Exchange with BBC re News at Ten (13/5/19)Archived Message
Posted by John Hilley on June 6, 2019, 9:04 am
To BBC (14/5/19)
In this news report, presenter Huw Edwards stated with regard to the Julian Assange case: "He’s always denied the charges".
As the BBC should very well know, Assange has never been charged with anything by the Swedish authorities.
Why was this entirely false statement made by the BBC? Isn't it a clear dereliction of the BBC's proclaimed duty to provide clear and accurate information?
This statement has helped reinforce a very serious misconception around the Assange story.
Will the BBC be issuing an appropriate public correction on a forthcoming edition of News at Ten?
From BBC (05/6/19)
Dear Mr Hilley
Thank you for getting in touch about the BBC News at Ten broadcast 13 May, and please accept our apologies for the delay in our response.
We appreciate you feel it was inaccurate for Huw Edwards to say that Julian Assange 'has always denied the charges' against him.
We always aim for the highest standards of accuracy in our reporting, and are grateful you've taken the time to raise this with us. As you've said, a more accurate phrasing of this would be that Assange denies the 'allegations' rather than 'charges'.
Our online articles using this wording have been amended:
We have also added correction notes at the bottom which outline these changes. Your complaint about the News at Ten has been shared with the programme's editors, as well as senior staff across BBC News.
We hope you’ll find these changes satisfactory and thank you once again for getting in touch.
Kind regards [..] BBC Complaints Team
To BBC (6/6/19)
Dear [..]
Thanks for making these important online corrections. However, in full and fair redress to Mr Assange, and in the public interest, the same correction should be aired on News at Ten. I trust you can find a suitable opportunity to do so.