NEWSNIGHT’S policy editor has responded to claims that a screen showing graphs of Covid-19 hospitalisation data across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland could be seen as “misleading”.
In a segment for the BBC’s flagship news programme, Lewis Goodall spoke in front of four graphs.
He tells viewers that each nation is seeing hospitalisation figures similar to or higher than the first wave peak in the spring.
READ MORE: Scotland records 93 more Covid deaths as cases rise by 1865
“England, 49% more than the English April peak – you can see way above there. Scotland, they’re the only ones just under their April peak but only by, as you can see, a couple of per cent.”
The wave on the Scottish graph appears much higher than any other nation, but the maximum scale on each Y axis is different.
The graph for England goes up to 30,000, while Scotland’s goes to 1600, Wales goes to 2500 and Northern Ireland goes to 700.
Kirsty Wark presented last night's episode of Newsnight
There are currently more than 28,246 patients in hospital with coronavirus in England. In Wales the figure is 2700, in Scotland it is 1596 and in Northern Ireland it is 599.
Rob Dunsmore shared a screenshot of the graphics on Twitter, writing: “That seems, erm, a bit misleading Newsnight.”
In response the SNP’s head of broadcast media agreed the graphics could be read wrong. “Lewis Goodall’s reporting of Scotland is as fair and as strong as anyone on the BBC network but I think the axis was too small and on screen too quick so looks skewed on TV w/out closer look.”
He added: “Hospitalisation numbers frighteningly high in each of the four nations in any case.”
Lewis Goodall went through lots of Covid-19 data during the segment
Goodall was quick to respond to concerns from viewers. He tweeted: “I think that’s fair comment – wanted to present the full picture in the four nations as I’m conscious that too often it’s just done on UK figs.
“In the full clip I explain the point is to compare between peaks within nations rather than between but can understand how confusion might arise.”
An SNP source welcomed Goodall’s acceptance of the criticism.
They told The National: “Fair play to Lewis Goodall – accepting this BBC Newsnight graphic wasn’t perfect.
“BBC bosses and the BBC Executive Complaints Unit could learn from this approach, instead of their standard knee-jerk reaction to dismiss and brush concerns and complaints under the carpet.”
The BBC has been approached for comment.
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