BBC Producer’s Guidelines - Points of Interest for Christians.

(Writing in bold has been quoted directly from the BBC Producer's Guidelines.)

(headings in red should co-inside with the headings from the producers guidelines.)

Chapter 2- Impartiality and Accuracy

• "All BBC programmes and services should be open-minded, fair and show respect for the truth."

• "The BBC is committed to providing programmes of great diversity which reflects the full range of audiences' interests, beliefs, and perspectives" (be this sport, entertainment, comedy or religion.)

• The BBC may.... "Choose to test or report one side of a particular argument. However, it must do so with fairness and integrity. It should ensure that opposing views are not misrepresented."

• News: "News programmes should offer viewers and listeners an intelligent and informed account of issues that enables them to form their own views."

• Personal View Programmes: The BBC sees it as very important that a "wide range of individuals or groups offer a personal view or advance a contentious argument." This of course should include Christians. The BBC believes that this is very important as it can "add significantly to public understanding especially when they bring forward unusual and rarely heard perspectives on topics that are well-known from Orthodox points of view." (Evangelical Christianity: Rarely heard and Orthodox Point of view?)

• Right of Reply: "When a programme reveals evidence of iniquity or incompetence, or where a strong, damaging critique of an individual or institution is laid out, there is a presumption that those criticised be given a fair opportunity to respond."

Chapter 3- Fairness and Straight Dealing

• Dealing with Contributors: "Contributors should be treated honestly and with Respect."

• A contributor should know in advance if asked to debate on a certain issue the range o views being represented and wherever possible who the other participants will be. They should also be told why they were contacted to be a contributor and what the programme is about.

• The BBC do not normally allow contributors to see the finished work before it is aired, but if they do wish to do so they can contact the BBC in writing, The Editorial Policy will then advise on each separate case.

• Research: Research Agencies will sometimes advertise in order to get contributors, but this is often a last resort. People who become contributors through adverts will then be "checked extremely thoroughly."

Chapter 6- Taste and Decency

• "The BBC is required in the Agreement associated with its charter not to broadcast programmes which include anything which offends against good taste or decency"
  

• The BBC does remember while saying the above: "People of different ages, convictions and cultures may have sharply differing expectations."
• "Programme makers should not offend thoughtlessly or through ignorance"
• While the BBC is careful not to offend different people it also is careful not to compromise or alter "other key BBC values, such as impartiality, accuracy for the truth, which the BBC will seek to apply equally to all parts of the world."
• "In the United Kingdom, research suggests that while people have become more relaxed in recent years about the portrayal of Sex and sexual humor they remain concerned about the depiction of violence. The use of strong language also divides audiences and can be particular a source of offence on the internet." What does this mean for us as Christians if the BBC seems to condone the portrayal of Sex and sexual humor as 'ok' with the British public?
• What appears before the watershed is important for Christians. The time in which certain things are on means that parents know when they're children are going to be exposed to these things. It also can help to prevent children seeing these things prematurely.
• Important point: "What is commonplace in cinema, video, computer programs or on the internet will not necessarily be appropriate for BBC television, radio or online services.
• The Watershed: This is before 9. The earlier it is before 9 the more likely it is that a child could watch the programme on his/her own. However, the BBC expects parents to share the responsibility for assessing whether or not individual programmes should be seen by a younger viewer.
• There are two sides to the argument of the Watershed. 70% of houses in the UK does not have children while on the other hand on weekends and holiday time many children stay up later than 9pm, especially if there's a programme which would be of interest to a child. With this argument the question is raised that as Christians do we see a need to ask the BBC for a change in the Watershed? At the moment the Watershed starts at 9 and finishes at 5:30am. Do children sometimes watch the TV? before 5:30pm if they wake early?
• Radio: On the radio - Djs share with parents a special responsibility when live broadcasting is listened to by audience with a high proportion of young people or children.
• If music is a "genuine expression of popular culture" then it can be played on the radio after the watershed whatever its contents.
• The BBC in Television, Radio and the Internet services must comply with "The European Council Television without Frontiers Directive 1997 article 22.1" This directive demands that the BBC does not include any programmes that would "impair the physical, mental or moral development of minors..." It also demands that the BBC uses "acoustic" or "visual" warnings to alert viewers to any programmes which have the above in it. This is the absolute minimum that the BBC has to do.
• International Audiences: "Particular care may be needed to be taken when dealing with religious beliefs which form a central part of society's culture or its political or legal system." Is this the same with Christianity within the UK?
• Language: "Programme makers should be aware that terms of racist abuse are now considered to be offensive by all sections of the audience."
• With language such as "Jesus Christ" or "God" or of the names "held holy by other faiths" programme makers "must be satisfied that their inclusion can be justified despite the distress that may be caused."
• "The most offensive language should not be used on television before 9pm and after 9pm it should only be used following careful consideration."
• Religious Sensibilities: "Language must be used sensitively and accurately and be consistent in our description of different religion."
• "Blasphemy is a criminal offence in the UK and advice should be sought, through heads of Department or Commissioning Executives, from editorial policy and lawyers in any instance where the possibility of blasphemy may arise."
  
