Complaint
This programme included item about wearing high heel shoes. A listener complained that it did not refer to women, which impaired the clarity and accuracy of the broadcast. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the BBC’s editorial standards relating to accuracy.
Outcome
The focus of the discussion was on the biomechanical effects of wearing high heels. The ECU agreed with the complainant that high heels are “overwhelmingly associated with women” but considered this went without saying. The absence of specific references to women did not, therefore, remove any essential context necessary for listeners to understand the subject under discussion.
Not Upheld