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Guidelines

Section 15: Conflicts of Interest

Mandatory Referrals

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  1. Referrals to Director Editorial Policy and Standards
  2. Referrals to Editorial Policy
  3. Other Referrals
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(Mandatory Referrals are part of the BBC's editorial management system.  While they will not, in themselves, meet the Principles in the Editorial Guidelines, they are an essential part of the process to ensure compliance and must be observed.)

 

Referrals to Director Editorial Policy and Standards

15.3.1

Any proposal for a factual programme about talent to be produced by an independent production company owned by that talent or an associated agent must be referred to the relevant divisional director and Director Editorial Policy and Standards.

(See 15.4.42)

 

Referrals to Editorial Policy

15.3.2

In some areas, such as specialist music programming, on-air talent may have commercial and personal interests in their area of expertise.  In such cases, the relevant Division should ensure that appropriate editorial procedures are in place so that there is no conflict of interest with their on-air role.  Such procedures must be referred to Editorial Policy.

(See 15.4.7)

 

15.3.3

Any proposal, in exceptional circumstances, for a news presenter to front a campaign for a charity or campaigning body must be referred to Editorial Policy.

(See 15.4.19)

 

15.3.4

Chief Adviser Politics must be consulted at an early stage if individuals, including on-air talent on long-term contracts, wish to take part in political activity that may be perceived as a risk to BBC impartiality.

(See 15.4.20)

 

15.3.5

Any intention of a member of BBC staff or other individual associated with the BBC to stand as a candidate in a national or local election, including seeking nomination as a party candidate, must be referred to Chief Adviser Politics before it is publicly known.

(See 15.4.22)

 

Other Referrals

15.3.6

BBC News and Current Affairs staff, and correspondents and freelances primarily known as BBC news presenters or reporters must refer to a senior level in the relevant division if writing one-off articles on news, current affairs, politics or current world affairs, economics, business, finance, matters of public policy, political or industrial controversy, media issues, and moral or ethical issues or religion.

(See 15.4.9)

 

15.3.7

Programme makers, editorial staff, reporters and presenters primarily associated with the BBC must clear with their head of department and the Press Office any letters to the press, if they deal with the subject matter of the programmes, relate to the BBC or broadcasting, or concern matters of public policy, political or industrial controversy, or any other 'controversial subject'.  Presenters who only occasionally present programmes for the BBC should normally clear letters relevant to the subject matter of their programmes if they are to be published around the time of transmission.

(See 15.4.13)

 

15.3.8

Any suggestion of a BBC connection or endorsement of a third party event or organisation, resulting from a public appearance by the presenter of a BBC programme, must be approved by the relevant head of department.

(See 15.4.14)

 

15.3.9

Individuals must obtain permission from their line manager before making any commitment to train interviewees or organisations on how to present themselves in the media.

(See 15.4.16)

 

15.3.10

Any proposal by individuals to work for, or be publicly associated with, charities and campaigning groups must be referred to the head of department, who may wish to consult Editorial Policy.

(See 15.4.18)

 

15.3.11

Anyone asked to work on stories or content where they have a financial, commercial or business interest which has not already been declared and might involve a conflict of interest, or might be perceived to involve a conflict of interest, must inform their editor or head of department promptly.  Editorial Policy may also be consulted.

(See 15.4.28)

 

15.3.12

Individuals should not accept personal benefits, or benefits for their family or close personal relations, from organisations or people with whom they might have dealings on the BBC's behalf.  Any exception to this must be referred to their head of department, who should normally consult Editorial Policy, to establish whether accepting the offer constitutes a conflict of interest.

(See 15.4.30)

 

15.3.13

Current presenters of BBC news programmes should not appear as news presenters in a fictional bulletin, if it is at all likely that this could cause confusion and concern.  Any proposal to do so, for example in a clearly comic, unrealistic or fantasy situation, must be referred to their head of department.

(See 15.4.40)

 

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