Censure for Channel 4 over misquoted scientist

Published on Saturday 19 July 2008 19:36

CHANNEL 4 misrepresented comments by a former Government scientist but did not materially mislead viewers with a controversial documentary on climate change, Ofcom is expected to report tomorrow.

The broadcast regulator received complaints over privacy and fairness from former Government chief scientist, Sir David King, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change after The Great Global Warming Swindle was shown, it was reported yesterday.

In the documentary, climate-change cynic Fred Singer incorrectly stated that King claimed by the end of the century the only habitable place on earth would be the Antarctic.

The report will say: "Channel 4 unfairly attributed to the former chief scientist David King comments he had not made and criticised him for them and also failed to provide an opportunity to reply."

King's complaints are expected to be upheld by Ofcom tomorrow, as will three of the five made by the IPCC. Another will be thrown out, while the fifth will be partly upheld.

These are believed to be about not being given enough time to respond.

However, Ofcom is also expected to say Channel 4 did not materially mislead the audience and was within its rights to show the programme.