Complaint
A viewer objected to the juxtaposition of an image of a protestor holding a “There is no climate emergency” placard with a BBC presenter talking about disinformation, arguing that it amounted to an endorsement of a contested term by the BBC. The ECU considered whether the broadcast met the editorial standards for impartiality set out in the BBC Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
This video highlighted the aim of BBC News to provide accurate and truthful journalism at a time when disinformation is rife. It included examples of disinformation such as footage of the Eiffel Tower on fire, claims the Mayor of London controls the Metropolitan Police, and claims the Covid-19 pandemic “wasn’t real”. The images also contained one of a man holding a placard which prompted the complaint. But in the context of the video as a whole the ECU considered it highly unlikely viewers would have given the kind of weight to one fleeting image as was suggested by the complainant, and did not believe it amounted to the BBC taking a political position on a contested issue.
Not Upheld