Working For The BBC: Codes & Conventions

We all know the BBC via its high reputation and the quality service they provide. This service is funded by the tax British citizens, so there's no doubt that we expect a high standard and trustworthy service provided by them. From radio to television, the BBC have built there own world of media, covering the latest entertainment, sport, music, news and much more, which provides a service to the public. So how does the BBC gain trust and responsibility? Well the BBC follow some codes and conventions which many services have to follow to ensure they stay on the right side of their audiences.

Codes and conventions are followed by all media platforms. It is mainly important to follow these when presenting news and factual programmes.

Particularly in radio, it is vital to follow the codes, as there is a lot of information the audience are relying on the station to provide. As we know, there are many radio stations the BBC broadcast, and have many employees on hand to provide a quality service. The question is however, how does the BBC ensure that all of their employees provide the very best service. They have clearly stated their codes and conventions on their web site for all employees to follow. To help understand these codes and conventions, I will be discussing and explaining the importance of some of them used in today's radio industry.

Accuracy


When broadcasting information to your audience, it is without doubt, solely important that you provide the most accurate information you can. Accuracy not only affects your audience but also your reputation. In addition to this, the term "accuracy" also applies to the accuracy provided when you report the opinions of those who you interview. You need to be so accurate that you need to sound as if your the person you actually interviewed and your just repeating what you said, not reporting.
"Accuracy is key to the BBC's reputation. If your audience can't trust you to give an accurate account of the facts, then as a journalist you are only achieving the basics" (Reference 1). Of course the BBC prides itself for their reputation they have built, so it is even more vital this code is followed by a member of the BBC. The BBC also ask that employees provide facts and report them in a way which doesn't mislead the audience. For example, you ask for the expertise of the audience, you have to ensure that you get their information correct.


Balance

To balance in a radio show, you have to provide a mixture of elements. For example, if you have a wide audience, you are expected to present a balance of stories and areas. You shouldn't present one area such as sports just because that id your personal favourite are to cover. Providing a service at the BBC is providing the audience with what they want. Of course you can't cover everything at the same time, hence why you should have a balance in terms of what you present and show.

This also applies to having a balance of opinions and facts to balance out a debate. Political shows such as the "Steven Hannitie Show" demonstrate many debates throughout the show. As a presenter, it is their responsibility to ensure that there is balance of opinion to avoid viewers being angered by the show being so one sided. This also prevents the show from being bias.   



Impartiality 


Impartiality links in with bias and includes elements of balance. To be impartial on a radio show you have to provide a breadth of view. "The most commonly discussed forms of bias occur when the media support or attack a particular political party, candidate, or ideology"(reference 2).  To avoid this on radio, you have to see past you own judgement on something and remain professional.


The BBC expects there workers to have knowledge on the report or debate. As a presenter you have to make impartial judgements to ensure everything has been heard and thought about. You have to make judgements to simply ensure that every voice has been heard.

To be impartial at the BBC you have to ignore any personal feelings about a particular area to enable for you to give an accurate and fair report on the event, without personal emotions hiding all the other sides to the event.

This ties in with bias. "The term is often applied to the attitudes and conduct of individuals  but is also associated with 'common sense' objections to lack of balance in media output" (reference 3). In radio there will be times where debates take place, or interviews. If you are only getting the expertise of one side of the subject then this is being bias.

The audience want a fair share of information for every side. Thus, it is important that the BBC cannot demonstrate a report that pre-judges an issue. People look up to the BBC as a reliable source for news, so they need to show that they are not in any way bias on any subject.

Objectivity

"Objectivity means the pursuit of a balanced, fair and rational perspective on events, especially where controversial issues are debated..."(reference 4). This term links in with some of those above. It's all about being fair and ensuring that every fact and every statement made is the truth and very reliable for the audience to follow.

In radio broadcast there are plenty of opportunities for objectivity to take place. radio broadcasts  news and discussions that can sometimes lead to heated debates. It is live so it can become increasingly difficult to be very accurate with the facts. Thus it is important that the presenter doesn't become involved in the debating itself, but is on the sides to sift our the accurate facts stated and moves the debate to a conclusion, putting aside any personal views and emotions...

Subjectivity

Subjectivity somewhat contrasts with objectivity. Subjectivity is all about the beliefs and opinions towards a subject. Subjectivity is not nessasery factual, but shows the beliefs on a certain subject. Whilst objectivity is all about the accurate facts, subjectivity is all about the opinion of others.

