all junior doctors work in hospitals and not all hospital medical staff below consultant level are junior doctors, the first statement was not materially misleading in the context of an item aimed at a general audience. The second, however, significantly overstated the maximum basic salary of junior doctors, and reflected a mistaken assumption that "specialty doctors" (to whom the figure quoted in the programme applies) fell within the junior doctor category.
01/03/2016
Planet Oil
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four, Wednesday 14 October 2015
The presenter of this documentary ascribed the severe smog of the winter of 1952 to a shortage of oil in the UK, which occasioned an increase in the use of coal. A viewer who remembered the events of that year challenged the accuracy of this. Coal was the main source of domestic heating at that time, and sources agree that the main causal factor was an increase in domestic coal-burning during a cold spell (in combination with particular atmospheric conditions).
While shortage of oil may have occasioned a return to coal-burning in some areas of activity (for example, shipping on the Thames and some industrial processes), its contribution to the smog of 1952 appears unlikely to have been great.
29/02/2016
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World News
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News Channel, Tuesday 13 October 2015, 5.45am
During a review of the morning's papers, a report that the US had agreed to accept 10,000 Syrian immigrants during the coming year was discussed. A viewer complained that one of the presenters had inappropriately expressed a personal view on the topic.
The ECU noted that while the content of the presenter's comments might have been justifiable in other circumstances (for example, if he had been challenging a contrary view expressed by the guest reviewer), they were unprompted by anything said by the guest on this occasion, and were delivered in a manner which gave the impression of expressing a warmly-held view. However, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News had acknowledged and apologised for a lapse in objectivity in previous correspondence, and this was sufficient to resolve the issue of complaint.
26/02/2016
Shetland
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Friday 26 February 2016
We received complaints from some viewers who were unhappy that some episodes of Shetland have been postponed for sporting events.
26/02/2016
The FA Cup: 6th Round Draw
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, Sunday 21 February 2016
We received complaints from viewers who were unhappy with the comments made by Alan Shearer and Mark Chapman
23/02/2016
Graham Norton
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2, Saturday 13 February 2016
During a live discussion on the Graham Norton radio show on 13 February 2016 an incorrect name for the girlfriend of the former Irish Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, was stated inadvertently. We would like to clarify that the late Ms Terry Keane publicly admitted to being Mr Haughey's girlfriend. We apologise for this error.
22/02/2016
Editorial Standards Committee Findings
Serious editorial breaches:
- Patagonia: Earth's Secret Paradise
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, Friday 25 September 2015 - Human Planet: Deserts - Life in the Furnace
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, 2011
Appeal findings:
- Eurovision Song Contest 2015 Grand Final
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Saturday 23 May 2015
18/02/2016
Editorial Standards Committee Finding
Summary of finding:
- Editorial Appeal by the Green Party of England and Wales against the Allocation of Party Political Broadcasts for Spring 2016
17/02/2016
Today
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Monday 19 October 2015
Seven listeners complained that an exchange between John Humphrys and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Middle East Correspondent Kevin Connolly, prompted by the latest in a series of apparently spontaneous attacks on Israelis by individual Palestinians, had given a misleading impression of the scale of Israeli casualties.
John Humphrys said: "The number is mounting, isn't it Kevin? It's about fifty now, isn't it?", to which Kevin Connolly replied: "We think about fifty dead over the last month or so, John - this sharp uptick of violence - not just that attack on the bus station in Beersheba, in Israel itself but also on Saturday a wave of stabbing attacks in Hebron and Jerusalem".
The ECU noted that whilst this figure was intended to refer to all those killed in the recent "uptick of violence", but in the context, and without clarification, listeners would have been likely to take it as referring only to Israeli dead. As the Israeli death toll at that point stood at eight, this was misleading.
15/02/2016
Happy Valley
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Tuesday 9 February 2016
We received complaints from some viewers who felt that the dialogue was difficult to hear in this episode.
12/02/2016
Radio Scotland News in the Highlands and Islands; Radio nan Gaidheal News; Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News Online Scotland, Tuesday 9 February 2016
A number of local radio news bulletins and an online news report wrongly reported that John Charters, a care home manager, had been found guilty of misconduct and struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This was incorrect. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland acknowledged that a factual error was made and took action to correct the story.
10/02/2016
The Town That Took On The Taxman
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, Wednesday 20 January 2016
In this programme it was stated that Amazon paid "just Β£11.9m in corporation tax last year (2014) on Β£5.3 bn of sales. That's 0.0002%". In fact this represents 0.22% by proportion.
