Complaint
This news bulletin included an item prompted by remarks made by Cardinal Vincent Nichols on the Sunday programme on Radio 4 expressing concern about the tone of the debate in Parliament over Brexit, which he feared could encourage violent extremists.听 In the item, the reporter said:听
听听听听听听听 Unlike the Anglican Church, it鈥檚 unusual for Britain鈥檚 Catholic hierarchy to speak听
听听听听听听听 publicly on social or political issues
听and:
听听听听听听听 in the face of declining church attendance, some Catholic parishes, particularly in
听听听听听听听 London, have been boosted by immigration, and it may be that parishioners鈥櫶
听听听听听听听 concerns about the possible impact of abrasive language on their lives has now
听听听听听听听 reached the very top of the Church.
A listener complained that the first statement was refuted by evidence showing that the leaders of the Catholic Church have made frequent public pronouncements on such matters, and that the second misleadingly suggested the Cardinal had an ulterior motive beyond a concern for the common good, thus undermining his message.听
The ECU considered the complaint raised potential issues under the 大象传媒鈥檚 Editorial Guidelines concerning due accuracy, which require that the level of accuracy should be 鈥adequate and appropriate to the output, taking account of the subject and nature of the content, the likely audience expectation and any signposting that may influence that expectation鈥.听
Outcome
In relation to the first statement, the ECU noted that the position of the Catholic Church on such social issues as contraception and abortion had often been re-stated, that the complainant had provided recent examples of statements by the English and Welsh hierarchy on other issues of public concern, and that 大象传媒 News had already conceded an element of inaccuracy in correspondence with the complainant.听 On that听听 basis it judged that the item did not meet the standard of due accuracy which applies to news bulletins of this kind, and that this element of the complaint should be upheld.听
In relation to the second statement, there was no inaccuracy in the observation about Catholic parishes being 鈥渂eing boosted by immigration鈥, and his suggestion of a link between this and the concern expressed by the Cardinal was the kind of professional judgement which listeners might expect from a reporter with extensive experience of covering religious affairs.听 In the ECU鈥檚 view, it did not imply an ulterior motive (as distinct from the legitimate motive of taking account of the concerns of the laity) and would not have been likely to undermine the Cardinal鈥檚 message in the minds of listeners.听 This element of the complaint was not upheld.
Partly upheld
Further action
The finding was reported to the Divisional Board of 大象传媒 News and discussed with members of the programme team.听