People expect the highest standards from the BBC and the BBC Trust is here to get the best out of the BBC for the public. One of the ways we do this is by approving the BBC Editorial Guidelines – the standards required of those making programmes and other content for the BBC – every five years.  The Editorial Guidelines are currently being rewritten and new Guidelines will be published next year.

As part of the review, we're asking people to tell us what they think about the new Guidelines before they are finally published. What do you think the BBC has got right in the draft of the new Guidelines, what do you think it's got wrong and what should the BBC do to improve them?

What happens next?

We will look at all the information that we receive, including your answers and a range of other data. We will take the interests of both content producers, including programme makers, and audiences into account before finalising the new Editorial Guidelines. The new Guidelines will be published in summer 2010. People working for the BBC will be required to work within the new Guidelines. The Guidelines will be available for you to see on the BBC website.

To tell us what you think, please fill in the questionnaire attached. The closing date is 24 December 2009.

Now for your views...there are 10 questions about the new Guidelines. You can answer as many of the questions as you wish. If you’d rather make a comment about the new Guidelines than answer the questions just use the comment box at the end of the questionnaire.

Please note that one of the question areas included in the consultation is about the use of strong language on the BBC. The relevant section of the Editorial Guidelines on which we ask you to comment features the strongest language with the intention of guiding programme makers clearly. We have included this extract from the Editorial Guidelines unedited in order for you to be fully informed about the Guidelines on this important issue. However if you think that you might find the language featured in this extract offensive then you may wish to ask the BBC Trust for a version of the consultation document with these words removed.

Background

The Editorial Guidelines set out the standards required of people making programmes and other content for the BBC. They exist to guide content producers in making considered editorial decisions that balance freedom of expression with their responsibilities to the audience, contributors and others.  The Guidelines cover these responsibilities in great detail including: the need to be duly accurate and impartial and to avoid causing audiences unnecessary offence; the importance of treating people fairly and respecting their privacy when making and broadcasting programmes; how programme makers should deal with children and young people who contribute to programmes; how the BBC should cover politics and public policy; ensuring that votes and competitions are run fairly; and the need for  programme makers to be mindful of potential conflicts of interest.  The Editorial Guidelines are also used by the BBC Executive and the BBC Trust when considering complaints about BBC content.

You can see the draft of the new Editorial Guidelines in full here:

Draft Editorial Guidelines (pdf)

Questions

The Editorial Guidelines are primarily an aid for programme makers and others making content for the BBC. However, it is important that the standards set out in the Guidelines reflect the expectations of the public, which is why we want to hear from you.

The Guidelines are very detailed and run to 19 sections in all. For this consultation we have highlighted specific parts of the Guidelines about which we are particularly keen to hear your views and the questions below focus on these areas.

The first set of questions relates to accuracy and impartiality. Accurate and impartial content is a key characteristic of the BBC and we recognise that it is vital to the BBC's good reputation. The BBC has carried out a number of reviews into impartiality in recent years, which can be viewed here. Accuracy and impartiality are editorial issues over which the Trust has sole responsibility in order to protect the independence of the BBC. So it is particularly important that the Accuracy and Impartiality Guidelines are right. The second set of questions relate to harm and offence, specifically strong language and aggressive behaviour. Earlier this year the BBC published a report about the standards that the public expects of the BBC in this area. You can read this report here. We want to ensure that the new Guidelines reflect these expectations. We set out specific questions on these sections of the Guidelines below.

If you would like to let us know your views on any other aspect of the Editorial Guidelines, there is a general comments box at the end of the questions for you to do this.