BBC News (10pm), BBC One, 21 August 2018: Finding by the Executive Complaints Unit
ComplaintThe bulletin included a report on the possible effect of Brexit on import-export traffic through Dover. A viewer complained that the reporter’s statement “210 million containers a year will be potentially added to those requiring customs checks” was misleading.
OutcomeThe 210 million figure reflected the HMRC estimate of the annual number of additional customs declarations resulting from Brexit, including crates, drums, boxes and cases as well as intermodal freight containers. However, the context would have given the impression that it referred to intermodal containers only, which was misleading.Upheld
Further actionJournalists have been reminded to be careful when they attempt to reduce complex statistics to a more understandable overall picture and to ensure that in doing so the pictures match the conclusion they have reached.
Naturally, I was curious to find out who the "misleading" BBC reporter was. Using the Wayback Machine, it turns out to have been the BBC's home editor Mark Easton.
Good spot Craig but...hardly anyone reads the ECU findings. ‘Journalists have been reminded’ is not really a rap on the knuckles and in truth is no punishment at all.
ReplyDeleteSo there is no penalty for BBC misinformation, Easton and his ilk know this and use out to their advantage. They simply don’t care if they get some of it wrong when making their point to support the narrative.
It’s called propaganda and the BBC spew forth with it continually.
Whoever wrote that complaints report isn't going to go very far at the BBC.
ReplyDelete