T
he BBC has published a whistleblowing policy to provide staff and freelancers with a “confidential mechanism” to raise concerns about activity at the broadcaster.
The move comes as part of an update of its impartiality plan, which was announced last October as part of a drive to ensure its content is fair, accurate and unbiased.
The 10-point action plan was published in response to the Serota Review into the BBC’s governance and culture, which made a number of recommendations on improving editorial standards.
The review itself was launched following the publication of Lord Dyson’s scathing report into the circumstances surrounding Martin Bashir’s 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.
In the new progress report, the BBC says the whistleblowing policy aims to “encourage anyone with honestly-held concerns to report them”, including about editorial issues.
It notes that “usually” concerns can be resolved informally or formally through routes such as using the company’s management chain and other policies already in place including those for grievances and anti-bullying and harassment.
However, it also says that if individuals are “not comfortable” using these routes or if the concern raised remained unresolved, then the new policy “provides a range of alternative ways to report the issue”.
The broadcaster has also updated how it handles fast-tracked complaints and created a new process for BBC-initiated editorial investigations.
Another update in the plan...
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