tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post831109749290490126..comments2024-02-15T04:42:41.606+00:00Comments on James' Empty Blog: "Watchdog finds documentary was unfair to scientists but did not mislead viewers"James Annanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04318741813895533700noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-24623496008589171322008-07-21T12:53:00.000+01:002008-07-21T12:53:00.000+01:00http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7517101.stm"Th...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7517101.stm<BR/><BR/>"The Broadcasting Code requires Channel 4 to show "due impartiality" on "matters of major political and industrial controversy and major matters relating to current public policy". <BR/><BR/>The last segment of the programme, dealing with the politics of climate change, broke this obligation, Ofcom judged, and did not reflect a range of views, as required under the code. <BR/><BR/>However, the regulator said it did not believe, given the nature of the programme, that this led to the audience being "materially misled so as to cause harm or offence" - the standard that Ofcom says complaints have to reach. <BR/><BR/>Ofcom's logic is that "the link between human activity and global warming... became settled before March 2007". <BR/><BR/>This being so, it says, disputing the scientific link between human activity and climate change does not meet the Broadcasting Code's definition of "controversial". "<BR/><BR/>This implies madness on two counts:<BR/><BR/>1. If it is controverial code says don't mislead but if uncontroverial then misleading is OK.<BR/><BR/>2. If it hinged on controversy being needed when the sentence included "matters of major political and industrial controversy and major matters relating to current public policy"<BR/>suggest that that there is neither controversy (true) but also that climate change is not a 'major matters relating to current public policy'.<BR/><BR/>Probably needs a review of the judgement rather than the BBC news story.crandleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15181530527401007161noreply@blogger.com