The BBC has several self-regulatory systems to ensure impartiality in news reporting, including programs where audiences can provide feedback. Regulator Ofcom oversees other UK broadcasters and requires balance and no favoring of viewpoints, especially regarding politics. The Ofcom Broadcasting Code mandates news be reported accurately and impartially. Significant mistakes must be acknowledged and corrected. Politicians cannot report news without editorial justification of their political views. Presenters cannot express views on political or industrial issues without alternative viewpoints.

1. The Regulation of Broadcast
News

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