These Guidelines are an essential element in the delivery of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳’s mission; they should be used by all ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ programme and content makers to help deliver what our audiences expect.
The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ exists to deliver high quality content that informs, educates and entertains our audiences. In doing so, nothing is more important than the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳’s reputation for independence, impartiality and editorial integrity, combined with the highest levels of creativity.
The public and ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ audiences rightly demand the highest editorial standards from the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ and it is the job of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Board to ensure that our content – across all services and genres – meets those. The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳’s Charter charges the Board with upholding the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳’s editorial and creative independence and this principle is at the heart of these Guidelines. Our public purposes also specifically require the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ to champion freedom of expression, as well as to provide duly accurate and impartial news, current affairs and factual programming.
The Board takes these responsibilities seriously and these Guidelines, approved by the Board, are designed to help achieve our editorial ambitions across an extensive range of output, both in the UK and around the world.
The Editorial Guidelines are the basis of our accountability to audiences. Following the Guidelines will ensure that we will all deliver the standards expected of us and meet the obligations set out in the Charter.
Sir David Clementi*
Chairman
*Chairman at the time of publication of the guidelines (2019). Chairman is now Richard Sharp