2. BBC Self Regulation
• Due to its Public Service Broadcast responsibilities and
the Hutton Enquiry, the BBC has a number of self-
regulatory systems including the news programme
Media Watch and the radio equivalent, Talk Back.
• The reporting of events is analysed by radio and
broadcast audiences and the programmes’ journalist.
• Both are interactive and cover all issues raised by
audiences regarding the coverage of controversial
issues all the way down to whether newsreaders
should sit or stand!
3. Ofcom - Objectivity and Self-Regulation
• Doesn’t apply to the BBC, which is regulated by the
BBC Trust
• Ofcom – responsible for governing the public
service responsibilities placed on all broadcasters
• Many audiences think that such regulations make
TV and radio broadcasts objective and reliable in
terms of truth and balance
• Ofcom states – broadcasters must retain balance
and impartiality in terms of construction and
output – so no one viewpoint should be favoured,
especially regarding the government and other
political parties
4. Ofcom Broadcasting Code
• Ensure news is reported with due accuracy and
presented with due impartiality
• Due = doesn’t mean equal time given to every
view or argument it means adequate to the
subject and nature of the programme, so it may
vary
• Significant mistakes should be acknowledged and
corrected and corrections should be appropriately
scheduled
• No politician should be used as a
newsreader/interviewer/reporter unless it is
editorially justified and in that case, their political
allegiance must be made clear
5. Special Impartiality requirements
• Presenters/broadcasters cannot present a view
on matters of current political or industrial
controversy
• Views and facts must not be misrepresented
• Any personal interest of a reporter or presenter,
which would call into question due impartiality,
must be made clear to an audience
• Presenter-led discussions or phone-ins CAN
express their owns views on matters of political
and industrial controversy but alternative
viewpoints must be represented
6. • A personal view or authored programme or
item MUST be clearly signalled to the audience
at the outset
• Due impartiality must be preserved on matters
of MAJOR political or industrial controversy or
current public policy
• An appropriately wide range of significant
views must be included and given due weight.
Views and facts must not be represented
