Guidelines
View by Section
- 1. THE BBC'S EDITORIAL VALUES
- Introduction
- Editorial Values
- BBC Charter and Agreement
- 2. USING THE GUIDELINES
- Introduction
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Principles and Practices
- Editorial Justification
- Guidance
- Other Sources of Advice
- 3. ACCURACY
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- Gathering Material
- Finding Contributors
- Note Taking
- Avoiding Misleading Audiences
- Managing Online Content
- Checking Programmes
- Correcting Mistakes
- 4. IMPARTIALITY
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- Breadth and Diversity of Opinion
- Controversial Subjects
- News, Current Affairs and Factual Output
- Drama, Entertainment and Culture
- Contentious Views and Possible Offence
- Consensus, Campaigns and Scrutiny
- Elections and Referendums
- Impartiality in Series and Over Time
- Personal View Content
- 5. HARM AND OFFENCE
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- Audience Expectations
- Content Information
- The Watershed and Scheduling for TV, Radio and Online
- Live Output
- Language
- Violence
- Intimidation and Humiliation
- Nudity
- Sex
- Portrayal
- Alcohol, Smoking, Solvent Abuse and Illegal Drugs
- Suicide, Attempted Suicide, Self-Harm and Eating Disorders
- Imitative Behaviour
- Tragic Events
- Hypnotism, Exorcism, the Occult and the Paranormal
- Flashing Images, Strobing and Images of Very Brief Duration
- Acquired Programmes
- 6. FAIRNESS, CONTRIBUTORS AND CONSENT
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- Contributors and Informed Consent
- Anonymity
- Contributors, Access Agreements and Editorial Independence
- Deception
- Intimidation and Humiliation
- Right of Reply
- Refusals to Take Part
- Portrayal of Real People in Drama
- Safety and Welfare of Contributors
- 7. PRIVACY
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- Privacy and Consent
- Secret Recording
- Webcams
- CCTV, Third Party Webcams and Other Material from Outside Sources
- Doorstepping
- Tag-Along Raids
- Reporting Death, Suffering and Distress
- Personal Information
- 8. REPORTING CRIME AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- Reporting Crime
- Dealing with Criminals and Perpetrators of Anti-Social Behavoiur
- Dealing with Witnesses and Victims of Crime
- Investigations into Crime and Anti-Social Behavoiur
- 9. CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AS CONTRIBUTORS
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- Safeguarding the Welfare of Under 18s
- Informed Consent for Children and Young People
- The Impact of a Contribution
- 10. POLITICS, PUBLIC POLICY AND POLLS
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- Reporting UK Political Parties
- Political Interviews and Contributions
- Parliamentary Broadcasting
- Political Broadcasts
- Elections
- Opinion Polls, Surveys and Votes
- 11. WAR, TERROR AND EMERGENCIES
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- Accuracy and Impartiality
- Identifying Victims
- Demonstrations, Disturbances and Riots
- Staged Events
- Threats and Hoaxes
- Hijacking, Kidnapping, Hostage Taking and Sieges
- National Security and Counter Terrorism
- Hostile Environments, High Risk Activities and Events
- 12. RELIGION
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- Practices
- 13. RE-USE AND REVERSIONING
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- General
- Accuracy Issues
- Fairness, Consent and Privacy Issues
- Harm and Offence Issues
- Syndication and Distribution on Non-BBC Channels and Spaces
- Requests for BBC Material from Third Parties
- 14. EDITORIAL INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE FROM EXTERNAL INTERESTS
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- Product Placement
- Product Prominence
- Free and Reduced Cost Facilities, Products and Services
- Online Links to Third Party Websites
- Logos and Credits Online
- BBC Commercial Channels, Services and Products
- Game Shows
- Advertising and the BBC Brand
- BBC Support Services
- 15. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- News and Current Affairs
- Other Output Areas
- External Activities
- Declaration of Personal Interests
- Personal Benefits
- On-air Talent, Commercial Advertising, Promotional Activity and Endorsements
- Talent or Agent-owned Independent Production Companies
- 16. EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS AND FUNDING
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- Funding from BBC Commercial Services, the Open University and Co-Productions
- Co-Funding
- Ticket Sales, Makeovers, Location and Production Initiatives, Public Value Partnerships, Sponsored BBC On-Air Events, Sponsored Awards
- BBC Off-Air Events
- Joint Editorial Initiatives and Events
- Sponsored Third Party Events
- The National Lottery
- Charities
- 17. INTERACTING WITH OUR AUDIENCES
- Introduction
- Principles
- Mandatory Referrals
- Competitions
- Voting
- Awards
- Pre-recorded or Repeated Programmes
- Prizes
- The Interactivity Technical Advice and Contracts Unit (ITACU)
- Telephone Services
- Game Shows and Quizzes
- Talent Shows and Programmes Offering Life Changing Opportunities
- Phone-in Programmes, User Generated Content Online, Mobile Content, Games and Interactive TV
- 18. THE LAW
- Introduction
- Mandatory Referrals
- General
- Defamation
- Privacy
- Contempt
- Victims of Sexual Offences
- Other Reporting Restrictions
- Children and the Law
- Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Rights
- Data Protection Act
- 19. ACCOUNTABILITY
- Principles
- BBC Trust
- Ofcom
- Feedback and Complaints
- 20. APPENDIX 1: THE OFCOM BROADCASTING CODE
- 21. APPENDIX 2: CODE OF CONDUCT FOR COMPETITIONS AND VOTES
- 22. APPENDIX 3: STATEMENT OF POLICY ON ALTERNATIVE FINANCE
- 23. APPENDIX 4: FRAMEWORK FOR FUNDING PRIZES AND AWARDS