The BBC is to conduct a review of its science-related output following claims of bias in reporting issues such as climate change, genetically-modified food and the MMR vaccine.
The review, conducted by the BBC's governing body the BBC Trust, is a requirement of the Royal Charter and Agreement that states that the organisation must cover potentially controversial subjects, including science, with due impartiality.
The review will cover the natural sciences, as well as aspects of technology, medicine and the environment that involve scientific statements, research or claims made by scientists. It will focus on news and factual programming referring to scientific findings that might have political or policy-related implications.
News of the review has sparked concern amongst some BBC staff. However, BBC Radio reporter Richard Hollingham welcomed the move.
“For any reporter who works for the BBC, either as a freelancer or staff, balance and impartiality are in our blood. If anything, in recent years, we have been accused of being too balanced when it comes to covering climate change, perhaps sometimes giving the impression that scientific opinion was split 50/50 by featuring discussions with climate scientists versus sceptics,” he said.
"I'd welcome any review. There's no harm in questioning the way the BBC reports science. The BBC is under unprecedented political pressure at the moment from politicians and vested media interests so I don't think we should get too worked up about this.”
The review is expected to begin in the spring, with the findings published in 2011. It comes at a time when the BBC Executive has indicated the desire to raise the profile of science across the BBC’s television, radio and online outlets.
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