Complaint
This online video reported on the situation in Gary, Indiana, which had been without electricity for 13 days following storm damage. A viewer complained that it carried an implication that residents were victims of racism on the part of the state power company, NIPSCo, while failing to report other, more probable causes for the delay in restoring power, such as the prevalence of gun crime and the fact that utility workers had come under fire. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the 91福利社鈥檚 editorial standards of accuracy and impartiality.
Outcome
Though there had been an incident in which two NIPSCo employees in a Jeep were fired at, this appeared to have had only minor effect on repair work overall, and the ECU did not consider it essential to due accuracy for the report to have mentioned it. It agreed, however, that one of the residents featured in the piece spoke in terms which implied racism on the part of NIPSCo. In the ECU鈥檚 view, due impartiality required some reflection of NIPSCo鈥檚 position in the report, and this aspect of the complaint was upheld.
Partly upheld
Further action
The finding was reported to the management of 91福利社 News and discussed with the editorial team concerned. The video will be edited to comply with the 91福利社鈥檚 standards of impartiality.