New BBC Editorial Guidelines: "Accuracy is more important than speed"

The BBC's new Editorial Guidelines and the new Ofcom (Office of Communications) Broadcasting Code came into force on 25 July 2005. The single, simplified Ofcom Code is the product of extensive consultation and modernises and unifies the six codes inherited from Ofcom's broadcasting regulator predecessors into a framework of clear rules and principles. The BBC Guidelines have been revised in order to reflect Ofcom's new Code and to apply editorial lessons learned since the BBC's last update in 2000 and, in particular, lessons that came out of the Hutton inquiry.

For the first time, the new Ofcom Code sets out each relevant principle and rule, and then specific practices to be followed by broadcasters to ensure standards in relation to fairness and privacy are maintained. However, a breach of these practices is not a breach of the Code unless it results in unfairness or infringement of privacy.

An interesting and welcome addition to the new BBC Guidelines is the express statement that "accuracy is more important than speed". The Guidelines go on to set out the specific procedures BBC journalists must follow in order to achieve accuracy. The new Guidelines also expressly emphasise the need to protect anonymous sources.

As a result of the new Ofcom Code and BBC Editorial Guidelines, corporations should be able to assert clearer, more specific standards regarding contributions to programmes, investigations, secret filming and impartiality, which should assist them to fight their corner when they are the subject of adverse broadcast media attention. However, there is also a clearer commitment by the BBC to protect whistleblowers, which may make it even more difficult for clients to trace the source of unfair and unwarranted allegations made to the BBC about them.