BBC Trust issues public consultation on editorial guidelines

The BBC Trust has cracked down on “intimidation, humiliation and aggressive behaviour”, in a post-Sachsgate overhaul of the BBC’s editorial guidelines.

A Trust spokesman said the proposed guidelines, which are being put out to public consultation for the first time, do not mark a “radical shift” from the current set of rules, but that they spell out the protocol for dealing with contentious issues more clearly than beforel. A BBC spokesman added: “It’s about making them more explicit, not stricter. The key thing is that they are guidelines, not rules.”

The major issues are:

  • No undue aggression: All BBC content must “respect human dignity”. It is still allowed to be “cruel” but not “unduly intimidatory, humiliating, intrusive, aggressive of derogatory remarks must not be celebrated for the purposes of entertainment”.
  • Tighter watershed rules: any strong language must be introduced incrementally after 9pm, with “careful judgements about the use of the strongest language”
  • Clampdown on context: Accuracy and impartiality must be “appropriate to the output, taking account of the subject and nature of the content, the likely audience expectation and any signposting that may influence that expectation”…
  • …meanwhile, strong language must take account of who used it, who is was used to and how it was said. “Was the tone aggressive, or charming and funny?”
  • Better bleeping: language bleeped pre-watershed must be “thoroughly obscured”, including mouth movements
  • Upward referral: the “strongest language” – “cunt, motherfucker and fuck” - must be approved by an output controller who may consult the chief editorial policy adviser.

The proposed guidelines are based on findings in the BBC’s substantial Taste and Standards report earlier this year. The consultation will end on 24 December and the final rules will be published in 2010.

Readers' comments (5)

  • ludicrous

    Unsuitable or offensive?

  • How is something '“cruel” but not “unduly intimidatory?

    Unsuitable or offensive?

  • Does anybody else think we may have a responsibility to try and raise our children, in a world, where this kind of entertainment is moved to showing them these things are not the way to be.

    Unsuitable or offensive?

  • I don't think there anything wrong in re-emphasising basic decency standards. As a parent, I'm aware of how often material previously of a 'watershed' nature is now commonplace in the early evening

    Unsuitable or offensive?

  • Keith Geddes

    I`m still waiting to be asked anything by one of these public consultations.. WHO are they asking? The Beeb usually does what it likes anyway.. makes headlines like anyone else..

    Unsuitable or offensive?

Have your say

You must sign in to make a comment.

Related Jobs

Sign in to see the latest jobs relevant to you!

    Newsletter Sign-up