Energy-saving lightbulbs make you gay!
This is the headline I'm expecting to read shortly, after three hysterical health-care stories in four days on BBC Online. So, I've written to to BBC Online to complain. I'll let you know what the result is. Stu ;-)
Date: 7 January 2008 16:16:13 GMT
Subject: BBC Online stories about low-energy light bulbs
Dear Mr Duffy
In the last four days there have been three deeply negative stories about low-energy light bulbs:
(1) Low-energy bulbs 'cause migraine'
(2) Low-energy bulbs 'worsen rashes'
(3) Low-energy bulb disposal warning
This seems like a curious co-incidence to me and I am left wondering if there is a lobbying group at work here.
- If there is, I think that you should look into it. I have in the past emailed you and your colleagues and uncovered BBC online stories that originate from Press Releases copied verbatim.
- If there isn't, I still feel that you should consider the way that your headlines are written. In the stories above, you have twice written a headline which makes a statement of fact out of something which is a claim or a speculation. I know that putting quote marks around the operating part of the sentence is a journalistic convention and is supposed to indicate to the reader that it is a claim (and thus could be completely false) but that is a complete cop-out to justify a sensational headline. The BBC should be above that sort of thing and it should be left to the Daily Mail.
Your sincerely, etc
Some people would argue this was only providing balance after years of pro-green scaremongering from the BBC!
Posted by: Martin Belam | January 09, 2008 at 23:01