The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a key source of science news and information in the UK and beyond. Its name is synonymous worldwide with quality broadcasting. However, how does its coverage of science fare? Is it impartial and accurate? This was the subject of an independent review, commissioned by the BBC Trust and led by Steve Jones, emeritus professor of genetics at University College London.

 

The review, which reported its results last week, found that although the BBC's science reporting was on the whole exemplary, editorial guidelines enforcing “due impartiality” (introduced in 2010) were applied too rigidly when it came to science. “Programme makers must make a distinction between well-established fact and opinion in science coverage and ensure the distinction is clear”, said the report. Often the BBC gave as much time to the views of mavericks or interest groups as it did to scientists and qualified experts. Examples included coverage of climate change and genetically modified crops. This issue goes beyond the BBC.