The Legacy of Chernobyl

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Pro-nuclear bias on BBC Radio 4: the next stage for complaints

This is about Fallout: The Legacy of Chernobyl: BBC Radio 4 26th April 2011 20.00 - 20.40 (It is still on BBC Iplayer so you can listen to it.)

It seems that many people have complained about this biased programme. Some have sent us copies of an answer from producer Brian King of Above the Title, who claimed the programme was scrupulously researched with the objective of identifying the scientific truth about the health impact of the Chernobyl radiation leak, and to dispel some of the widespread myth and distortion surrounding the accident.  LLRC's own complaint has concentrated on showing that in fact the programme added to the myths and distortion with a catalogue of factual errors which all, by large factors, underplayed the extent of pollution and the gravity of the risks. People whose untruths featured in the programme were "Crimewatch" presenter Nick Ross, Professor Gerry Thomas of Imperial College London, Professor Sir David King, and WHO dosimetry expert Vadim Chumak. Their nonsense is deconstructed at  http://www.llrc.org/bbcbiasonchernobyl.htm.

Brian King's response is stereotyped and does not address any of the substance of the complaints. If you are not satisfied with this, the next stage is to refer your complaint to the BBC's Editorial Complaints Unit. (We note that Brian King's early responses included advice about the ECU stage and even gave the addresses. Later he stopped being so helpful, which suggests he's feeling the heat.)

If you have received a response make sure you quote the reference number when writing to ECU. Also include your postal address, as ECU only sends written replies.

The Editorial Complaints Unit's address is
Room 5170
White City

BBC Media Village
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TS

Email e...@bbc.co.uk 

 

Arising from the massive errors of fact Vadim Chumak made on the programme, LLRC has written to the World Health Organisation to ask for him to be deselected from the "Expert" panel of WHO's "Agenda for Research on Chernobyl Health".