The Regulation of Broadcast News

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!

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

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

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

• 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