Complaint
A listener complained that the programme featured Kathryn Porter discussing Shell鈥檚 quarterly financial results without providing sufficient information about her affiliations and external activities. The complaint argued that these activities gave rise to doubts about her impartiality, integrity and independence in relation to the subject matter of the interview and that audiences should have been given additional context about her background.
The ECU considered the complaint under the Editorial Guidelines on accuracy relating to the identification of significant contributors and making their credentials clear to audiences.
Outcome
The ECU found that Kathryn Porter had been introduced as an 鈥渆nergy consultant at Watt Logic鈥, her consultancy company, and that she had been interviewed in her capacity as an energy market analyst on financial and energy market issues.
Having reviewed the material, the ECU found no evidence that she had worked for oil companies and noted that her previous employment with energy companies had been around ten years earlier. In those circumstances, it concluded there was no requirement to provide audiences with information beyond the description that was given.
Not Upheld