MORE than 18,000 people complained to the BBC over a news report which contained a racist term, according to figures from the broadcaster.
During a report last week on a suspected racially-motivated attack in Bristol, social affairs correspondent Fiona Lamdin repeated a racial slur which was allegedly used during the incident.
The story ran on the BBC News Channel and local news programme Points West on July 29, however later that day the broadcaster stopped running the report which featured the offensive language.
The corporation received a total of 18,656 complaints.
On the day of the broadcast a spokeswoman for the BBC said the report related to a “shocking unprovoked attack on a young man”.
She added: “His family told the BBC about the racist language used by the attackers and wanted to see the full facts made public.
“A warning was given before this was reported.
“We are no longer running this version of the report but are continuing to pursue the story.”
In a further statement on Tuesday, the BBC said: “We believe we gave adequate warnings that upsetting images and language would be used and we will continue to pursue this story.”
The statement added that the decision to include the term was taken “by a team of people including a number of senior editorial figures”.
In June the broadcaster received 23,674 complaints over an episode of Newsnight in which Emily Maitlis delivered an introduction about the Dominic Cummings lockdown row.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel