Up All Night, Radio 5 Live, 21 December 2018

Complaint

The programme included an interview about the political situation in Spain with Irene Lozano, the Secretary of State for Global Spain.聽 A listener complained that terms used by both Ms Lozano and the interviewer had given the false impression that the leaders of the Catalan independence movement had been convicted of crimes.


Outcome

As was made clear in the interview, the trial of Catalan leaders had not yet begun.聽 However, the use of terms such as 鈥渢hese crimes that they committed鈥 by the interviewer and 鈥減olitical leaders that have committed criminal offenses鈥 by Ms Lozano conveyed the false impression that their guilt had already been established.
Upheld


Further action

The presenter has been reminded of the importance of precise language, especially when legal proceedings are imminent.