BBC radio allows the audience to phone in and express their views and beliefs. Not only does this give another prospective on a certain topic, but it also shows subjectivity and equal opportunities for everyone to express their views and beliefs.

In connection to this, the BBC also strongly values it's audience's opinions. The BBC believe that everyone has the right to put across any opinions they have. They appreciate those opinions and sometimes ask for them to be shared over the radio. This gives a balance and broad range of views on one show. This also allow people to express emotions (not necessarily factual).

Representation

Representation is where you present something in a certain way. This could relate to things such as the style of the show or the theme.  By representing something you are able to "make a physical demonstration" (reference 5) .

In radio you can represent a news story. For example, the presenter may emphasise on certain words or phrases to make it stand out. Usually, presenters discuss topics/issues that they personally have emotions or thoughts for themselves. This is done so the presenter is able to represent a story or news headline in the most passionate and professional. This refers back to being accurate. If you are covering a story you don't have any thoughts towards or knowledge about it, than you cannot be very accurate.

Access

"Access is the idea that opportunities should be provided for individual members of the public" (Reference  6).

Since the 1970's there has been high demand that there should be access for individuals. BBC radio have since provided their audience with chances to express their opinions for other listeners to hear. BBC allow the public to express and touch on a subject without no editorial interference on radio. This links into subjectivity. You are able to comment without actually having accurate statistics and facts.

In radio you can phone in or even text your opinions. You wont' be criticised for your lack of judgement, although some will disagree. Again, this is where the presenter has to be careful and ensure that what the audience says is equally balanced by others.

 This relates to impartiality and balance, as it is important that the right balance is achieved for both sides to story and is also important to have a range of fact and opinion.

Privacy

Despite how much information you want from someone, there is only so far you can go. When interviewing someone, you cannot dig into their private lives or any areas they request not to speak about. It is against the law for a journalist to "bug" a celebrity. You are simply not allowed to invade their privacy. The whole idea of privacy is that everyone has the right to have "freedom of unauthorised intrusion" (reference 7).  

Radio shows for the BBC interview many famous people throughout their shows, and they aim to get the most out of them. Their audiences have high demands for information and absolute accuracy from interviews. Whilst radio stations have to pay careful attention to their audiences's demands, they have to be very careful to insure they don't go to far and invade the person's privacy.

As you can see, there are many codes and conventions, that companies just like the BBC need to follow to ensure that they follow the law and provide the very best and reliable service for its audience.

In terms of my radio project, I will also need to consider some of the above and carry them out throughout the project. I will need to ensure that I am completely accurate with my research. We have been asked to create a factual radio show for Bluecoat Academy. Thus we need to be very accurate to ensure we have the correct facts. In addition to this, another codes and conventions I will have to follow is "balance" and "privacy". When I plan for this project I will need to ensure I have a balance of elements in my show. For example I may need to include a fact which students may find interesting whilst mentioning facts that may suite an older audience. The project brief has requested that our radio show suites an audience ranging from students to teachers, therefore I need to make sure I have a balance of material. I may also want to interview a member of staff at the school, so I will need to prepare what I'm going to say. I need to avoid going deeply into a subject or area that is invading the privacy of the interviewee.    




BIBLIOGRAPHY

Reference 1: http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/collegeofjournalism/standards/truth-and-accuracy/truth-and-accuracy
DATE ACCESSED: 27/02/2013

Reference 2: http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/collegeofjournalism/standards/impartiality/impartiality
DATE ACCESSED: 27/02/2013

Reference 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_bias
DATE ACCESSED: 28/02/2013

Reference 4: The Complete A-Z Of Media & Communication Handbook (Objectivity)

                     By: Stuart Price
                    Published By: GreenGate Publishing Services
                   Date Of Publishing: 1997

Reference 5: The Complete A-Z Of Media & Communication Handbook (Representation)

                     By: Stuart Price
                    Published By: GreenGate Publishing Services
                   Date Of Publishing: 1997

Reference 6: The Complete A-Z Of Media & Communication Handbook (Access)

                     By: Stuart Price
                    Published By: GreenGate Publishing Services
                   Date Of Publishing: 1997

Reference 7: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/privacy
DATE ACCESSED: 28/02/2013