The BBC isn’t saying much about how they came out with the “story” about Union Carbide accepting responsibility for the Bhopal disaster. But the little that’s come out so far leaves me flummoxed as to how it could have happened.
Apparently, BBC interviewed this fellow on two occasions, then went to air with the story. They never noticed that he was not a UC representative, or even an employee. And, even with such a blockbuster claim from an unknown representative, they didn’t think to run it by anyone else at UC? Or at least happen to mention it to someone at UC in the process of putting the story together.
As bad as the CBS/Burkett thing was, at least you could see how it could happen. I can’t say that about this latest BBC one.
Someone gets a HOT tip/story/interview that sounds plausible and they are in such an all fired hurry to scoop the competion that they push common sense and skeptism out the window and run with it. Also they may want to believe it’s true.
Only when the story turns out to be false do they come or is it almost come to their senses.
A good solid story beats a half baked one anytime. (No egg on your face either.)
The Yes Men were responsible, check out the interview at http://www.DemocracyNow.org I heard the BBC interview and the DN interview with the Yes Man responsible and I understood that he said that they ran a DowEthics.com website, which I have not checked out, and were approached by someone from the BBC to do an interview.
He stated that he regretted hurting BBC’s reputation but no other agency was asking for an interview.
Oh dear. That’s dreadful. I’m usually a staunch defender of the Beeb, but this is the second time that bad fact-checking has embarrassed them in the last few months. They need to put their house in order.