03/02/2016
Newsnight
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, Wednesday 14 October 2015
A viewer complained that Mark Urban incorrectly referred to Jerusalem as "Israel's capital". His wording suggested that Jerusalem was the undisputed capital of Israel, which is not the case. However, the programme-makers had acknowledged the inaccuracy and posted a correction on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's website and Twitter. In the Unit's view, this sufficed to resolve the issue of complaint.
29/01/2016
Newsnight
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, Thursday 1 October 2015
Six people (some identifying themselves as junior doctors) complained about a statement by Kirsty Wark to the effect that they had the highest starting salary among graduates. In a field where comparison is far from straightforward, the ECU found no measure on which junior doctors could be said to have the highest graduate starting salary, though they come within the highest bracket if account is taken of the allowances which form part of their remuneration. The issue was complicated by Kirsty Wark's citation of a figure which did not include those allowances, with the implication that Β£23,000 a year (which is the basic salary) placed junior doctors at the top of the graduate salary league.
28/01/2016
Complaints and Appeals Board
Summary of findings:
- Handling of a complaint about a TV Licensing Officer's visit to an unlicensed property
- Handling of a complaint about phone calls received from TV Licensing
- Refund of domestic TV licences purchased unnecessarily.
28/01/2016
Editorial Standards Committee Findings
Summary of findings:
- The World at One
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Tuesday 21 April 2015 - Today
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Tuesday 10 March 2015 - The Wreck of the Alba
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra, Tuesday 10 March 2015 - Appeal concerning the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's handling of three complaints about coverage of a sermon by pastor James McConnell
May 2014 - June 2015 - Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News at Ten: Race discrimination cases
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Thursday 12 March 2015
28/01/2016
Russell Howard's Good News
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, Thursday 12 November 2015
An edition of Russell Howard's Good News, first broadcast on 12 November, said that Philip Davies MP blocked a proposed law to introduce free hospital parking for carers by speaking in the House for 93 minutes. We are happy to clarify that Mr Davies did not personally use up all the time available for the debate and that almost three hours remained after he sat down. There is also a suggestion in this edition that Philip Davies argued in the House of Commons that disabled people should be obliged to work for less than the statutory minimum wage. We would like to clarify that the programme did not fully represent his comments, which were, that it would be in the best interests of disabled people, and others, to be allowed to offer to work for less than the minimum wage, if the alternative were no employment at all.
20/01/2016
Question Time
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Thursday 14 January 2016
We received complaints from viewers who felt the panel had a right wing bias.
15/01/2016
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News, January 2016
We received complaints from viewers and listeners who felt there was too much coverage of David Bowie's death during Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News programmes and bulletins.
12/01/2016
PM
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Monday 11 January 2016
PM's report on the resignation of Sir Philip Dilley as Chairman of the Environment Agency stated that the previous Chairman, Baron Smith of Finsbury, had also had to resign "after he wasn't present at Christmas". In fact Lord Smith served out the whole of his two terms from 2008 until July 2014.
12/01/2016
Broadcasting House
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Sunday 6 December 2015
During a section comparing UK politicians' speeches in the House of Commons, excerpts of speeches from the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the Leader of the Opposition Michael Foot on the Falklands war were played. The programme incorrectly said that both speeches were made in the Commons on the same day - 3 April 1982 - when Michael Foot's speech was made later in the month, on 29 April 1982. We are happy to make this clear.
08/01/2016
Danny Kelly
Radio WM, Friday 24 July 2015
A listener complained that the programme contained inaccuracies about Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) which gave a misleading impression of its cost to employers. The programme stated that a company had to pay 50% of SMP, whereas the Government pays most, if not all, of the costs (depending on the size of the company).
06/01/2016
News Briefing
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, Monday 30 November 2015
During the Lookback section, the temporary closure of The Times newspaper in 1978/79 was mentioned. The editorial team acknowledges that the scripting gave the misleading impression that strike action led to the cease in publication of the paper.
05/01/2016
Newsnight
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, Friday 6 November 2015
In a report about the crash of a Russian airliner it was stated that an official report had determined that Flight MH17 was brought down over Ukraine by a rocket launched by 'Russian backed rebels'. Although the report by the Dutch Safety Board did cite the use of a Russian made missile and surface to air missile system, it did not state who had launched the missile.
05/01/2016