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TELL OFCOM: Climate change isn’t ‘bogus’

Watch: GB News broadcast gives airtime to a ‘misinformation expert’, who claimed that ‘we all know’ climate change is ‘complete bogus’.

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On 20 April 2024, GB News’s Headliners programme violated Ofcom’s broadcasting rule 5.1 by airing an unsubstantiated and patently false denial of climate change without adequate challenge. Guest Lewis Schaffer who was introduced as a ‘misinformation expert’ claimed that ‘we all know’ climate change is ‘complete bogus’. 

The programme failed to meet the standards of accuracy and impartiality required under Ofcom’s regulations. Submit your complaint to Ofcom using this form and by following the guidance below.

Programme details:

Programme title: Headliners
Date of broadcast: 20 April 2024
Time of broadcast (24 hour clock): 23:23
Channel / station: GB News

Your complaint:

Subject: GB News’s Headliners program on 20 April breached Ofcom’s broadcasting rule 5.1 by airing a false and unsubstantiated denial of climate change.

Description:

Here’s a few bullet points to include:

  • On this programme, guest Lewis Schaffer is introduced as a ‘misinformation expert’ and he makes the following claim: ‘…it’s basically the guy who is this Chris Stark, he’s head of climate watchdog and he says the UK is seen around the world as being less ambitious about climate change. And as we all know, it’s complete bogus, this whole climate change.’
  • The host made a quick reference to balance, and then quickly said ‘for balance, all that was nonsense’.
  • GB News broke Rule 5.1, by failing to report with due accuracy and impartiality. Climate change is backed by well-established scientific evidence supporting its severity and urgency. Stating that ‘we all know’ that climate change is ‘complete bogus’ is a deeply inaccurate assertion to be made on a news programme.
  • The host failed to adequately provide an opposing viewpoint or clarification — instead treating the notion of balance in an unserious way, rather than a requirement of his position.

This page includes all the information you need to lodge a complaint to Ofcom. 

Deadline for complaints: May 17, 2024 11:59 pm

Submitting a complaint to Ofcom should take you less than 10 minutes and is completed via a form on their website.

Go straight to OFCOM
Read our guide

Submitting a complaint to Ofcom should take you less than 10 minutes and is completed via a form on their website.

  • Ofcom is the UK’s public regulator for communications services. Among other responsibilities, their job is to ensure that TV channels uphold the Broadcasting Code. This code requires broadcasters to protect the public from harmful and offensive material, avoid unjust or unfair treatment of individuals and organisations, and report the news with due accuracy and impartiality.
  • Ofcom has real power to yield. Sanctions they can issue include directions not to repeat content, fines — and crucially, the power to suspend or revoke a TV channel’s licence to broadcast.
  • Ofcom must carefully consider every single complaint to see if their rules have been broken. If the complaint is strong, Ofcom will launch a formal investigation process.
  • Ofcom will not reply to each specific complaint but instead publishes records of the complaints received, investigations underway and breaches on their website, every fortnight.
  • Complaints must be about a specific breach of the code and submitted within 20 days of the program going to air.