BBC Editorial Guidelines

Case Study 1: Jeremy Kyle Show

OFCOM 

Treatment of 17yr old contributor

6.2.1

We will be open, honest, straightforward and fair in our dealings with contributors and audiences unless there is a clear public interest in doing otherwise, or we need to consider important issues such as legal matters, safety, or confidentiality. 

6.2.2

Individuals should normally be appropriately informed about the planned nature and context of their contributions when they are asked to take part in BBC content and give their consent, unless there is an editorial justification for proceeding without their consent.

6.2.3

When our output contains allegations of wrongdoing, iniquity or incompetence or lays out a strong and damaging critique of an individual or organisation, those criticised should normally have a right of reply, unless there is an editorial justification to proceed without it. 

6.4.1

We should treat our contributors honestly and with respect.  Our commitment to fairness is normally achieved by ensuring that people provide 'informed consent' before they participate.  'Informed consent' means that contributors should be in possession of the knowledge that is necessary for a reasoned decision to take part in our content.

(See Section 3 Accuracy: 3.4.7 - 3.4.8)

Before they participate, contributors should normally know:

• why they are being asked to contribute to BBC content and where it will first appear
• the context of the content
• the nature of their involvement.

The more significant their contribution, the more detail we should provide.  However, we should normally expect to explain the following:

• The kind of contribution they are expected to make. We should tell them in advance about the range of views being represented in the specific content to which they are contributing and, wherever possible, the names of other likely contributors
• Whether their contribution will be live or recorded and/or edited. When recorded, we should not guarantee it will be broadcast
• We can only give a broad outline of question areas because the direction the interview takes will be dependent on what is said
• The final content will be a fair and truthful representation of what they say and do
• Their contribution may be used by other BBC outlets including reproduction and archiving online

6.4.8

Young people and vulnerable adults may not always be in a position to give informed consent, for example, people with learning difficulties or forms of dementia, the bereaved, and people who are sick or terminally ill.  In such cases, someone over 18 with primary responsibility for their care should normally give consent on their behalf, unless it is editorially justified to proceed without it.  In particular, we should avoid asking someone who is unable to give their own consent for views on matters likely to be beyond their capacity to answer properly without the consent of an adult with primary responsibility for their care.