Complaint
In a video attached to this report the ý’s Climate Editor, Justin Rowlatt, described the UK offshore wind industry as “now virtually subsidy free”. A viewer of the video complained that this was inaccurate. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the ý’s editorial standards of due accuracy.
Outcome
As explained to the complainant in previous correspondence, Mr Rowlatt’s intended meaning was that the most recently approved offshore wind projects were expected to operate without subsidy (or with “negative subsidy”) because the price at which the successful companies would sell the energy they produce to the Government was expected to be lower over the lifetime of the project than the wholesale electricity price on the UK market. However, it was not clear from the context that Mr Rowlatt was referring only to recently approved projects, and the ECU considered viewers likely to form the impression that the industry as a whole was “now virtually subsidy free”. As existing installations are expected to receive significant subsidies over their lifetime, that impression would have been inaccurate.
Upheld
Further action
The finding was reported to the Board of ý News and discussed with Mr Rowlatt. The article has been amended to remove the inaccurate impression.