Overview
We broadcast large numbers of live programmes, including rolling news, radio phone-ins, sporting fixtures and events and other national and international events.
As it is not possible to guarantee the compliance of live programmes in advance of transmission we should take special care to minimise the risks involved such as inadvertently causing harm or offence, giving undue prominence to products, organisations or services or creating legal problems. This applies to anyone appearing live on air or online including our contributors, our own presenters, journalists and reporters, commentators and analysts, and even the live audience.
The risks of live broadcasting may include:
- the inappropriate use of strong language
- the inadvertent inclusion of strong language in song lyrics (both English and foreign language versions), film clips, poetry readings, extracts from literature and so on
- issues of portrayal including racism and national stereotyping
- broadcast of derogatory or libellous comments
- failure to achieve impartiality
- misleading our audiences
- detailed and inappropriate identification of child contributors
- undue prominence of a product, for example, a film, book or sponsors logo
- unexpected and potentially inappropriate coverage of injuries and loss of life in national or international emergencies
- inappropriately graphic or insensitive coverage of sporting fatalities or severe injuries
- failure to alert viewers who may have photosensitive epilepsy to the inclusion of editorially justified flashing images or strobing.
Although every live programme is different this guidance provides advice to try and ensure we minimise the risks of going live.