The BBC is a news provider that audiences can trust in the UK and across the globe. Our website, just like our radio and TV services, strives to provide journalism that is accurate and impartial.
“The trust our audience has in our content is the foundation of everything we do.” We are independent, honest and impartial. We strive to achieve the highest standards of accuracy, impartiality, and honesty and do not intentionally or materially mislead our audiences.
“Our commitment to neutrality is at heart of this relationship of trust. We will be impartial in all of our work, and reflect the full ranges of opinions. We will examine all relevant facts with an open and fair mind.”
Research shows that the BBC is viewed as the UK’s most trustworthy and impartial news provider [PDF] compared to other broadcasters and newspapers.
We know, however, that identifying trustworthy journalism on the Internet can be a confusing process. We also know that the audience wants to learn more about BBC journalism.
BBC News makes an even greater effort to explain the type of information that you read or watch on our website. We also try to explain who and where it comes from and how the story was written. We can then help you decide for yourself whether BBC News is trustworthy.
We also make these indicators of reliable journalism “machine readable”, which means that they can be picked-up by search engines and platforms on social media, helping them better identify reliable sources.
These indicators include the following areas:
* Newsroom best practice
* Type of Work
* Journalist expertise
* Citations and References
* Methodology
BEST PRACTICE
The BBC has had its own editorial guidelines for many years. These apply to all our content and define the standards that we expect of our journalists. This page lists all relevant sections to make it easier for you to see how BBC Guidelines are used in our Newsroom.
Mission Statement: The BBC’s mission is to serve all audiences by providing high-quality, distinctive, and impartial output and services, which inform, educate, and entertain. The BBC Charter contains all the details.
Ownership Structure, Grants and Funding: We are independent from outside interests and arrangements which could undermine our integrity as an editorial organization. Our audiences should have confidence that our decisions aren’t influenced by outside pressures, commercial or political interests, or personal interests. The BBC Charter on the Independence of the BBC explains how BBC News in the UK and abroad is funded.
Other Links:
* Guidelines for Editorial Impartiality
* Editorial Guidelines on Editorial Standards
* Guidelines for Editors on Conflicts of Interest
* BBC Framework Agreement for the provision of commercial services
BBC Commercial Services Guidelines
Founding Date: 18 October 1922 was the date of the BBC’s founding. Learn more about the BBC’s history.
Ethics Policy: The BBC’s Editorial Guidelines describe the editorial values and practices to which all of our output should adhere.
Other Links:
* BBC Charter and Framework Agreement
* BBC World Service Operating Licence
Learn about the BBC Charter’s commitment to diversity.
Other Links:
* Section on Impartiality and Diversity of Opinion in the Editorial Guidelines
* Diversity and Inclusion Page
Diversity Staffing Report – Find out how BBC News works to increase diversity.
Corrections: BBC is committed in achieving accuracy. The following sections of the Editorial Guidelines contain policies relating to corrections.
Our output must be based on solid evidence, thoroughly tested, and presented in a clear, precise language. We should be open and honest about what we do not know and avoid unfounded speculating. Claims, allegations and material facts that cannot be verified should be attributed.
We are willing to admit mistakes and encourage a culture that is open to learning from them.
If an article was edited after publication to correct an inaccuracy of a material nature, a note is added to the end of the text indicating the date that the change occurred. If a small mistake in a story does not change its editorial meaning, such as a misspelled name, the correction will not require an additional note.
It is assumed that unless content is made available for a limited period of time, it will be archived permanently and not removed. Legal reasons, personal safety concerns, or a serious violation of editorial standards cannot be rectified without removing the material.
Other Links:
* Editorial Guidelines for Accountability
* Editorial Guidelines for Removal of Online Content
Verification/Fact-checking Standards: The BBC’s accuracy and verification policy is outlined in the Editorial Guidelines on Accuracy.
Other Links:
* Ofcom Operating Framework for the BBC
Unnamed sources: The BBC’s policy on anonymous sources and its guidance is detailed in their Editorial Guidelines.
Other Links:
* Editorial Guidelines: Mandatory Referrals
* Guidelines for gathering material – Editorial Guidelines
* Guidelines for the use of user-generated content in news output
Feedback that is actionable: The BBC Complaints Framework outlines the BBC’s complaints process.
Other Links:
Have Your Say
Contact Us
Leadership: Meet the senior executives who run the news division at BBC News Board.
BBC News articles that are based on original reporting will often have bylines (the name and title of the journalist), just as they do for those written by journalists with a particular subject area.
Bylines are not usually included in general news stories that combine information from multiple sources, such as news agencies, BBC Newsgathering, and BBC broadcast output. They may also have been produced over the course a day by several staff members.
Many correspondents and editors have links in their article bylines that lead to their own blogs, where they can find biographical information and expertise, as well as social media details.
BBC News makes a distinction between factual reporting, and opinion. We use machine-readable labels in six categories:
* News – Journalism that is based on facts either directly observed and verified by the reporter or reported and verified by knowledgeable sources
* Analysis – A product based primarily on the expert knowledge of an author (whether a BBC journalist, or an outside expert) to help you better understand current affairs and trends
* Ask the Audience: Content designed to elicit direct responses from the audience
* Explainer – Content that provides a clear and factual explanation about the context or causes of the news.
* Opinions – BBC News is impartial and does offer no opinions, but we sometimes publish personal views expressed by experts outside the BBC. These are often based on the author’s interpretation of data and facts.
* Review – Content based on an evaluation of a particular event, work of art, etc., with first-hand opinions
As appropriate to the subject and nature of our output, it should be well-sourced, based upon solid evidence, thoroughly tested, and presented in a clear, precise language. We try to be open and honest about what we do not know and avoid unfounded speculative statements.
When BBC News relies heavily on a single source to cover a major aspect of its coverage we will try to give credit where possible. We link to official reports and statistics, as well as other sources of information to allow you to judge the information we are reporting.
We also provide links to third-party websites, which may contain additional information, sources of material, or informed comments.
We will explain how we did our work for in-depth projects such as complex investigations and data journalism by revealing the underlying data, and any caveats or assumptions we made.
Read More @ www.bbc.com