The Guardian

====''Connection''====
In May 1998, a series of ''Guardian'' investigations exposed the wholesale fabrication of a much-garlanded ITV documentary ''The Connection'', produced by [[Carlton Television#Factual inaccuracy in 1996 documentary|Carlton Television.]]

The documentary purported to film an undiscovered route by which heroin was smuggled into the United Kingdom from Colombia. An internal inquiry at Carlton found that ''The Guardian''{{'}}s allegations were in large part correct and the then industry regulator, the ITC, punished Carlton with a record £2 million fine<ref>[http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/itc/itc_publications/annual_report/1998/programme_regulation.asp.html ITC Annual Report 1998 – Programme regulation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924071132/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/itc/itc_publications/annual_report/1998/programme_regulation.asp.html |date=24 September 2015 }} Retrieved 26 September 2007</ref> for multiple breaches of the UK's broadcasting codes. The scandal led to an impassioned debate about the accuracy of documentary production.<ref>[http://www.latrobe.edu.au/screeningthepast/firstrelease/fr1199/bwfr8b.htm The primrose path: faking UK television documentary, "Docuglitz" and Docusoap] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206204451/http://www.latrobe.edu.au/screeningthepast/firstrelease/fr1199/bwfr8b.htm |date=6 February 2012 }} Retrieved 26 September 2007</ref><ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719232514/http://www.bjr.org.uk/data/2003/no3_owen.htm |archive-date=19 Jul 2012 |website=British Journalism Review |first=John |last=Owen |title=Now you see it, now you don't |access-date=26 September 2007 |date=Nov 3, 2003 |url=http://www.bjr.org.uk/data/2003/no3_owen.htm}}</ref>

Later in June 1998, ''The Guardian'' revealed further fabrications in another Carlton documentary from the same director.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-06-10-9806100250-story.html |title=TV Filmmaker Accused of 2nd Fake |last=Moseley |first=Ray |work=Chicago Tribune |date=10 June 1998 |access-date=28 May 2019 |archive-date=28 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528084120/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-06-10-9806100250-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>