Published: 11:00 am, 1 July 2022
Updated: 2:00 pm, 1 July 2022
The BBC is consistently rated as the most trusted news source by audiences - but we take nothing for granted. That’s why ensuring extraordinarily high standards of impartiality across our content is vital. This work is being done at pace. We will get this right."
The plan covering impartiality, editorial standards, training and whistleblowing was published at the end of October 2021 in response to the Serota Review into BBC Editorial Processes, Governance, and Culture.
Since publication, we have now either completed or are progressing all of the actions from the 10-point plan and Serota Review.
Work to implement the actions has been led full time by Peter Johnston, seconded from his role as the BBC’s Director for Northern Ireland.
Key milestones include:
Whistleblowing
The BBC has today published a BBC Whistleblowing Policy which now includes editorial issues and provides a confidential mechanism for staff and freelancers to raise honestly held-concerns that something is wrong at the BBC.
Editorial investigations
We have updated how we handle fast-tracked complaints, as well as a new process for BBC-initiated editorial investigations.
Governance
Seasoned editors Caroline Daniel and Michael Prescott have been appointed as the BBC’s first External Editorial Experts. As recommended in the Serota Review, they will assist the Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee in providing an external perspective on editorial risks and issues.
Caroline and Michael have held journalism roles across multiple media outlets, over a number of years. Caroline is former Editor of FT Weekend and FT Assistant Editor and is now Partner at the Brunswick Group specialising in technology, media and telecoms. Michael was previously Sunday Times Political Editor and is now Managing Director of Corporate and Political Affairs for Hanover Communications.
Thematic reviews
The first thematic review, into BBC taxation and public spending output, was confirmed in March and is being led by Sir Andrew Dilnot and Michael Blastland. Work is ongoing and it is due to be published later this year.
Internal content reviews
Details of the first internal content reviews for specific programmes have been confirmed with staff. The reviews will assess editorial standards and culture including impartiality, freedom of expression, diversity of voices, accuracy, fairness and trust. The programmes chosen - BBC Breakfast, Countryfile and the English language morning radio news programmes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - represent a range of output, across different BBC Divisions. These selections have not been made because of particular impartiality concerns.
Training
Over 24,000 people have completed bespoke impartiality training, since January 2021. All new joiners to the BBC will complete the impartiality training.
Editorial values and culture
Questions around impartiality were included in the BBC staff survey for the first time and 94% of staff from across the BBC who took part said they understood why impartiality is important. There is now clearer promotion of the Editorial Guidelines on the BBC’s internal website to further understanding of them, and there is ongoing work with content teams to support more open discussion around editorial issues.
Monitoring
The Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee has incorporated the Serota Review recommendations into its terms of reference, and the committee is receiving regular progress reports to ensure implementation of them remain on track.
Tim Davie, BBC Director-General, says: “The BBC is consistently rated as the most trusted news source by audiences - but we take nothing for granted. That’s why ensuring extraordinarily high standards of impartiality across our content is vital. This work is being done at pace. We will get this right. We need a BBC that everyone can have high levels of confidence in.”
Peter Johnston says: “Audiences expect impartiality and strong editorial standards from the BBC, and it is our absolute priority to do all we can to maintain their trust, and tackle perceptions of bias. We are making good progress with the action plan and the hard work continues.”
We will make further updates on these plans as they progress.
BBC Press Office