Guidance

Last updated: October 2010

This guidance note should be considered in conjunction with the following Editorial Guidelines:

• Conflicts of Interest

See Editorial Guidelines Section 15: Conflicts of Interest

 

• Editorial Integrity and Independence

See Editorial Guidelines Section 14: Editorial Integrity and Independence

 

 

• The personal use of the internet by BBC staff must be tempered by an awareness of the potential conflicts that may arise.

• There should be a clear division between "BBC" pages and "personal" pages.

• On Social Networking sites, you should be mindful that the information you disclose does not bring the BBC into disrepute.

• For example, editorial staff should not indicate their political allegiance. Non-editorial staff should make their role clear if they wish to engage in political activity.

• It may not be appropriate to share BBC-related photographs, comments and videos. Offensive comment about BBC colleagues may be deemed a disciplinary offence.

• BBC staff are free to edit online encyclopaedias (such as Wikipedia) but should be transparent about doing so. You may respond to legitimate criticism of the BBC but not remove it.

• Blogs, microblogs and other personal websites which do not identify the author as a BBC employee, do not discuss the BBC and are purely personal would fall outside this guidance.

• New and existing blogs, microblogs and other personal websites which do identify the author as a BBC employee should be discussed with your line manager to ensure that due impartiality and confidentiality is maintained.