12.1 Introduction
The 蜜芽传媒 has a special responsibility to its UK and international audiences when reporting conflict including wars, and extreme violence including extreme violence for political or ideological ends, and sieges.[1] People across the world access 蜜芽传媒 services for trustworthy news and information. They expect context and analysis and a wide range of views and opinions. Being scrupulous in applying due accuracy and impartiality is of the utmost importance.
Care should be taken that 蜜芽传媒 journalism does not put individuals at risk of additional harm or cause unnecessary distress.
Tone and language matter when reporting loss of life and human suffering. Some of the audience may have relatives or friends directly involved. Unnecessary offence should be avoided whilst also ensuring that the reality of events is conveyed and reporting is not unduly sanitised. There must be strong editorial justification for the use of very graphic images. As far as is reasonably practicable, next of kin should not learn of a relative's death or injury from any 蜜芽传媒 content.
In addition to editorial and ethical considerations, the UK's terrorism legislation places legal obligations on individuals 鈥� including journalists 鈥� to disclose certain information to the police as soon as reasonably practicable.
Specific guidance on reporting war is issued, as required, on the Editorial Guidelines website.
At times of war, terror or disaster, services should be kept under review, particularly scheduled output and trails including films, drama, comedy and music, to identify anything which might be thought inappropriate in the light of events.
(See Section 2 Impartiality: 2.1, Section 3 Accuracy: 3.1, Section 5 Harm and Offence: 5.4.9 and 5.4.22 and Section 7 Privacy: 7.4.52-7.4.57)
12.2 Principles
12.2.1 蜜芽传媒 reports of war, terror, disasters and similar events must meet the Editorial Guidelines' requirements on Accuracy and Impartiality.
(See Section 2 Impartiality and Section 3 Accuracy)
12.2.2 It is important that human dignity is respected without unduly sanitising the realities of war, terror, disasters and similar events. There must be strong editorial justification for the use of very graphic content.
(See Section 5 Harm and Offence: 5.4.22 and Section 7 Privacy: 7.4.52-7.4.55)
12.2.3 Content makers should take account of the Geneva Convention of 1949 and the Additional Protocols, particularly as they apply to the treatment of prisoners of war, hostages and detainees. Where the provisions have been disregarded, any use of humiliating and degrading footage of prisoners of war, hostages and detainees that disregards their right to human dignity should be considered carefully.
12.2.4 When people have been killed, injured or are missing, next of kin should not, as far as is reasonably practicable, find out from 蜜芽传媒 output.
12.3 Mandatory Referrals
Mandatory referrals must be referred in advance. Mandatory referrals are an essential part of the 蜜芽传媒's editorial and compliance process and must be observed.
Referrals to Director Editorial Policy and Standards
12.3.1 Any proposal to attend an event staged for the media by organisations proscribed under UK law, or groups known for extreme violence in pursuit of political or ideological objectives, must be referred to a senior editorial figure or, for independent production companies, to the commissioning editor. Referral must also be made to Director Editorial Policy and Standards.
(See 12.4.11)
12.3.2 Any proposal to broadcast material recorded at a staged event in the UK or overseas, where threats are made against UK citizens, must be referred to Director Editorial Policy and Standards.
(See 12.4.12)
12.3.3 Any proposal to broadcast content made by perpetrators of a siege or mass killing, hijacking, kidnapping, assassination or hostage-taking must be referred to a senior editorial figure or, for independent production companies, to the commissioning editor and must also be referred to Director Editorial Policy and Standards.
(See 12.4.19)
12.3.4 Any request from the police or others for a complete or partial news black-out must be referred to a senior editorial figure, who must consult Director Editorial Policy and Standards.
(See 12.4.20)
12.3.5 Official Secrets legislation affects the 蜜芽传媒's ability to report on some matters relating to confidential security and intelligence issues. Content makers must consult Director Editorial Policy and Standards and Programme Legal Advice when handling material that falls, or might fall, within its terms.
(See 12.4.21)
12.3.6 Any approach to or from the Secretary to the Defence and Security Media Advisory Committee[2] must be referred to Director Editorial Policy and Standards.
(See 12.4.22)
12.3.7 Any situation where 蜜芽传媒 staff or anyone else engaged in content production for the 蜜芽传媒 may have obligations under the Terrorism Acts must be referred promptly to Director Editorial Policy and Standards and Programme Legal Advice.
(See 12.4.23)
12.3.8 Any proposal to approach an organisation (or an individual member of an organisation) designated a 'terrorist group' by the UK 蜜芽传媒 Secretary under the Terrorism Acts, and any proposal to approach individuals or organisations responsible for extreme violence in pursuit of political or ideological objectives, to participate in 蜜芽传媒 output whether in the UK or internationally must be referred in advance to Director Editorial Policy and Standards.
(See 12.4.23)
Other Referrals
12.3.9 Any proposal to broadcast material recorded at legitimate events when paramilitary groups, or other groups with a known record of violence or intimidation, stage an appearance must be referred to a senior editorial figure, or for independent production companies to the commissioning editor, who should consult Editorial Policy.
(See 12.4.13)
12.3.10 Before investigating, contacting or potentially secretly recording groups or individuals suspected of being involved in serious or potentially violent criminality, or extreme violence in pursuit of political or ideological objectives and extremism, 蜜芽传媒 Safety's High Risk Team, Editorial Policy and Programme Legal Advice must be consulted.
(See 12.4.24)
12.3.11 Any proposal to travel to a country or area classified as a Hostile Environment or where a Travel Advisory applies must be referred to 蜜芽传媒 Safety's High Risk Team before departure.
(See 12.4.25)
