6C Reality Shows,Factual Entertainment Programmes & Formatted Documentary Programming : Ofcom broadcasting code
Truth, Accuracy & Advice to Viewers
- Channel 4 and Five take the issue of viewer trust very seriously. Viewers are entitled to expect that programmes are accurate and true and the audience must not be misled. This obligation applies to all types of programming, including entertainment programmes with factual elements. Portraying real events, whether in documentary, features, factual entertainment, drama or any other programme, which the viewer is entitled to take at face value, must respect truth and accuracy. Programmes should be true and accurate.
- Consideration should be given to the inclusion in contributor's agreements of a warranty as to the truth and accuracy of their contribution.
- The qualifications, experience and other credentials of presenters and experts who appear in programmes must be checked and properly verified.
- If any events are to be reconstructed, seek advice from the programme lawyer. The footage may need to be labelled as having been reconstructed.
- See Chapter 4A, Protecting Under 18s & Harm and Offence - ‘Viewer Trust: Truth, Accuracy and the Importance of not Misleading the Audience'
- See Channel 4's Viewer Trust Guidelines at Appendix 7A
- See Five's Viewer Trust Guidelines at Appendix 8A
Fairness & Privacy: Contributors
- Programme contributors must be told the nature of the programme to which they are being invited to contribute, the nature of the contribution they are expected to make and how it is to be used within the programme.
- If a show's format involves deceiving contributors in any way, advice must be sought from the programme lawyer and, where appropriate, safeguards put in place. Informed consent before broadcast is likely to be necessary without adequate public interest justification.
- Programme titles should always be qualified in correspondence and contributor agreements/release forms with ‘working title' or ‘provisional title' in case the title changes nearer to transmission. Consideration should be given as to whether a change in title could materially affect an individual's decision to take part.
If unsure, advice should be sought from the programme lawyer. - Programmes often evolve during the production process, so ensure contributors are kept up to date with changes in the content and structure of the programme, especially if new contributors are introduced who may be an issue for those people who have already made their contribution.
- If there is a delay in transmission of a completed programme, intervening events may affect an individual's contribution to a programme.
- Programmes must not be edited in such way which causes material unfairness to contributors. If a contributor is portrayed negatively e.g. they are shown as having acted naively or foolishly, consider whether they have an opportunity in the programme to explain why they acted as they did.
- Contributors may agree to filming which amounts to a substantial infringement of their privacy. Producers must be comfortable with and be able to justify editorially the level of intrusion that is being agreed to by the contributor. This is particularly relevant when filming children. Their physical and psychological wellbeing is of paramount importance. They must not be exploited or placed at any physical or moral risk.
- See Chapter 4C, Fairness - ‘Fairness & Contributors'
- See Chapter 4D, Privacy - ‘Privacy & Contributors'
Fairness & Privacy: Generally
- Care needs to be taken to ensure that the privacy rights of third parties i.e. those not actually taking part in the programmes e.g. family, friends or work colleagues referred to or identified by a contributor, are not infringed by what is broadcast. Similarly what is broadcast should not amount to an unfair treatment of individuals or organisations.
- See Chapter 4C, Fairness
- See Chapter 4D, Privacy
People Under 18
Potentially Offensive Material
- Material with the potential to cause offence e.g. strong language, violence, explicit sexual portrayal must always be justifiable by the context. Advice should be sought from the programme lawyer at an early stage.
- The commissioning editor, on the advice of the programme lawyer, will ensure that an on-air warning is given to viewers, where appropriate.
- See Chapter 4A, Protecting Under 18s & Harm and Offence
Commercial References within Programmes
- Programmes should not give undue prominence to commercial products or services.
- Product placement is prohibited.
- Where programmes contain viewer competitions and/or premium rate telephone lines for viewers to call, seek advice from the programme lawyer.
- Sponsored programmes must not contain promotional references to the sponsor, its activities or products or services.
- Advertisements or clips from advertisements used within programmes will require clear editorial justification. Always seek advice from the programme lawyer.
- See Chapter 4H, Editorial Independence and Commercial References within Programmes