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Susanne,

 

It is very interesting that you have highlighted the BBC Trust report
because it provides an opportunity to make list members aware of an
ongoing scandal surrounding it.

 

The report was published in July, but immediately drew a threat of libel
action from Private Eye's favourite learned friends, Carter Ruck, acting
on behalf of Lord Lawson, who was unhappy about a sentence on page 72 of
the report that pointed out the BBC has provided airtime for he and
other so-called 'sceptics' to make statements that are not supported by
the facts.

 

The BBC Trust immediately amended the report, which is noted on its
website, but Lord Lawson has not withdrawn the threat. As a result, the
BBC Trust has cancelled all outreach efforts that were planned for the
report, including a public debate at the Royal Institution. You can read
more in this article on the website of 'The Guardian':
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/21/lord-lawson-global-war
ming-errors

 

Ironically, Lord Lawson's legal action came to light when he mentioned
it in an article in The Sunday Times, in which he complained that
'sceptics' were not being given the coverage they deserve. It seems they
are in favour of free speech, except for everybody else.

 

Tomorrow, the Global Warming Policy Foundation, of which Lawson is
chair, will publish a report written by Christopher Booker, the very
veteran columnist for 'The Sunday Telegraph', that attacks the BBC's
coverage of climate change. It follows Lawson's article in this week's
edition of the 'Radio Times' which attacks David Attenborough about the
sensationalism of tonight's final episode of 'Frozen Planet'. And of
course the 'sceptics' have co-opted the efforts of arch-BBC haters in
the right-wing Press.

 

The Leveson Inquiry is considering the culture of both the UK Press and
broadcast media. No doubt the 'sceptics' are bombarding Leveson with
anti-BBC propaganda in the same way they did during the early stages of
the BBC Trust report. It would be good if there were some balancing
submissions to Leveson from sensible psci-commers.

 

Bob Ward

 

Policy and Communications Director

Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment

London School of Economics and Political Science

Houghton Street

London

UK

WC2A 2AE

 

Tel. +44 (0) 20 7106 1236

Mob. +44 (0) 7811 320346

Web: http://www.lse.ac.uk/grantham

Twitter: @ret_ward

 

From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Susanne Hammacher
Sent: 07 December 2011 15:07
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Levenson Inquiry and Scientific Journalism - BBC
Trust review

 

		 

	Some of you might have been contacted; In July 2010 the BBC
Trust had invited for a consultation on impartiality and accuracy in
science coverage in their media. I just checked and they have indeed
published a report in July 2011. Perhaps something to bring to the
attention of the Levenson inquiry.

	
	
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/our_work/science_impartia
lity/science_impartiality.pdf

	 

Susanne Hammacher
Film Officer | Festival Manager
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As you all will be aware (and how could you not be?!), the Leveson
Inquiry into the culture, practice and ethics of the press is currently
considering issues related to the press and the public. You may also
have heard that the Inquiry is also keen to understand better how the
scientific community sees coverage of scientific issues in the press and
wider media.  Having been in touch with the Inquiry team I have been
told that this is indeed true. Submissions on the issue of scientific
journalism and science in the media can be made until the end of
January, but the Inquiry is understandably receiving a large volume of
evidence.

 
Oliver O'Hanlon 
Policy & Administration Executive
Science Council | 32-36 Loman Street | London | SE1 0EH
T: 020 7922 7880 | Web: www.sciencecouncil.org
<http://www.sciencecouncil.org> <http://www.sciencecouncil.org>  
Twitter @olyohanlon

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