• Sex: The BBC see's that Sex will always be a part of both drama and factual programmes because of the "important part it plays in most people's emotions and experience. In this, as in most areas of taste, public attitudes have shifted over time.... Although they also realize that 'sensitive handling can help prevent the most delicate of subjects from causing widespread offence'"
• "Sensationalism should be avoided and extremes of sexual behavior should not be presented as the norm." - ˜We must draw the line well short of anything that might be labeled obscene or pornographic."
• "Research suggests that in Britain audiences are becoming more tolerant of the portrayal and discussion of homosexuality....nevertheless, programme makers should be mindful that a significant part of the audience is critical of any depiction of homosexual acts."
• Comedy: When the producer makes a programme the BBC insists that stereotyping needs judging with care. "If a comedy conveys a sense of superiority or prejudice it ha one too far."

Chapter 7- Violence

• "It is clear that screen violence does upset many people and, in excess, it can be accused of desensitizing viewers."

• There are a few things that producers while creating programmes should consider when it comes to violence: "Whether the violence is appropriate within it's context, the impact of violent episodes on the viewers at home seeing them for the first time, the cumulative effect if programmes containing violence are scheduled close together, or if the programme is to be repeated frequently."
• The use of violence in BBC programmes should never be "gratuitous" instead producers should ask themselves whether the violence is "essential to the story."
• Programme makers should be careful when creating programmes which contain violence which involves situations close to the audience's own experience, domestic and sexual violence, scenes where women and children are portrayed as victims, scenes of extreme sustained violence, scenes containing the approval of violence or scenes containing suicide or attempted suicide.
• Children: It is important that care is taken in order to make sure that violence is not seen as a "how to do it guide" especially if children are watching. Because of this the BBC have a rule that extra care must be taken in order to make sure children do not see violence as something to imitate or that the consequences real-life violence can be concealed.

Chapter 8- Imitative and Anti-Social Behavior

• Children: Smoking and drinking in children's programmes should generally be avoided. It is advisable to discourage smoking and drinking by pop stars, actors and others who are admired by children when they appear in interviews for television. No violence which is unusual etc should be allowed.
  

• Suicide: The BBC does no want any programme maker to "overemphasize the 'positive' results of a person's suicide" In a factual programme suicide should always be treated in an informed and sensitive way.
• Drugs: It is necessary when making a programme which includes the use of illegal drugs to make clear the "legal and social context for a full understanding of the story."

Chapter 9- Portrayal

• "It's (BBC) domestic services should aim to reflect and represent the composition of the nation." As Christians to do we feel as though the BBC represent us in what they show?
  

• "BBC Programmes and services should reflect and draw on this diversity to reflect life as it is." Is it fair enough that they show what they show on the BBC then, if in fact the BBC's purpose is to show "life as it is" in 21^st centaury Britain?
• "The BBC is not in the business of social engineering" and so the BBC does not try and manufacturing a society that does not exist.
• Portrayal of Religious Groups: "Particular groups or factions should not be portrayed as speaking for their faith as a whole." This means that the BBC should seek to involve Christians from other denominations apart from the institutional church in interview etc.

Chapter 23- Coverage of the National Lottery

• "Lottery programming should not be specifically aimed at children under 16."
  

• There is not reference to the fact that the BBC should not advertise gambling ( the lottery) because of moral obligations, it only refers to the fact that the BBC may not advertise the lottery ( gambling) because of it's role as the BBC.

Chapter 30- Social Action Programming, Campaigning Groups and Charities.

• Social Action Programming:  "In particular we (the BBC) must take care to ensure that politicians and lobbyists do not use the BBC programme setting or brands for political advantage." That is that groups, agencies, organizations or politicians themselves do not get on the 'band wagon' of social action programming the BBC are running in order to gain advantage or influence.
  

• Campaigning groups: In order to protect them the BBC ensures that it does not "get involved with campaigning programming which is politically contentious. Programmes should not embrace the agenda of a particular campaign or campaigning groups objectively."

Appendix

Further points of interest for Christians taken from the BBC's Editorial Guidelines

(which did not appear in the Producer's Guidelines.)

Chapter 8: Harm and Offence

• Language: "Offensive language is one of the most frequent causes of complaint. It can be a particular source of offence in sub-titles or online."

• "Any proposal to use the most offensive language... must be referred to and approved by a senior editorial figure or for Independents by the commissioning editor and the relevant output controller for television, radio, online and any other service. Chief Adviser Editorial Policy may also be consulted."
• Exorcism, the occult and the paranormal: "We must act responsibly when including material looking at any aspect of exorcism, the occult, the paranormal, divination or any related practices, particularly in pre-Watershed programmes, on radio when children are particularly likely to be listening or in online content likely to appeal to a high proportion of children. Demonstrations of such practices in factual programmes must be treated with due objectivity and in entertainment programmes they must be clearly labelled. Also they should not normally contain advice about health, finance, employment or relationships which could encourage people to make life changing decisions."

Chapter 12: Religion

• "We will ensure that the beliefs and practices of the great world faiths are described accurately and impartially." Does this include the different beliefs within a religion, i.e. Evangelical / non-Evangelical?
  

• The BBC makes it clear that although they believe it is important that all the faiths are covered within the BBC, the time they are given "should not be used to recruit."