³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ
announces stop to journalists' newspaper columns
The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ today
announced changes to its guidelines covering the circumstances in
which ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ journalists, presenters and freelancers can write regular
columns for newspapers and magazines.
The changes
mean that no staff, or regular freelance journalist whose main profile
or income comes from the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, will be able to write newspaper or
magazine columns on current affairs or other contentious issues.
The new arrangements
have been approved by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Governors. However, current contracts
in place mean that some columns will continue until Spring next
year.
Articles
on specific ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ programmes that are part of an overall press and
publicity plan will be allowed, as will columns on non contentious
issues and food, film or music reviews, or syndicated articles that
appear first on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News online.
But
all must still be approved by a senior manager and submitted to
the relevant publication via the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Press Office.
Freelance
journalists whose main profile and income is not through the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ
will be exempt.
Current
staff and freelance contracts will not need amending.
Senior
news managers are already in discussion with those journalists affected,
the majority of whom are staff employees.
Director
of News Richard Sambrook said: "Impartiality is an essential
element to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's reputation and to our journalism.
"When
our journalists write in papers it is seen as an extension of their
work for the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ â€“ yet columns and newspaper articles on controversial
issues depend on expressing opinions to an extent which is often
incompatible with the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's impartiality.
"The
audience's trust in the independence of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's journalism on
all subjects is something we cannot afford to compromise."
The
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Producer Guidelines dealing with Conflict of Interest will now
be redrafted in line with the agreed changes.
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