Category: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
Date: 23.06.2004
Printable version
The Neil Report,
published in full today (23 June 2004) by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, lays out recommendations
and guidelines to strengthen Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ journalism in the future.
Clearly stating the core values of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ journalism, the
Report emphasises the importance of continuous training, and of learning
from both existing best practice and from the specific circumstances
around the broadcast which led to the Hutton Inquiry last year.
The Report's most ambitious recommendation is that the
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ should establish a college of journalism under the leadership of
an academic principal.
Announcing the publication of the Report, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Director-General
Mark Thompson said: "The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ does not have the public's
trust as of right; it has to earn and maintain it.
"The Neil Report will enable us to do this, highlighting what we
do well and what we could do better.
"It is a template for strengthening Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ journalism in the future
and I have asked Mark Byford, Deputy Director-General, to oversee the
immediate implementation of the Report's recommendations in full."
Richard Sambrook, Director, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News, said: "Ronald
Neil and his team have conducted a thorough and searching examination.
"We have worked closely with them and welcome their very constructive
conclusions.
"We have already begun the work of rapidly implementing the Report's
recommendations."
The review group was set up in February 2004 by the
then Acting Director-General Mark Byford to identify the editorial
lessons from Lord Hutton's Inquiry and Report.
It was led by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's former Director of News and Current Affairs
Ronald Neil and included a former Editor of ITN and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ editorial
executives.
Ronald Neil said: "In carrying out our work over
the past three months, the review group recognises the formidable professionalism
that already underwrites the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's journalism every day.
"However, setting out to improve, strengthen and learn from the
experience of life's events when they go wrong is a proper ambition.
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"It is a stance of strength, not a weakness.
"I and the rest of the review team are very grateful for the considerable
openness of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ journalists and programme-makers in assisting us in
our task."
The Report recommends that journalism training in the
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ should have a substantially enhanced role and investment.
It says: "As the largest employer of journalists in the UK, the
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has an obligation to take the lead in strengthening training in
craft skills and promoting debate about journalistic standards and ethics
in broadcasting."
The Report concludes that achieving this requires a "sea change
in approach" towards a system of career development and promotion
based on clear competencies.
The Report sets out and emphasises the core values of
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ journalism. They are:
Truth and Accuracy
- Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ journalism should be rooted in the highest possible levels of
accuracy and precision of language, well sourced, based on sound evidence
and thoroughly tested;
Serving the Public Interest - prioritising and reporting stories
of significance and relevance to audiences, being well informed when
explaining stories and robust, but fair and open-minded in asking searching
questions of those who hold public office;
Impartiality and Diversity of Opinion - reporting facts in their
context, not opinion, practising openness and independence of mind and
testing a wide range of views with the evidence;
Independence - striving to be an independent monitor of powerful
institutions and individuals, making judgements for sound editorial
reasons, not as the result of improper political or commercial pressure;
Accountability - the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's first loyalty is to its audiences
and their continuing trust in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's journalism is a crucial part
of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's contract with them. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ will be open in admitting mistakes
when they are made, unambiguous about apologising for them, and must
encourage a culture of willingness to learn from them.
"All programmes operating under the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's journalistic
banner must work to the same values, professional disciplines and journalistic
culture," says the Report.
The Report highlights lessons to be learned arising from the 6.07am
broadcast made by Andrew Gilligan on 29 May 2003 and notes that during
the Hutton Inquiry the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ acknowledged that with hindsight it would
have done a number of things differently.
The Report concludes that:
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ should continue to report stories based on a single source but
"only where the story is one of significant public interest and
the correct procedures have been followed".
Audience should be given "as much accurate information as is compatible
with protecting the identity of the source" and descriptions should
be consistent.
Stories from anonymous sources should have greater editorial scrutiny
within the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.
As Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News has 10 times as many journalists than a national newspaper,
broadcasting 120 hours of output a day, editors are the day-to-day custodians
of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's journalistic values.
This includes ensuring producers and presenters clearly understand their
responsibilities in adhering to the values.
Accurate and reliable note-taking should be part of all Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ journalists'
training.
Clear principles and procedures should be adopted when making serious
allegations to ensure that it is clear to the audience who is making
the allegation - the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ or a third party?
