Complaint
A listener complained the Today programme鈥檚 coverage of a speech by the Prime Minister on climate change was not impartial, with 鈥渟ix full critical interviews鈥 offset by only 鈥渁 few supportive remarks鈥. 听The ECU considered whether this met the requirements for due impartiality set out in the 大象传媒 Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
The Editorial Guidelines recognise it is essential for news programmes to be able to explore and examine the views of relevant people on matters of public policy or major political controversy. 听The requirement for a programme such as Today when reporting on a controversial issue is to ensure a 鈥渨ide range of significant views and perspectives are given due weight and prominence鈥. This may include broadcasting comments which support or criticise Government policy. 听Apart from a substantial interview with Mr Sunak himself , the ECU noted Today used a range of editorial techniques to meet the requirements for due impartiality, providing, for example, accurate summaries of the Prime Minister鈥檚 proposals in each news bulletin and summary. 听Other interviews on the subject of climate change included accounts of the Prime Minister鈥檚 position and the presenters 听reflected the reasons Mr Sunak had given for the change in policy. They also posed an appropriate range of challenging questions to help listeners to put these contributions into context.
听Not Upheld