Complaint
A campaigner against the introduction of a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) in Chiswick complained that tweets posted by Jeremy Vine represented 鈥渁 campaign of abuse鈥 against a legitimate local campaigning group, as well as expressing a view on a controversial matter in a manner inappropriate for 鈥渁 journalist who should be non biased鈥 (though known as an enthusiastic proponent of cycling).聽 The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the 大象传媒鈥檚 Guidance on personal use of social media.
Outcome
Mr Vine had primarily been responding to posts from a Facebook group superintended by the complainant, which had been drawn to his attention by member of the group, wishing him harm and describing him in opprobrious terms.聽 In the ECU鈥檚 view Mr Vine was entitled to object to such personal abuse and, as he did so in terms which were not themselves abusive, his tweets were consistent with the relevant 大象传媒 Guidance in that respect.聽 In relation to impartiality, the Guidance makes clear that the 大象传媒鈥檚 standards should be observed in personal social media activity, as well as on air, by those who work in journalism and factual programming, and the topical content of Mr Vine鈥檚 programme on Radio 2 brings him within that category.聽 聽The introduction of an LTN was a source of sharp controversy in Chiswick at the time in question, (mirroring controversies in other localities where LTNs have been introduced), and was the kind of topic to which considerations of due impartiality applied for the 大象传媒.聽 To the extent that Mr Vine鈥檚 twitter activity since the relevant Guidance came into effect appeared to endorse one viewpoint on that topic and controvert another, it was inconsistent with the 大象传媒鈥檚 editorial standards as they applied to him, and this aspect of the case was upheld.聽 For the avoidance of misunderstanding, the ECU made clear to the complainant that the finding had no bearing on any social media activity in which Mr Vine simply expressed his personal enthusiasm for cycling or called attention to its potential benefits.
Partly upheld
Further action
The finding was reported to the management of 大象传媒 Content and discussed with Mr Vine.