The need to demonstrate fairness, openness and straight dealing in the
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's journalism is paramount.
Approaches to people or organisations against whom serious allegations
are being made must be honest, clear and specific and made in a genuinely
open-minded spirit and in good and reasonable time.
Live "two ways" are still an important part of modern broadcasting
but that they are normally inappropriate for breaking stories containing
serious and potentially defamatory allegations.
Editorial lawyers should be a routine fixture in the main news areas.
The Report notes that the Board of Governors has already
approved new policies and procedures in relation to journalists and
programme-makers undertaking outside commitments, including writing
for newspapers.
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has also been conducting a review of its complaints
handling procedures, the main findings of which will be published in
the near future.
The Neil Report points to the lessons that should be learned from the
handling of the Today programme complaint, including the need for "a
system and a culture that encourages fast clarification and correction".
In addition to the establishment of a new college of
journalism, the review recommends that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ institutes a programme
of continuous learning for all staff at all levels with a culture of
learning from the reporting of difficult stories and from instances
where mistakes have been made.
The Report states: "At the heart of strong journalism is a confident,
well-trained journalistic force, who have a real knowledge and experience
of the essential craft skills and disciplines. All training should be
dedicated to that single end."
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Notes to Editors:
Statement from the Board of Governors regarding the Neil Report
can be found below.
The review group was announced on 18 February 2004 by Mark Byford and
was asked to:
examine the editorial issues for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ raised by the Hutton Inquiry
and Report
identify the learning lessons and make appropriate recommendations,
including necessary revisions to the Producers' Guidelines and to the
handling of complaints.
The members of the review group were: Ronald Neil, a
former Director of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News and Current Affairs; Glenwyn Benson, Controller
Factual Commissioning Television; Helen Boaden, Controller Radio 4 and
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 7; Adrian Van Klaveren, Head of Newsgathering Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News; Richard
Tait, former Editor-in-Chief ITN; and Stephen Whittle, Controller Editorial
Policy, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.
Statement by the Board
of Governors
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Governors fully endorse the findings and recommendations
of the Neil Report which examined the editorial lessons for the organisation
arising from the Hutton Inquiry.
The panel was convened by the Acting Director-General, Mark Byford,
in the wake of the Hutton Report and chaired by Ronald Neil.
The independent panel's recommendations will be implemented in full
by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ managers, editors and journalists and will be incorporated into
the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Producers' Guidelines.
The Governors will be regularly updated on the implementation of the
reforms by management and will examine their impact, in due course if
necessary, through independent assessment.
The Neil Report will become required reading for all current and future
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ journalists, their managers and Governors.
The Neil Report notes that the Governors had overseen
changes in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's management structure, its processes and guidelines
before Lord Hutton reported in January this year.
These included appointing a Deputy Director-General with responsibility
for editorial compliance, undertaking a thorough review of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's
complaints handling system and tighter rules on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ journalists and
presenters writing for newspapers and magazines.
The Neil Report and the implementation of its findings
represent a central element in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's commitment to learn the lessons
of last summer.
The Governors agree with the Neil panel's view that learning from events
when things go wrong is a sign of organisational strength not weakness.
The Neil Report's recommendations will lead to substantial
changes in how the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ will execute its commitment to impartial and
fair journalism.
In particular, the Neil Report's emphasis on training reforms is crucial.
The Board of Governors is clear that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ must remain editorially
independent and continue its commitment to investigative journalism
set within a strengthened editorial framework.
In addition, the Governors have now approved an overhaul
of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ complaints procedures and the findings will be published in the
near future.
Some aspects of these reforms have been informed by the handling of
the complaint about Andrew Gilligan's broadcast (referred to in the
Neil Report).
On 29 June the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ will publish its first public contribution
to the Government's review of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Charter. This document will set
out a vision for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's future based around building public value.
It will explain the detailed changes the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ plans to make in its governance
and accountability arrangements.
Some of these changes have been influenced by the Governors' review
of their own decisions.
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Annual Report and Accounts for 2003/04, to be published mid-July,
will summarise all the changes implemented by the Corporation since
Lord Hutton's Inquiry.
