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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Climate documentary 'broke rules' | Climate documentary 'broke rules' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A controversial Channel 4 film on global warming broke Ofcom rules, the media regulator says. | A controversial Channel 4 film on global warming broke Ofcom rules, the media regulator says. |
| The Great Global Warming Swindle attracted various complaints, including claims that it misled contributors. | The Great Global Warming Swindle attracted various complaints, including claims that it misled contributors. |
| In a long-awaited judgement, Ofcom says Channel 4 did not fulfil obligations to be impartial and to reflect a range of views on controversial issues. | In a long-awaited judgement, Ofcom says Channel 4 did not fulfil obligations to be impartial and to reflect a range of views on controversial issues. |
| However, it judges that the film did not mislead audiences "so as to cause harm or offence". | However, it judges that the film did not mislead audiences "so as to cause harm or offence". |
| Channel 4 said it aired the documentary to demonstrate that "the debate" on climate change was not over. | Channel 4 said it aired the documentary to demonstrate that "the debate" on climate change was not over. |
| The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the former UK government chief scientific adviser Sir David King were among those whose complaints were upheld. | The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the former UK government chief scientific adviser Sir David King were among those whose complaints were upheld. |
| The film's key contention was that the increase in atmospheric temperatures observed since the 1970s was not primarily caused by emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. | The film's key contention was that the increase in atmospheric temperatures observed since the 1970s was not primarily caused by emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. |
| First aired by Channel 4 in March 2007, the documentary has since reportedly been sold to 21 countries and distributed on DVD. What we now have is an out-and-out propaganda piece, in which there is not even a gesture toward balance Dr Carl Wunsch | First aired by Channel 4 in March 2007, the documentary has since reportedly been sold to 21 countries and distributed on DVD. What we now have is an out-and-out propaganda piece, in which there is not even a gesture toward balance Dr Carl Wunsch |
| Among discussion groups of "climate sceptics", it is sometimes cited as a counter to Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth and has been credited with infuencing public opinion on the causes of modern-day climate change. | Among discussion groups of "climate sceptics", it is sometimes cited as a counter to Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth and has been credited with infuencing public opinion on the causes of modern-day climate change. |
| 'Propaganda piece' | 'Propaganda piece' |
| The regulator backed Sir David's complaint of unfair treatment, judging that his views were misrepresented and that he was not given the right to reply. | The regulator backed Sir David's complaint of unfair treatment, judging that his views were misrepresented and that he was not given the right to reply. |
| Ofcom also found in favour of Carl Wunsch, an oceanographer interviewed for the programme, who said he had been misled as to its intent. | Ofcom also found in favour of Carl Wunsch, an oceanographer interviewed for the programme, who said he had been misled as to its intent. |
| Dr Wunsch, from the Massachussetts Institute of Technology, said he believed he was being asked to take part in a programme that would "discuss in a balanced way the complicated elements of understanding of climate change", but "what we now have is an out-and-out propaganda piece, in which there is not even a gesture toward balance". | Dr Wunsch, from the Massachussetts Institute of Technology, said he believed he was being asked to take part in a programme that would "discuss in a balanced way the complicated elements of understanding of climate change", but "what we now have is an out-and-out propaganda piece, in which there is not even a gesture toward balance". |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Ofcom's logic is that "the link between human activity and global warming... became settled before March 2007". | |
| 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". | |
| While some of the 265 complaints received by Ofcom were short and straightforward, one group assembled a 176-page document alleging 137 breaches of the Broadcasting Code. | While some of the 265 complaints received by Ofcom were short and straightforward, one group assembled a 176-page document alleging 137 breaches of the Broadcasting Code. |
| Channel 4 will have to broadcast a summary of the Ofcom findings. | Channel 4 will have to broadcast a summary of the Ofcom findings. |
| Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk | Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk |