Editorial Our vision To provide the most comprehensive news coverage on the issue of climate change and key related issues such as biodiversity and the degradation of natural resources. These topics will be explored from the social, economic, political and scientific perspectives, both nationally and globally. We will promote public debate and harness the power of our readers and users by creating online tools and projects that give them the opportunity to share knowledge and ideas, as well as encouraging them to make a difference, both as individuals and within their communities. Social justice has always been at the heart of our and we will consistently give voice to disadvantaged communities around the world most affected by climate change Sustainability coverage

“It amounts to a devastatingly convincing Global warming argument of the urgent need for all of us to change our energy-guzzling behaviour. Even Incidence of the phrase �global warming� in the UK daily press, 1996 - 2006 1,000 if Stern is half right then, as a modern version Guardian of Pascal’s wager might say, the consequence Sun of doing nothing is still so dreadful that it 800 Times ought not to be contemplated.” Independent Guardian leader article on publication of the Stern 600 Daily Mail* report on climate change (October 31 2006) Telegraph Mirror 400 Express** he Guardian was one of the first media organisations 200 to take seriously the threat caused by our unsustainable use of the planet’s resources. 0 As our environment editor 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 TJohn Vidal points out on page 13, we can *Archived from Nov 1997. ** Archived from April 2000 pinpoint the moment in 1988 when it first hit many editors and writers that climate Climate change change was not just another unsubstantiated Incidence of the phrase �climate change� in the UK daily press, January 1 - June 26 2007 scientific theory but that we were on the road to possible catastrophe. Our response now, as it was then, has been to inform and educate 849 our readers on the threat and in more recent years to encourage them through our ethical living pages in both the Guardian and the Observer to question and change their own 578 572

individual behaviour. Telegraph

Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger is Daily Mail unequivocal in his belief that climate change 394 343 Mirror and associated areas of sustainability such as Express the loss of biodiversity, are “by far the biggest 252 Sun issues we are facing today. We have a very 212 great responsibility to cover it thoroughly and 159 Guardian Independent Times continuously. News has its own particular way of working, which means that lesser SOURCE: RESEARCH STUDY BY GUY SHRUBSOLE USING THE GUARDIAN’S ONLINE NEWSPAPER ARCHIVE (JUNE 2007) issues do force themselves on to the front page and force issues such as climate change A study shows the Guardian Guardian wrote about climate change 849 off it. That is the way news works. times, compared with 578 in the Independent “But a paper like the Guardian has a has written more about and 212 in the Express (see graphic above). responsibility to have the resources, expertise global warming in the past Counting the number of articles is a crude and knowledge to explain, test and champion measure, however, and does not take into stories and ideas. That is why we have a decade than any other paper account the enormous range and depth of team of more than a dozen whose our unrivalled coverage (see sustainability responsibilities are either exclusively or global warming in the past decade than any content, page 14). While we hope our largely focused in this area.” (See box below.) other newspaper in the UK, apart from a brief coverage gives our readership the tools In fact, a study has shown that the blip in 2006 when the Independent carried to become more active citizens, we are Guardian has consistently written more about more. In the first six months of 2007, the very clear it is not our job to cajole people. Similarly, we do not see it as our job to launch Journalists who write regularly on sustainability issues specific campaigns in a bid to force politicians or public bodies down a particular path. John Vidal Environment editor, Guardian “I think campaigning can make you feel David Adam Environment , Guardian good without actually producing results,” Alok Jha Science correspondent, Guardian says Rusbridger. “You can watch newspapers Ian Sample Science correspondent, Guardian campaigning on this subject where readers Felicity Lawrence Food correspondent, Guardian just end up switching off. The law of Larry Elliott Economics editor, Guardian diminishing returns operates here because Ashley Seager Economics reporter, Guardian the more campaigns you launch, the less Terry Macalister Industrial correspondent, Guardian impact they have. Most people get the issues. Leo Hickman Ethical living correspondent, Guardian They don’t need to be lectured. They want Dan Milmo Transport correspondent, Guardian useful advice on what they can do and they Dominic Murphy Gardening and ethical living correspondent, Guardian want utterly reliable reporting and analysis Matt Seaton Cycling , Guardian so they can make sense of the issues. Calm, Bibi Van der Zee Environmental and ethical living writer, Guardian measured journalism has more effect long George Monbiot Columnist, Guardian term than making gestures or bellowing.” Juliette Jowit Environment correspondent, Observer Our approach does seem to be paying Robin McKie Science editor, Observer dividends. Our annual survey of Guardian Lucy Siegle Ethical living correspondent, Observer and Observer readers and Guardian Unlimited Simon Caulkin Management editor, Observer users shows that we are having an impact. Alison Benjamin Environment site editor, Guardian Unlimited For the third consecutive year our Matthew Weaver Environment and community affairs correspondent, Guardian Unlimited readership say we have influenced them Murray Armstrong Editor, the Giving List across a large range of sustainability-related issues, ranging from energy saving and

11 Sustainability coverage recycling to purchasing fair trade products and reducing the number of car journeys and flights people take (see page 23 for details).

Complexity and politics While it is gratifying that our readership is responding to the challenges of climate change and the degradation of natural resources, we recognise that where we can have most influence is in the political arena as the decisions taken by politicians both in this country and around the world offer the greatest chance of ensuring that sustainability issues are addressed. In any free society, the press has a core responsibility to hold politicians and other public figures to account. We take very seriously our duty to expose wrongdoing or failures by politicians, public servants or business leaders to keep to public commitments to change. For example, the Guardian broke an important story in August 2007 about civil servants briefing ministers that Britain had no chance of getting near its target of generating 20% of its energy from renewable energy by 2020 and suggesting ways to wriggle out of it. Our leader article that day said: “Few claim there are easy choices to be made in reducing Britain’s carbon footprint. But the public cannot hold an honest debate or support difficult decisions if it is led by a government that continues to be, despite all A coal-fired power station towers over a field of rapeseed, used to produce biofuelPhoto: PA the protestation, cynical beyond belief about the presentation of policy.” ‘If we had nothing to do with within the company. What is clear is that our Conversely, it is also important to editors are incorporating sustainability into acknowledge those in power when any form of consumption, their thinking, but it is a difficult judgment courageous decisions are taken. The reading the Guardian would call on what is the correct balance. publication of the Climate Change Bill in Rusbridger says: “Of course you could March 2007 prompted this leader comment: become a duty not a pleasure’ edit a paper that was rather joyless and hair- “Britain’s political and media culture is good shirted and puritan and monotone, and at at offering such necessary scepticism. It is increasing rapidity appear to become part of times in its life the Guardian has been slightly much less good at embracing the possibility the problem. like that. Lord Robert Cecil once said it was of change … Whether for reasons of fashion Rusbridger says it is important not to fall righteousness made readable. or belief, all likely future prime ministers are into the trap of reporting only one side of a “It is a matter of judgment. If you had beginning to turn talk of action into specific story, even when it is persuasive. “In many nothing to do with any form of consumption, proposals. Future generations may wish cases the conventional wisdom of one age your circulation would take a big dip and more had been done. They will not resent can seem foolish, partial or blinkered in time. reading the Guardian would become a duty yesterday’s serious attempt to make a start.” And, even where most of the arguments seem rather than a pleasure. We would be moving Rusbridger believes the reason we to be stacked on one side, we should still away from journalism and reporting the influence decision makers is not only because reflect the other side of the debate.” world as it is to preaching. So as long as you of the calm and measured nature of our do these things in reasonable proportion reporting and analysis but also because we Hypocrisy? and balance, I do not think we should stop recognise that there are no simple solutions covering aspects of consuming such as travel to the challenges faced by climate change. While it’s easy to criticise others for not doing or fashion, eating or holidays and motoring. “We acknowledge the complexity of enough to counter the effects of climate “We write a lot about individual ethical decision making rather than deal with change and other associated issues, it is choices, such as Felicity Lawrence/Leo simplicities,” says Rusbridger. “If you deal in important that we take seriously criticism Hickman about the food we eat, what goes simplicities you don’t have much effect on of our own behaviour both in terms of our into the production of mass-marketed food, the people making decisions because most editorial and business practices. clothes and products, and ethical issues decision making is extremely complex. The last 12 months has seen a steady behind all that, and lots of practical advice “Because our coverage is solid and reliable trickle of readers accusing us of hypocrisy about how to live a green life. But if that and we are prepared to constantly keep it for encouraging our readers to reduce their was all we wrote about, we would become on the agenda and keep finding new and carbon footprint while at the same time a joyless paper with minority taste. But on imaginative ways of writing about the carrying advertising for products which the other hand, if you turned the Guardian subject, we will have an effect because we are create emissions (see case study, page 28). into something like the FT’s How to Spend a highly respected newspaper.” We also receive a small number of It supplement that was purely celebratory of Part of the difficulty of covering the issue complaints about our coverage of subjects consumer life and did none of the other side, of climate change is that while science has such as travel and motoring which can that would be equally wrong too. shown conclusively what the problem is, the encourage unsustainable consumption (see “All these things need to be in balance and possible solutions are not yet so clear. What case studies, pages 16-19). We take these I think we have got it about right, although I can seem to be an answer one moment, such criticisms seriously; they have been, and will understand the critics who would prefer us to as carbon offsetting or biofuels, can with continue to be, the subject of much debate be more purist.”

12 Historical perspective How green were we?

Remember acid rain? That was our concern 20 years ago. Well, we’ve come a long way since then. John Vidal recounts the history of reporting on the environment

The green movement and the Guardian’s reporting of it has grown massively since 1987, reflecting an urgency in addressing problemsPhoto: Alamy

n 1987 the Guardian had a single then — was a figment of the collective now become a flood of new information environment correspondent. imagination and said so in no uncertain terms and concern from a vast range of people and The green issues of the day were at one editorial morning conference. The companies. the growing global population, science editor was summoned to present the On any single day, we may get telephone the hole in the ozone layer, latest and best evidence — which so shocked calls from the UN agencies, government acid rain, tropical forests and everyone that the stories about it began officers, activists, industrialists, grassroots Iunleaded petrol. Jonathon Porritt was still appearing regularly. groups and scientists. Many report a at Friends of the Earth, the great storm But the whole environment debate was worsening situation, others that people had just torn down millions of trees, gathering pace from the late 1980s. That are taking initiatives. On top of that there genetically modified foods were a twinkle same year BSE emerged as one of many may be 150 emails and faxes from around in a few biochemists’ eyes, and Swampy food crises. In 1989 prime minister Margaret the world. It would be easily possible to fill was in nappies. Meanwhile, the historic Thatcher made an impassioned speech to an entire newspaper every day with both Brundtland report on the state of the world’s the Royal Society about global warming. heartening and depressing environment and environment went almost unnoticed as it The same year, the fledgling Green Party development coverage. tried to popularise a phrase tentatively called collected 2.3m votes and 15% in the European But something else has changed, “sustainable development”. elections. In 1992 we saw the first Earth too. Where governments, business and Fast forward to the summer of 2007 Summit. The 1990s were full of protests individuals could dismiss many of the when a meeting was held in the Guardian’s and disenchantment with industrial food concerns of 20 years ago as interesting offices for everyone involved in writing production, world trade, transport, water, things to be addressed sometime in the about the environment and development. pollution and the car. Since 2000, the forces future, today there is a new urgency and the More than 40 people were there, including of globalisation have accelerated and with stakes have become far higher. Every day three science , two full- them has come an unprecedented surge brings a new scientific report suggesting time environment writers, other feature, in international awareness about climate that we have very little time to respond to home and business news reporters, two change, energy, oil and food production and the enormity of the problems faced. There , a website team and a clutch of extreme weather is a new awareness by the authorities and senior editors and advertising executives. The whole area has begun to define the business, but a growing understanding The consensus was that climate change zeitgeist. What 20 years ago was a trickle that to achieve real change needs radical was now one of the leading causes of the of scientific papers, reports and initiatives thinking. Ideas that would have seemed generation, and that the environment and from a few scientists and passionate groups revolutionary only a decade ago are today sustainable development had become a with next to no interest from business has being brandished by all mainstream mainstream plank of Guardian coverage — political parties. at the heart of politics, foreign, business and In 1988 the Guardian had The good news is to see how far we have all lifestyle coverage. come in so short a time. The bad news is that What on earth has happened to propel it a home news editor who for all the hullabaloo about the environment so far and so fast? There have been plenty of believed global warming was in small islands like Britain, little is being awareness-lifting moments: for many people a figment of the collective done elsewhere. at the Guardian it came in 1988 when the paper had a home news editor who believed imagination, and said so John Vidal is the Guardian’s environment that global warming — as it was being called in no uncertain terms editor

13 Sustainability coverage

Guardian content How readers rate our sustainability coverage % who responded either ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ on a 5 point scale To ensure we meet the aims set out in our sustainability vision, one of our most Social justice senior editors, Ian Katz, is coordinating our The Guardian 83% considerable resources in this area. We have also put in place a monitoring The Observer 75 system to evaluate our coverage on a Guardian Unlimited 36 monthly basis across a range of issues from climate change to transport and energy. Beyond our comprehensive news Climate change coverage, in the past year we have turned 81 our investigative resources on to the issue of sustainability. Senior writer Nick Davies 74 wrote two major reports, one criticising the 45 carbon offsetting industry and the other finding evidence of serious irregularities Biodiversity & conservation at the heart of the process the world is relying on to control climate change. 71 His investigation found that the Clean Development Mechanism, developed out of 63 the Kyoto summit in 1997, which is supposed 41 to offset greenhouse gases emitted in the developed world by selling carbon credits International development from elsewhere, has been contaminated by gross incompetence, rule-breaking 66 and possible fraud by companies in the 59 developing world. In 2008 we plan a number of further 40 well-researched deep investigation pieces that get under the skin of the science, Sustainable travel politics and economics of climate change. Our annual Giving List supplement was 49 restructured to focus on sustainability issues. 44 The last publication covered everything from the implications of China’s economic 34 juggernaught and sustainable fishing to SOURCE: GNM READER SURVEYS 2007 changes in company supply chains and investigating claims by the world’s largest retailer Wal Mart that it has gone green. There is a danger that people have Social Justice The Guardian was the first newspaper started to think that sustainability is to launch an ethical living section, which only about climate change, so by creating The one area of coverage that readers and continues to appear regularly, and a cycling separate categories on the website, such web users were most keen to see more column has since been added. The paper as conservation, energy and transport, we coverage is on issues of social justice. moved away from an unhealthy diet of are able to show that it is much broader in The cause of social justice, the idea that promoting DVDs in its Saturday edition and its scope. One of the commitments in our individuals and groups should be fairly instead developed a whole series of award- vision is to create online tools to encourage treated and enjoy a just share of the benefits winning UK guides ranging from free stuff, behaviour change and these are currently of society, has always been central to the cycling and walks to camping and baking. We being developed. The first to go live is an Guardian’s coverage. were also carrying for the second consecutive interactive section entitled “tread lightly” Those behind the birth of the Manchester year a food directory, giving information on which asks users to make pledges every week Guardian were Chartist supporters, the best independent food shops. to reduce their carbon footprint. Individuals reformers, radicals looking for change at It’s all very well writing what we think is often feel that their actions will not make a time when Manchester had some of the important, but what do our readers think? much difference on their own, but the site worst housing and working conditions in the Our annual survey shows that both the includes a totaliser that shows the combined country, child labour was rife and the city was Guardian and Observer scored highly for impact of reader action ranging from reusing prospering from the trade in cotton, courtesy our coverage of sustainability, with around plastic bags at the supermarket to turning off of black slaves in the southern states of three-quarters believing our reporting of appliances and phone chargers. America. As Forum for the Future points out climate change and social justice was good We have also formed a partnership at the beginning of this report, the products or excellent, and around two-thirds making between Guardian Unlimited and the and services we buy not only contribute to the same conclusion about biodiversity and charity Unltd to offer hundreds of thousands environmental problems like climate change, conservation (see graphic above). of pounds in awards to social entrepreneurs but also to social inequalities across the globe. But our web users were less enthusiastic, who are seeking to launch environmental The Guardian carried out a special with scores of less than half across the same initiatives in their communities. Each award investigation in summer 2007 which showed range of topics. We are now significantly is worth £5,000. Despite everything we that employees of factories in Bangladesh intensifying our activities online. Last year we have done over the past year, the appetite making clothes for British retailers were being created a dedicated site for the environment. of our readership does not appear to have forced to work up to 80 hours a week for guardian.co.uk/environment >> dimmed. In our readership survey, nearly as little as 4p an hour. Workers in factories We have now appointed a full-time site two-thirds of Guardian and Observer supplying George at Asda, Tesco and Primark editor and relaunched the website in our respondents and more than half our web said their wages were so low that, despite new interactive format. Apart from a rich mix users said they think we could be doing more working up to 84-hour weeks, they struggled of news and comment, we have also added to encourage them to reduce their impact on to provide for their families. There were several , audio and video. the environment. also reports of physical and verbal abuse by

14 Sustainability coverage

the guardian guide to one of the greatest injustices in the world today. The industrialised countries have Richard Evans, auditor, says: grown wealthy while making life on our  An auditor who limits his work to verifying planet potentially unsustainable. In the sets of data is likely to overlook the importance underdeveloped south the changing climate of materiality and the ways the company goes is disrupting people’s lives now — floods in about its business. The Observer’s approach to Bangladesh are more frequent and ferocious, sustainability, described here, has focused very drought is shrinking the usable land in Kenya, effectively on issues and actions that are glaciers are melting in Peru and temperatures relevant to its readers and encourage achievable and varying wildly. changes in individual and public behaviour.  “The poor of the world are most vulnerable to climate change: out of every 100 deaths caused by natural disasters in our time, 97 of own eco-council, each winner showed the them occur in developing countries.” difference practical action can make. Across all sections, a similar attitude has prevailed. Every year the Observer Food October 2007 Awards celebrate the best operators in the the guardian guide to Observer content industry. There is also the Judges’ Award On February 4 this year, Allan Jenkins, the for ethical contribution to the food industry editor of the Observer Magazine, wrote: which this year went to Friends of the Earth “The food we eat, where it comes from, for their campaign to save the Sumatran how many air miles and poisons it took to orang-utan whose rainforest habitat is being produce it has become an all-consuming destroyed by the production of palm oil, a concern in our lives. Jamie Oliver tells us widely used food ingredient. we have forgotten how to feed our children. Also in OFM, Nigel Slater, the Observer’s Gordon Ramsay tells us we have forgotten food writer, has regularly written on the how to feed ourselves. Nigel Slater tells us issue of sustainability and Alex Renton the only future for food is to support our local wrote an acclaimed investigation into coffee growers, grocers, butchers and bakers. In the industry claims that they operate to fair trade spirit of this debate, the Observer Magazine guidelines. In Observer Woman Monthly, has taken over an allotment for a year. We will similarly, an ethical dimension has been clear it, compost it and grow our own organic witnessed in pieces on ethical shopping, fruit and vegetables. We will involve local ethical fashion and the work of ethical Sponsored by schoolchildren and Observer readers. We will fashion leaders such as Katharine Hamnett. May 2007 write about it, it, film it and eat from it.” “The main thing for both magazines, Food Supplement of the year The Observer allotment was a way of and Woman, is that we think ethical food and bringing the sustainability debate to life. fashion is important and should be reflected Over the succeeding months, Allan and in what we do,” said Nicola Jeal, editor of the supervisors and of workers being sacked for his team returned to the allotment, took two magazines. “You could also say that as taking sick leave. A month later we followed pictures of themselves getting muddy, and far as possible our buzzwords for OFM are this up with a front page story on workers in enjoyed, literally, the fruits of their labours. ethical, seasonal and local.” Indian clothing factories being paid as little From garden fork to dining fork, the journey The message on sustainability has fitted as 13p an hour for a 48-hour week, wages so was one recognisable to the reader, and comfortably with the Observer’s campaigning low the workers claim they sometimes have one, through the internet, the reader could edge. In spring 2006 we launched with to rely on government food parcels. The two actually do themselves. At the same time it Amnesty the campaign for Freedom on reports prompted investigations by the major was making the wider point that everyone the Internet, which led to a UN conference retailers who sold the garments. can start somewhere in effecting the and questions in the House of Commons We also recognise the need to highight change necessary to tackle the problem of on threats to freedom of expression in the how climate change is already affecting sustainability in food production. digital age. This year, to mark the campaign’s marginalised communities around the world, Such an approach has informed the way the first anniversary, we co-hosted a special who often have no voice. This is the reason Observer has seen its role complementing the webcasted conference with Amnesty. Leading why we devoted six weeks of coverage to Guardian’s coverage of the issue of climate internet experts and campaigners spoke and raising awareness through our Christmas change, sustainability and biodiversity. Of the campaign’s website now has more than appeal by supporting the work of the charity course the newspaper has developed and 73,000 supporters. Similar campaigns have Practical Action. reported in depth the broader issues: Juliette now also been launched on Flickr and Protect In our follow-up supplement in May 2007, Jowit, the environment editor, and Robin Blogs websites. Alan Rusbridger wrote: “Climate change is McKie, the science editor, have lead the news With regard to issues of social justice, the agenda week after week. paper has also campaigned to reverse the In June 2007, the Observer Magazine’s historically low conviction rate for rape, Richard Evans, auditor, says: Ethical Issue detailed the winners of the gain a better deal for parents with children  The Bruntland Report’s (1987) generally Ethical Awards, the second year they have with special educational needs and has led accepted definition of sustainable been given and voted on by a committed and the way with a series of in-depth reports development: “development that meets the increasing number of readers. From invention on Britain’s judiciary. This year we also needs of the present without compromising the of the year — BioRegional Minimills (UK) Ltd, launched a campaign called Dignity at Home ability of future generations to meet their own which makes sustainable paper from straw revealing how Britain’s older people have needs”, makes clear that inclusiveness is — to the school in Scotland which set up its been receiving less and less support for living fundamental. Our ambitions and aspirations at home, forcing them, often at great distress, have to be considered in light of millions of our ‘The poor are most into care homes or hospital. present generation deeply compromised by The environment, sustainability and fair economic and social inequality. Our sympathy is vulnerable: for every 100 trade now make up an essential part of the not enough and we should welcome GNM’s deaths caused by natural Observer package. The issue is dealt with in continuing commitment to exposing injustice a “can-do” way, aimed at not overwhelming and analysing its causes.  disasters, 97 of them occur the reader. It is focused on the individual. As in developing countries’ such, it reflects part of the Observer’s DNA.

15 Case study Travel

The Guardian and Observer have been criticised by readers over their coverage of certain types of holidays, but both have needed to strike a balance between encouraging green travel while reflecting the realities of what consumers want Flying in the face of reader opinion?

Observer Travel Climate change eclipsed animal rights last year as the issue most likely to feature in comments and complaints from Observer readers. In one instance, we received complaints after the travel section highlighted 10 of the Earth’s most precious natural treasures threatened by climate change. Nine out of the 10 were accessible by plane. “Is it not at best ironic that flying is helping to destroy just what we’re being encouraged to fly to see?” was a typical comment. The Observer’s travel editor had acknowledged this from the start and wrote an accompanying article justifying why she had chosen to run the feature. “We recognise the paradox,” wrote Joanne O’Connor, “but while those of us fortunate enough to be able to afford the luxury of foreign travel agonise over our carbon footprints, the livelihoods of people in developing countries where tourism is often the backbone of the economy are also hanging in the balance … Tourism has proved itself to be a powerful tool for encouraging local populations to protect their natural ‘Is it not ironic that flying doomed nature. “You make the lazy resources.” comment that it raises the issue. That’s That argument didn’t wash with some is helping to destroy not good enough. Unless we start to make readers. “The hoteliers’, guides’ and just what we are being changes to the way we live, the planet is in trackers’ income will vanish as soon as these unimaginable trouble. You have enormous ‘wonders’ become extinct,” wrote one. encouraged to fly to see?’ power to influence your readership for the “What on earth is the point of encouraging good. Please start to use that power.” someone whose land is going to be inundated The Observer does not have a policy of by the sea to think of themselves as its avoiding particular types of holidays or ecological guardian?” destinations, as such, but the travel section Other readers thought the paper was does aim to reflect the concerns and tastes

encouraging a ghoulish fascination in of our readership. In the last 12 months we mansell david

16 Case study Travel

Guardian Travel does cover ski holidays, but aims to strike a balance between downhill skiing, cross-country and other winter sports Photo: Corbis have significantly increased the number of large hotel chains, focusing instead on small, destination articles that do not require flights. Richard Evans, auditor, says: independent accommodations that are more There have been more high-profile features  I welcome the travel editors of both papers’ likely to employ local staff and use local on rail-based holidays. There have been more willingness to be honest in this account about materials and food. UK and short-haul features, focusing on readers’ criticisms and responses of what they Our coverage of longer-haul destinations destinations that can be reached overland. read. They have invested in responsible tends to focus on areas where tourism is As more and more hotels and tour operators journalism, that recognises the demands of relatively small-scale and benefits the local wake up to the need to offer a sustainable sustainability without getting preachy and community, or low-impact experiences such product, so more of these types of holidays losing sight of the reality that readers need and as walking, cycling and wildlife safaris or are becoming available and therefore we are enjoy holidays!  lodges which work closely with the local able to feature more of this type of holiday community. A recent feature based on the in our section. We believe our readership TV series Tribe gave tips on how readers can is increasingly drawn towards low-impact, The latest addition to our coverage is Kevin have similar experiences. We were careful sustainably managed holidays and tourism Rushby’s Grumpy Green column, which to recommend trips with reputable travel projects, and we try to reflect this in our aims to tackle some of ethical dilemmas of companies which we know manage the choice of editorial subject. travel but with a sense of humour. In his first interaction sensitively. Nevertheless one Rather than avoiding the subject of column Kevin made it clear that he is not reader accused us of insensitivity because aviation and climate change as some travel going to give up flying altogether. Naturally we were encouraging tourists to visit fragile sections do, the Observer has returned to the this prompted the odd letter asking how we communities. subject several times. can square having a green columnist who We do cover ski holidays although not We were the first travel section to write flies. Our view is that the column should as much as other national travel sections about the growing band of aviation refuseniks reflect the way readers travel and the fact is and we try to balance features on downhill — people who were choosing not to fly for the majority still fly. We are very conscious skiing with those on cross-country skiing and environmental reasons — and were also that we do not want to preach to readers or resorts that are making some moves toward the first newspaper travel section to raise appear too worthy. reducing their impact on the environment. concerns about whether carbon offsetting We are also introducing a regular column The fact that Waymark, a specialist in was an adequate response to the problem. by Leo Hickman, the Guardian’s ethical cross-country skiing trips to the Alps and The section returned to this subject as the columnist and author of The Last Call, which Scandinavia, has won the Guardian/Observer cover story in July 2007, examining the will look more deeply into some of the ethical Award for best ski company three years current evidence about aviation and climate issues surrounding tourism, such as whether running goes to show how popular this type change and asking whether individuals there are too many safari lodges in Kenya. of skiing is with our readers. stopping flying will actually change anything Though we have a dedicated green slot, Above all we want the Travel section to for the better. our coverage is not limited to that page. be interesting, entertaining and inspiring, An awareness of environmental and social which means, of course, continuing to cover Guardian Travel impact of travel runs throughout the section. hotels and B&Bs — and holidays — that may We have regular UK features, many of not tick all the green boxes but which still Guardian Travel was the first national travel which focus on green experiences such as tally with our commitment to finding small, section to introduce a weekly green page and camping, walking, wilderness courses and independent, affordable and stylish places to it continues to go from strength to strength. eco-friendly places to stay. We tend to avoid stay and to visit.

17 Case study Motoring

Is the Guardian and Observer’s coverage of motoring in conflict with our aim of promoting sustainability? Our auditor thinks so, but readers’ views are mixed Road rage

he issue of climate change throws up some interesting conundrums when it comes to our coverage of products that contribute to greenhouse gases. This is particularly trueT of our motoring pages in the Guardian and Observer. In our latest readers’ survey, 36% of Guardian and Observer readers felt that we have a responsibility to refuse to carry advertising for high emission cars such as SUVs (see page 28). But does that mean we should stop writing about these type of vehicles altogether in our motoring pages? There have been few complaints about our current policy of writing about a broad spectrum of vehicles. Over the past year, 15 readers have criticised the Guardian motoring section about road tests of high emission vehicles, although the Observer motoring editor has not received any. The motoring correspondents of both papers see their role as primarily to entertain and do not expect their articles to be used as the sole basis on which to buy a particular car. They both emphasise “eco” cars and pay particular attention not to glamorise gas-guzzlers. Observer motoring correspondent Martin Love gets to grips with a new Vespa Photo: Alex Maguire Guardian motoring correspondent Giles Smith reviews new models, from “eco” cars ‘People are never going to and accurate, I do not intend it to be a (the new bio-power Saab 9.3) to “dream” cars motoring review as such but more of a (Aston Martin Vantage); from everyday cars stop using their cars but the humorous, non-macho, women-friendly, such as the Ford Mondeo to gas-guzzling ones we choose will have an enjoyable lifestyle piece which gives you a SUVs (Cadillac SRX). Every review includes a impact on all our futures’ flavour of the car and life on the road. car’s CO2 emissions, and an eco-rating. “I have a lot of feedback from the readers “I’m engaging with a sceptical audience,” but very rarely any criticism of the vehicles I says Smith, “who are often hostile to, be reviewing the new Smart FourTwo, Fiat choose to write about. or even angered by, the appearance of Bravo, Renault Twingo and Mini Clubman.” “I am always aware that it is the Observer a fast car anywhere in the Guardian. So Observer motoring editor Martin Love says: that I am writing for, so I believe the readers I write sceptically, always challenging “People love their cars and are never going to are ethically aware. However, I do not think manufacturers’ claims, avoiding glorifying stop using them but the way we use them and that it would be interesting to only review cars, and acknowledging that a Guardian the cars we choose will have a massive impact eco-cars. I therefore will happily step into a audience has mixed feelings about cars, but on all our futures and I always have this in my Range Rover, but will be sure to talk about can’t ignore them.” mind when choosing what to review. its fuel consumption, emission figures and Hannah Booth, who edits the page in “While my column is hopefully informative environmental impact. the Guardian Weekend magazine, says that “I am also drawn to vehicles that have a the paper is currently reviewing whether story — the resurgence of Jaguar, the success to exclude certain gas guzzlers: “We do Richard Evans, auditor, says: of Aston Martin. Even though these vehicles consciously try to include as many ‘green’  Would it be asking too much of the belong to the least-sustainable class on the models as are available, because we know motoring editors to stop treating car ownership road (performance two-seaters), they also our readers — often fiercely environmentally and use as a special case? It seems inconsistent have a history and a timeless appeal that the aware — appreciate them. We are currently to do so when a more holistic approach to readers want to know about. looking at ways of better reflecting the sustainability is being adopted in news, science, “I take my chance to cover environmental concerns and tastes of our readers, and are economy and business coverage as well as other issues, too. I have test-driven electric considering introducing an upper limit on ‘lifestyle’ subjects. I would welcome some scooters, bicycles and bio-fuel cars. I have the fuel consumption and emissions of the serious investigation on the part of GNM’s taken an eco-driving test and written about vehicles we review. In hand with this, we motoring correspondents on readers’ views on whether old cars should be scrapped or kept are now limiting the number of large SUV car ownership and use as well as alternative, on the road (scrapped, I’m afraid). I also and 4x4 cars we feature, in favour of smaller more sustainable forms of transport.  always put a vehicle’s mpg rather than its top models: in the next few months, we will speed in the fact box.”

18 Case study Economics

Economics There was a time when covering the economy was simple. Success was measured by size, so if growth of 2% one year was followed by growth of 3% the next, that was considered good news, while a fall to a 1% growth rate was deemed bad news. The judge and jury of economic policy was gross domestic product — the measure of how much a country produces in any one year. Times change. Policy makers, businesses and individual consumers are now faced with the unmistakable contradiction between unbridled growth and the future of the planet. Building a new runway at Heathrow, for example, may bump up GDP by providing lots of new jobs and by attracting overseas tourists, but at what cost to the environment? The threat by climate change has eroded the old certainties of the economics profession; more is not necessarily better. Reflecting this in what we write is not easy. On a daily basis, the government churns out economic data that allows journalists to gauge how well things are going according to the traditional way of measuring things. We know what happened to spending in the shops, to the output of factories, to the value of goods coming into and out of the country. Measures of mankind’s environmetnal footprint are few and far between. So what to do? We can’t insist ministers change the way they think about climate change unless we do the same. Yet change is happening. First, we have recognised that we have to abandon a silo-style approach to economics. Clearly, economics does not exist in a vacuum, so when the government launched the Stern report into the economics of climate change in the autumn of 2006, it was seen as blatantly obvious that the story should be covered jointly by the Guardian’s economics and environmental teams. Second, we have tried to give a different slant to our comment pieces on the economy. We have written about different ways of measuring success, such as the Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare, which takes into account rising crime, environmental degradation and higher levels of depression to conclude we are no better off now than we were 40 years ago. The economics column is now just as likely to extol the virtues of solar panels as to call for lower interest rates. This is a work in progress and it probably won’t be complete until the Guardian runs a story saying that a fall in the economic growth rate is good news for Britain. The risk posed by climate change suggests that that day had better not be that far off.

Larry Elliott is the Guardian’s economics editor

Richard Evans, auditor, says:  If we fail to radically reframe our global economic system — and the ‘western’ model in particular — many, including Guardian and Observer writers, have argued sustainability will not be achievable. Larry Elliott has stated the case succinctly and mapped a trajectory for change in the paper’s economic coverage.  Heathrow’s new terminal five: economic boon or environmental bane?Photo: Ian Jones

19 World’s leading liberal voice

Sustainability is only one part of the Guardian’s vision to become the world’s leading liberal voice, says Alan Rusbridger. Continuing the independent, compassionate and frequently radical journalism that has been the hallmark of the Guardian over the last century will ensure its success in the next Getting the message out

ne of my favourite gizmos is a revelations about the way our food is piece of software that can tell produced. It’s about David Leigh and Rob you for any given day where Evans hounding the bribers of BAE for the every reader of Guardian better part of a decade (see BAE case study Unlimited is accessing the site opposite) and Declan Walsh laying bare the from. On the day I write this, reality of the conflict in Afghanistan. Ofor instance, it reveals that the site has been In the field of commentary, where read in 226 countries (are there really that Comment is Free has blazed a trail admired many of them?) including Kazakhstan (1,660 by newspapers across the world, it’s about readers), Mongolia (765), Burkina Faso (181), fielding the most persuasive and original Kiribati (45) and Tokelau (2). liberal voices, but also about reflecting a Sadly the program does not tell us whether diverse range of views — and increasingly, our two readers in Tokelau were drawn by our sometimes uncomfortably, allowing our exhaustive examination of the new X-factor readers to have their say too. A slew of awards Detainees in north-west Iraq being led to a line-up or our unrivalled reporting of the this year, from columnist of the year for Polly helicopter for questioning Photo: Sean Smith legacy of the six-day war, but it’s a powerful Toynbee to the coveted Cameron prize for reminder that the Guardian now has a global Ghaith, have offered a reminder, if one were reach far beyond anything John Edward needed, of the health of our journalism. Webby award for best newspaper on the web. Taylor can have imagined when he founded But just as Alastair Hetherington brought In the next phase of our development a newspaper to “zealously enforce the the paper to London in search of a wider we will become a genuinely 24/7 news principles of civil and religious Liberty” and audience, the second part of our goal is to organisation, providing our journalism “warmly advocate the cause of Reform”. make the Guardian the first port of call for wherever and whenever our readers want Now, 186 years and some 50,000 issues liberal English-speaking people anywhere. it. And in the US, where there appears later we can talk without fear of ridicule of And all the signs are encouraging: in August to be a growing hunger for our brand of seeking to become the world’s leading liberal 2007 Guardian Unlimited was visited by independent, irreverent journalism, Michael voice. But what does that mean, exactly? We nearly 16 million users, some 10 million Tomasky will seek to build from our already understand the liberal bit well enough: it is of them outside the UK (see map, right). sizable beachhead with a new Guardian about carrying on a tradition of independent, That represents an annual increase of over America site. brave, compassionate, frequently radical 20%, putting us at least on level terms, and Our new strategy throws up no shortage journalism that goes back to Taylor via the arguably ahead, of US liberal media giants of challenges: how to sustain the quality paper’s 90s exposure of Tory sleaze, its like the New York Times and the Washington and energy of our print titles as we focus trenchant criticism of the Suez invasion and Post. The Guardian’s global appeal had increasingly on the Guardian’s digital hugely unpopular condemnation of Britain’s already been recognised by a third successful incarnation, how to maintain our domestic Boer war concentration camps. More recently edge as we take an increasingly international it’s about the extraordinarily courageous Now, 186 years and some view of our audience, how we pursue a and clear-eyed reporting from Iraq of Ghaith greater global audience while remaining Abdul Ahad and Sean Smith’s searing 50,000 issues later we can true to our journalistic ideals. But it is an images of the conflict there. It’s about Sarah talk without fear of ridicule extraordinary tribute to how far we have Boseley’s relentless scrutiny of the shadiest come that not even our critics could brand corners of the international pharmaceutical of seeking to become the our aim of becoming the world’s leading industry and Felicity Lawrence’s devastating world’s leading liberal voice liberal voice hubristic.

20 Case study Arms trade

BAE systems

The major campaign by the Guardian’s investigation team to expose the issue of bribery in the British arms trade culminated in 2007. David Leigh and Rob Evans have published scores of articles and travelled all over the world in the course of the last few years, in order to pursue the truth behind allegations that BAE Systems plc, the largest arms company in Europe, has been engaged in systematic corruption. Leigh and Evans’ work culminated in the publication of a pioneering website on Guardian Unlimited, called the BAE Files. Unprecedented in British journalism, it took three months to build. The site enables the Guardian’s worldwide audience to access the originals of hundreds of documents, which have been obtained from government archives, use of the new Freedom of Information Act, and confidential sources. The site contains a detailed history of Britain’s involvement in overseas bribery for the past 30 years. It is also a multimedia platform, with video and audio clips of key players, picture galleries of the weapons involved, and interactive graphics pin- pointing worldwide weapons deals and Guardian Unlimited unique monthly visitors offshore money trails. All this material is now freely available to other journalists and campaigners across the world who want to pursue their own investigations. Eastern The consequences of the Guardian’s work Europe have been internationally seismic. As a Western result, prosecutors have launched criminal North Europe 272,279 America investigations in three continents, some of 7,063,096 which have led to political uproar. In Britain, 5,673,455 Asia 844,022 the then prime minister, Tony Blair, and his attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, came under widespread criticism when they forced Africa a halt to Serious Fraud Office investigations 144,055 into the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia. This South followed pressure from BAE and the Saudi America royal family. 118,660 Australia The Guardian was able to reveal the facts 481,272 behind these events. The paper disclosed in a series of front-page stories that the Serious Fraud Office had wished to bring charges against the chairman of BAE; that the police TOTAL were on the verge of obtaining Swiss bank Users from other/ records linked to the Saudi royal family when unknown locations they were stopped; and that the government 1,224,641 15,821,480 had authorised the payment of at least £1 billion and the provision of a personal Airbus jet to one of the most prominent Saudi rulers, SOURCE: HBX AUGUST 2007 photoshot continued on page 22 >>

21 Case study Arms trade

The Guardian’s story led to investigations into the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia. Armed guards in Saudi Arabia Photo: Associated Press

Prince Bandar bin Sultan, then ambassador to The newspaper’s reporters of two British frigates to Bucharest. And in the United States. The newspaper’s reporters South Africa, UK authorities are now seeking disclosed that BAE stood accused of paying disclosed that BAE stood cooperation from the Pretoria prosecutors to £1 million in secret commissions to former accused of paying £1 million probe the massive arms deal to sell a fleet of president of Chile Augusto Pinochet, who at in secret commissions Hawk and Gripen aircraft there, in which it the time was wanted in Europe on charges of is alleged that the late defence minister, Joe torture and murder. And they also disclosed to Augusto Pinochet Modise, received bribes. that a controversial radar sale to Tanzania, At BAE, the chairman Sir Richard Evans one of the world’s poorest countries, had has stepped down, and the company, while been forced through the Cabinet by the investigation into the use by BAE of Swiss denying any wrongdoing or illegality, has British prime minister despite the fact that banks and Swiss-based companies. been forced to appoint the retired Lord Chief secret commissions totalling 30% of the In the US, the disclosures led to calls Justice, Lord Woolf, to give a clean bill of price had been paid by BAE into a Swiss for action, ranging from a protest by health to the company’s new anti-corruption bank account. senator John Kerry of the foreign relations procedures. It must be rare for a single There have been four full-scale committee, to a leading article in the New newspaper’s investigations to have brought parliamentary debates into the Guardian York Times. Against British opposition, the about so many international consequences, disclosures, three brought by the justice department in Washington has now and the paper’s team received a special Liberal Democrats and one by the launched its own investigation into the use commendation from the British Press Awards Conservatives. Under the new Gordon of the US banking system during the Saudi for their initial work. Brown administration, political reforms deals, under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices now include the removal from office of Act. Washington has served demands to Lord Goldsmith and a promise to protect cooperate on the UK government, provoking the post of attorney general from future a fresh diplomatic crisis. political influence. The new government At the Hague last year, prosecutors met has announced its intention to disband the under the auspices of Eurojust. They came arms sales department of the Ministry of from Britain, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland Defence, whose role in past bribery had been and the Czech Republic, to forge a spotlighted by the Guardian. They have also coordinated investigation into the Guardian’s promised to give fresh priority to reforming disclosures that millions of pounds in secret Britain’s inadequate corruption laws. commissions had been paid to promote In Europe, the scandal has led the sales of the Anglo-Swedish Gripen fighter to Organisation for Economic Cooperation the government in Prague. A parliamentary and Development (OECD), which polices an commission in Budapest has been set up to Richard Evans, auditor, says: international bribery treaty to which Britain probe similar allegations in Hungary.  I would encourage readers of this report is a signatory, to express its serious concern While investigations in Chile have to access the information on guardian.co.uk/ that the treaty has been breached, and to been halted following Pinochet’s death, baefiles for themselves. They are a remarkable mount a special inspection of the UK in the prosecutors in Romania are pursuing the record and testimony to a remarkable piece coming year. The Swiss federal prosecutor Guardian’s allegations that £7m in a secret of journalism.  in Berne has launched a money-laundering commission was paid to promote the sale

22 Impact on society

Reader influence Readers who believe that our coverage has prompted them to play a more active role in society in the following ways: 80 The Guardian % 71 The Observer 65 Guardian Unlimited 59 57

41 41 37 33 29 28 24 23 21 21 20 21 17 17 16 13 13 15 14 13 10 11 11 8 7 Talked to Boycotted Signed a Raised money Written to Campaigned Been on a Participated Volunteered GNM hasn’t a friend products petition for charity a politician on an issue demonstration in a blog for a charity prompted me

Readers were asked to what extent they believed our coverage had influenced their behaviour in relation to the following, % indicates some/strong influence 74 73 71 70 % 67 68 68 69

58 56 53 55 50 50 44 40 38 39 40 32 34 32 33 31 31 29 26 22 20 21

Energy Recycling/ Purchasing green Purchasing Consuming Reducing car Ethical Reducing Using alternative Paying to saving reusing alternatives fair-trade organic food journeys investments flights energy sources offset CO2

Readers were asked to what extent they agreed with the following statements about our editorial coverage, % slightly or strongly agree 84 79 79 % 78 76 72 68 64 61 60 53 52 49 48 45

News coverage Presents a range of Brings information into Gives a voice to News coverage is trustworthy perspectives from a range of writers the public domain under-represented groups is unbiased SOURCE: GNM READERS SURVEYS 2007

he Guardian and Observer users on whether they were more active in of sustainability, our survey has shown for were borne out of the Age of society as a result of what they read and saw the third consecutive year we have had Enlightenment, the source in our publications and online. The results significant influence over people’s behaviour of critical ideas, such as showed that 89% of Guardian readers, 84% in a number of areas ranging from saving the centrality of freedom, of Observer readers and 77% of our website energy and recycling to purchasing green democracy and reason as users believe our journalism has prompted alternative products. Large numbers are Tprimary values of society. This desire to them to take action in one or more ways, also being prompted to reduce flights and challenge the status quo and give people ranging from boycotting brands to writing to car journeys. information and knowledge to become active their MP or raising money for charity. While our influence has grown in a number citizens has not faltered. But while we pride This is inextricably linked to data from of categories among web users, over time it ourselves on the breadth and depth of our the survey showing that the overwhelming has declined among our newspaper readers coverage, do we actually have an influence on majority of readers and web users trust our in the areas of consuming organic foods and our readership? news coverage and believe we present them supporting environmental charities. This To seek some answers we questioned with a range of perspectives from a range is likely to be due to respondents already more than 4,000 of our readers and web of writers. More specifically, in the arena having incorporated this into their lives.

23 CaseReaders’ studies editors

The past year has seen complaints from readers on issues ranging from MMR and its link to autism, to a leak about a secret plan from Iran to force the US out of Iraq Our response …

people who disagreed with the choices they Readers’ views The Guardian had made during the child’s birth. Both reader’s editors are working on devising a Readers were asked if the existence of a readers' It is 10 years since the Guardian became coherent policy for this issue. editor makes them feel that the paper is responsive to their views and opinions? the first British newspaper to have its own One of the more controversial articles in Guardian Observer independent ombudsman. the Guardian during 2007 was a front-page When Ian Mayes took on the role of story with the headline “Iran’s secret plan for Yes Yes 78 77 readers’ editor, the number of calls, letters summer offensive to force US out of Iraq”. and emails reached just over 5,000 in the first The readers’ editor received more than 180 12 months. We like to think it is a measure complaints, many of whom objected to the % % of his success, rather than more mistakes, fact that the Guardian relied, primarily, on No No that has led to the total increasing in the past a single anonymous source, “a senior US 22 23 year to around 19,000. Published corrections official” and did not appear to show any SOURCE: GNM READERS SURVEYS 2007 remain fairly constant at around 1,600 a year. scepticism about what it was told. Mayes stepped down in 2007 to be The readers’ editor wrote a column about US actor Michael Richards used the word succeeded by Siobhain Butterworth, this: “The duty editor believes that the “nigger” on stage. There were no complaints previously head of the paper’s legal team. Liz Guardian has a responsibility to be open- from readers but the readers’ editor felt that Forgan, chair of the Scott Trust, says Mayes’ minded about information and that it should because the issue generated vigorous debate work contributed “much to our claim to be not have a preset attitude. The story was on the editorial floor, it was worth airing and guided by the values CP Scott laid down”. written by a respected and experienced asked for readers’ views. This is backed up by the results of our survey who has reported from Iran three Our Los Angeles correspondent, Dan which showed that 78% feel that the presence times in the last year. The reliability and status Glaister, had spelt out the word in a news of a readers’ editor makes the newspaper of the primary source was also considered. story, in accordance with the Guardian’s style, more responsive to their views. He was highly placed, was not paid to talk to but a feature by Joseph Harker used asterisks. Over the past year, the readers’ editors on the press and had given accurate information Harker said he took the decision because “it both the Guardian and Observer have become before. One of the consequences of relying is different to the many other racial insults increasingly involved with the correcting exclusively on anonymous sources is that the there are against black people. Its history is process on the website. As a general rule, paper is, inevitably, asking readers to trust rooted in slavery and it comes with a message requests for the removal of articles from its judgment.” of white supremacy and black humiliation.” the online archive, such as older restaurant The readers’ editor also considered that Some 30 to 40 readers responded to a and hotel reviews, are refused in order to the article should have been presented follow-up piece in the Open Door. Most maintain the integrity of the archive, as far as differently. The headline had only added thought it appropriate to spell out the word. possible, as a historical public record. to the confusion. The absence of quotation One reader wrote: “You ask for our views. But there are exceptions. Articles are marks suggested that the Guardian took the Mine is that your policy is absolutely right. removed for legal reasons and occasionally statements at face value. Use this and other offensive words when on compassionate grounds, especially One of the issues that comes up repeatedly reporting. Otherwise we do not get the full where children and vulnerable people are is the use of offensive language. For example, picture. If some readers are shocked — well, concerned. In one case, the parents of a there were two stories in the paper on so they should be, as should we. That’s the

disabled child were receiving hate mail from November 22 2006 about an incident in which whole point.” getty library, science photo

24 Readers’Case studieseditors

The Observer The execution of Saddam Hussein

Stephen Pritchard has been readers’ editor of the Observer since March 2001. In that time he has dealt with some 40,000 complaints and queries from readers and published more than 1,600 corrections and clarifications. One of the big changes during the year was the addition of a long-overdue clause to the Editors’ Code. This was prompted by concern over “copycat” suicides. The clause says: “When reporting suicide, care should be taken to avoid excessive detail about the method used.” A case in point was a moving story in the Observer Magazine of a Liverpool lawyer who ended his life by throwing himself from the top of the city’s Anglican cathedral. Some readers were distressed at the level of detail we gave and at the use of a series of photographs showing where he jumped. The piece also failed to add contact details for agencies which help people affected by the On New Year’s Eve, the Observer’s front page the 250 readers who had complained: “We thought issues raised in such coverage, something the carried a picture of Saddam Hussein with a noose long and hard about the use of the picture. Few magazine acknowledged it should have done. around his neck seconds before his execution. The would argue that the quasi-judicial execution of The Observer caused considerable disquiet following day, the Guardian carried on its front page a former head of state was an insignificant event. within the medical and scientific community a large photograph of the newly executed Iraqi Saddam was one of the most controversial political when it published a news report headlined dictator. leaders of the past 50 years. Billions of dollars and “New health fear over big surge in autism” on Hundreds of readers of both papers wrote thousands of lives have been expended in bringing its front page. The article disclosed details of to express their shock. Some Guardian readers about his downfall. Our own government has an unpublished report by the Autism Research accused the paper of being complicit in been in the forefront of seeking this outcome. The Centre, which, the paper said, showed that “pornographic ghoulishness”, of promoting “snuff circumstances of Saddam’s trial and hanging may a statistical analysis of autism prevalence in pornography”, and of making “an inexcusable error prove to be of great consequence within the region primary schoolchildren in Cambridgeshire of judgment”, while Observer readers described and beyond. So we were satisfied that this was a concluded that as many as 1 in 58 could be it variously as “endorsing execution as a form of news event of considerable importance. suffering from forms of the disorder, nearly entertainment” and “macabre voyeurism”. “Both the occasion and the image we published double the presently accepted figure of 1 in The seriousness of the issue led to both editors were, in the eyes of many, repellent and shocking. 100. The piece said two of the report’s authors responding. Observer editor Roger Alton said this But it seems to me that newspapers tread a believed that in a small number of cases the was clearly a vastly significant event and it was dangerous course when they shy away from such MMR vaccine could be linked to autism. a newspaper’s duty to report it: “I am not of the material simply because of its unpleasant nature. Subsequently, the paper published a view that papers should conceal anything from A newspaper which retreats from reporting the lengthy clarification on the status of the their readers. It was an event which this country, crueller realities of the world is, in a important sense, report, its statistics and the position of Dr its leaders, soldiers and people have been involved retreating from its duty of bearing witness.” Carol Stott, one of the report’s authors. The in. It was not the execution of a leader of a remote Fifty people responded saying they were paper accepted that lower figures found in nation with which we have had no involvement.” dissatisfied with Rusbridger’s response. The readers’ the report of 1 in 74 and 1 in 94 should have Several readers were angry that children might editor sought comment from Guardian journalists been included, and pointed out that Prof be upset by the image. “Well, I take that point; who were divided almost equally, with a slight Simon Baron-Cohen, the director of the ARC, perhaps that’s true,” said Alton. “I would not want overall majority believing that it was wrong to use had subsequently said that the data was still to upset anyone gratuitously. But a newspaper the photo either on the front page or inside the being analysed and was therefore incomplete. is a grown-up thing, the matters it deals with are paper. Their views closely reflected the objections Dr Stott, who was described by the grown-up, and sometimes they will be shocking. raised by readers. Observer as believing that there may be a link Frankly, I feel that adults often shelter their own The readers’ editor concluded in a column on the in a small number of cases between MMR and objections behind children’s feelings and that’s subject that when we take predictably controversial autism, subsequently posted a statement on unpleasant. Children are on the whole much more decisions we should include an explanation at the Observer’s website, denying that she held robust in their view of shocking and violent things the time of publication. “That, I believe, is what these views. That statement was published in than grown-ups.’ the Guardian should have done on this occasion,” full as part of the clarification, along with an Alan Rusbridger, the Guardian’s editor, wrote to he wrote. apology to Dr Stott for misrepresenting her.

Richard Evans, auditor, overall assessment of editorial section  The consistent theme throughout this scoops or with bemoaning the difficulties of behaviour that can contribute to greater section of the report on the journalistic output of maintaining circulation, though both these are sustainability as well as the larger global Guardian News & Media is that sustainability now essential for the papers’ and website’s vitality. It scientific, political and economic issues. has to be explored and incorporated into news opens with a sober statement that editors have Most importantly, this report gives a detailed coverage, economic analysis and lifestyle issues. “a very great responsibility to cover the issue of account of the considerable resources It is no longer merely a subject of scientific and sustainability thoroughly and continuously” since specialising in reporting on sustainability issues political interest confined to the environment these matters are “by far the biggest issues we are and the evidence that sustainability is part of the pages, opinion columns and occasionally facing today.” entire journalistic culture of the organisation. It political analysis. The second striking aspect is that Guardian has avoided aspirational rhetoric and reports Two aspects of this are striking. Firstly, the News & Media papers and website tackle many what has been achieved already and what must chapter opens not with trumpeting the papers’ aspects of readers’ individual choices and be achieved in future. 

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