What limitations does the BBC put on employee speech?

April 12, 2016 8:16 AM

What limitations, if any, does the BBC put on employee speech? Are broadcasters, journalists and others limited in expressing their personal opinion outside BBC media? Also, do you know of examples of public broadcasters limiting their employees rights to voice opinions, in other media or on social media?
posted by svenni to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

Response by poster: I'm searching for rules and guidlines, rather than opinions here :)
posted by svenni at 8:17 AM on April 12, 2016

Best answer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidelines

Read and enjoy. The stuff you're looking for is scattered throughout the guidelines e.g. this.
posted by Dan Brilliant at 8:21 AM on April 12, 2016 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Specifically re: social media:

BBC Guidance for Staff in News dated Mar 2015 (PDF)

Similar document dating from 2011. (PDF)
posted by Wretch729 at 8:24 AM on April 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I was working at BBC News when that guidance note was distributed internally to all staff and it was a direct result of the Guido Fawkes blog having highlighted a case of severe partiality in a BBC News journalist's personal tweets in the run up to the 2014 European Parliament elections.
posted by Dan Brilliant at 8:57 AM on April 12, 2016 [1 favorite]