News (7.00am), Radio 4, 22 August 2023

Complaint

This bulletin included a report on research published by the High Pay Centre which a listener considered inaccurate and misleading.  The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the ´óÏó´«Ã½â€™s editorial standards of accuracy.


Outcome

The research suggested the bosses of Britain’s one hundred biggest companies had seen their pay increase by an average of 16% last year, while many workers’ wages had struggled to keep up with inflation.  The complainant questioned the Centre’s methodology and argued the figures failed to take into account longer-term trends.  In the ECU’s view, however, the report accurately summarised the research findings  and placed them in proper context.  Listeners were told the source of the research, the bosses to which it referred, the average increase in pay compared to the previous year, and the fact the analysis was based on the median value of earnings.

Not Upheld