Climate change: always a hot topic

One of the aims of any radio producer is to put together a programme that will capture the interest of the audience, but it's impossible to know how the items are received unless you, the listeners, get in touch to let us know of your reaction. But I suppose I could have predicted that climate change, one of the topics we covered in last week's programme, was guaranteed to get people emailing us and writing blog comments.

If you missed the programme why not listen now - the item that provoked all the reaction is the interview with Steven Duke, editor of One Planet.

He defended his programme against comments from two listeners who felt that One Planet didn't adequately reflect the views of those sceptical about the reality of climate change.

Some of you responded to the blog posts that Rajan and I wrote last week, but we also had a lot of emails on the subject prompted by Steven Duke's interview and the views expressed by the listeners we featured - often disagreeing with them.

Ulric Schollaert, for example, sent us a long and detailed email putting the case for coverage of the view that climate change is real. Among the points he made was this:

"I find the BBC is perfectly entitled (and, in my view, is even under an obligation...) to give wide coverage to the views that climate change is happening and is a definite threat to humanity. The principle of precaution commands such coverage. There is overwhelming evidence that something momentous is going on, that is caused by humans, and that consequences would be dreadful and costly - A LOT MORE costly than what spending it would take to keep on the safe side."

But I'm pleased to say that we have had emails on a variety of other topics, too. I was particularly interested to hear from listener Joel Atadan, who wrote:

"I am not impressed with the reporting on African matters like the riots in Kampala where I was present when the police out of the blue started beating innocent people trying to open up their stalls."

We shall try to follow up on Mr Atadan's criticism on this week's programme.

But in the meantime, I imagine that others among you might have found yourselves in the middle of something that was then reported on the World Service news. It might not have been a riot, but perhaps you were in the audience for an important speech, or took part in a protest march that was then reported around the world? I wonder whether later, when you heard or read the news reports, you felt that they reflected your own experience? Or do you think it's inevitable that journalists concentrate on giving a broader view of what is happening?

Cathy Packe is the Producer, Over To You

Over To You is your chance to have your say about the BBC World Service and its programmes. It airs at 10:40am GMT (11:40am BST) every Saturday.

• Listen to previous episodes of Over To You
• Send the team your feedback by email ([email protected]), telephone (44 144 960 9000), SMS (447786 202006) or by leaving comments on this blog.

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