The BBC's coverage of science is "high quality…clear, accurate and impartial" according to an independent review published by the BBC Trust today. The review also identifies a number of measures that can be taken to further improve coverage.
The review of impartiality and accuracy in the BBC's science coverage consisted of an independent report from Professor Steve Jones, Emeritus Professor of Genetics at University College London, and in-depth content analysis carried out by Imperial College London for two separate periods in 2009 and 2010.
Professor Jones found that "in general, [BBC] output is of a high quality, widely praised for its breadth and depth, its professionalism, and its clear, accurate and impartial manner".
The review also found that science is spread across a wide range of specialist and non-specialist BBC programming. One in four broadcast news items related to science, and Radio 4 and BBC Four receive particular credit for the depth and frequency of their contributions to overall output.
The report concludes however, that in particular the BBC must take special care to continue efforts to ensure viewers are able to distinguish well-established fact from opinion on scientific issues and to communicate this distinction clearly to the audience.
The BBC must also enable greater collaboration between science programme makers across the corporation, as well as widening the pool of sources for stories by increasing contact with the scientific community. To achieve this, the BBC will recruit and appoint a Science Editor and will create a pan-BBC science forum to meet and share information bi-annually.
The Trust is today publishing Professor Jones' report, the content analysis, a response from the BBC Executive and a commentary from the Trust.
Alison Hastings, Chair of the Trust's Editorial Standards Committee, who led on this review, said:
"Taken in the round, this is a vote of confidence in the BBC's coverage of science. The report finds a lot to commend in the quality, depth, breadth and accuracy of programming, and our recommendations should be taken in that context.
"Without in any way compromising journalistic rigour and scrutiny, the BBC must take extra care to be duly impartial when covering science so that the audience are clear about the difference between established facts and opinions. The new Science Editor will join other editors to become a figurehead and an ambassador for their specialism, and the BBC will also look at making adjustments to its newsgathering and information sharing in order to further improve its coverage."Read More from BBC Trust
(Source : BBC Press Release)
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