By DOMINIC PONSFORD - NEW STATESMAN
Added: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:19:33 UTC

Thanks to Rachel for the link

New guidelines extend the definition of "controversial subjects" to include religion, science, culture and ethics.

The BBC has changed its editorial guidelines to ensure that subjects such as religion and science are treated with due impartiality.

The change has come about as a result of a review of the BBC's editorial guidelines by governing body, the BBC Trust.

The 2005 guidelines stated that "controversial subjects" which must be treated with due impartiality were solely matters of public policy or political/industrial controversy.

The new guidelines extend the definition of "controversial subjects" to include religion, science, culture and ethics.

The trust said: "In practice, this means that when BBC content deals with controversy within these subjects, it must be treated with a level of impartiality adequate and appropriate to the content, taking account of the nature of the content and the likely audience expectation."

The BBC has further beefed up its guidelines on religion by stating that "any content dealing with matters of religion and likely to cause offence to those with religious views must be editorially justified and must be referred to a senior editorial figure".

Terry Sanderson, President of the National Secular Society, said the new religion rules go to far: "Although we are not suggesting that contributors should go out of their way to be needlessly offensive, this is an entirely retrograde step that will put severe restrictions on comedians, documentary makers, satirists and commentators who want to be critical of religion. Almost anything that isn't wholly reverential towards religious beliefs can be perceived as offensive by some believers. The idea that any comment that could be offensive to a religious person must be editorially approved shows that the BBC has become ridiculously timid and fearful of religious controversy.

... Read more

TAGGED: CENSORSHIP, COMMENTARY, RELIGION, SCIENCE