Impartiality in series
In achieving impartiality a series of programmes on the same service may be considered as a whole. The Agreement states that in this case due impartiality does not require absolute neutrality on every issue or detachment from fundamental democratic principles. For this purpose there are two types of series:
Programmes dealing with the same or related issues, within an appropriate period and clearly linked. In this case a series can include a strand with a common title, or two programmes (such as a drama and a debate about the drama) or a season of programmes on the same subject. These programmes need to achieve impartiality across the series or over a number of programmes within the series. The intention to achieve impartiality across a number of programmes should be planned in advance and normally made clear to the audience when the first programme is transmitted or when practicable.
Programmes dealing with widely disparate issues from one programme to the next but also clearly linked as a strand with a common title. These should normally achieve impartiality within individual programmes, or across two or three editorially linked programmes, rather than across the strand as a whole.
We can not achieve impartiality in this context by ensuring other views will be heard on other services.