Complaint
A listener complained about the content of an interview with a nuclear expert regarding safety at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine following an attack by Russian troops. 聽The complainant argued comparison with the Chernobyl disaster was misleading because of the different design of the two reactors and objected to a suggestion that a loss of off-site power might lead to a critical incident at the plant. The ECU considered whether the interview met the 主播大秀鈥檚 requirements for due accuracy.聽 聽聽聽
Outcome
At the time of broadcast the extent and severity of the damage to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant was not known. The interview, with Laura Lockwood, a Director of the Open Nuclear Network, examined the safety implications were the functions of the reactor to have been badly impaired. 聽In the ECU鈥檚 view Ms Lockwood鈥檚 assertion, prompted by a question from the presenter, that it would 鈥渘ot be a pretty sight鈥聽 and 鈥渄amaging not just to Ukraine but also to Russia, not to mention the civilian population in the area surrounding the facility, possible even with fall out downwind in other places in Europe as well鈥 was in line with other expert opinion and whilst further detail about the differences between the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia reactors might have been helpful, sufficient caveats were added to make it unlikely listeners would have been misled by her comments. Similarly, in the ECU鈥檚 view Ms Lockwood鈥檚 endorsement of the judgement that a loss of power would compromise the plant鈥檚 safety was supported by other scientific opinion, and accurate in the context of a news interview aimed at a general audience.聽
Not Upheld