During Pre-Production we need to make ourselves aware of professional practices that we must conform to. Therefore, when it comes to the production and even post-production stages we adhere to all of the rules ethically and legally.
Release forms
To complete our documentary we need to film various interviews from different people. In order for us to be allowed to do this, our production team must obtain release forms from them giving us permission to show the footage. It is a simple form that is vital to us being allowed to use the footage in our final product.
University of Winchester Ethics Board
This Research and Knowledge Exchange Ethics Policy is founded upon the values of integrity, quality, confidentiality, respect for persons and transparency. These are central to the delivery of the University mission ‘to educate, to advance knowledge and to serve the public good’ and informed by the University’s foundation and its thinking about the educational, social and spiritual character of the University as a whole. The Policy describes how these values are embodied in the conduct of the University’s research and knowledge exchange and makes explicit the requirements for the ethical conduct of research and knowledge exchange by the University’s staff and students.
The University has an ethics
form in place, where questions are asked on the documentary subject and
content. If there are any risks then we must attend a meeting to discuss the
issues about the content.
The Code is set out in terms of principles, meanings and rules and, for Sections Seven (Fairness) and Eight (Privacy), also includes a set of "practices to be followed” by broadcasters. The principles are there to help readers understand the standards objectives and to apply the rules. Broadcasters must ensure that they comply with the rules as set out in the Code. The meanings help explain what Ofcom intends by some of the words and phrases used in the Code. The most relevant broadcasting legislation is noted under each section heading so readers can turn to the legislation if they wish.
When applying the Code to content, broadcasters should be aware that the context in which the material appears is key. In setting this Code, Ofcom has taken into account (as required by section 319(4) of the Act) the following:
- the degree of harm and offence likely to be caused by the
inclusion of any particular sort of material in programmes generally or
in programmes of
a particular description; - the likely size and composition of the potential audience for programmes included in television and radio services generally or in television and radio services of a particular description;
- the likely expectation of the audience as to the nature of a programme's content and the extent to which the nature of a programme's content can be brought to the attention of potential members of the audience;
- the likelihood of persons who are unaware of the nature of a programme's content being unintentionally exposed, by their own actions, to that content;
- the desirability of securing that the content of services identifies when there is a change affecting the nature of a service that is being watched or listened to and, in particular, a change that is relevant to the application of the standards set under this section;
- the desirability of maintaining the independence of editorial control over programme content.
These criteria have informed Ofcom's approach to setting the Code and therefore must be taken into account by broadcasters when interpreting the rules.
The Code does not seek to address each and every case that could arise. Broadcasters may face a number of individual situations which are not specifically referred to in this Code. Examples included in the Code are not exhaustive. However, the principles, as outlined in the following sections, should make clear what the Code is designed to achieve and help broadcasters make the necessary judgements.
To assist further those who work in broadcasting, as well as viewers and listeners who wish to understand broadcasting standards, guidance to accompany the Code will also be issued by Ofcom on the Ofcom website and will be reviewed regularly.
Broadcasters should be familiar with their audiences and ensure that programme content can always be justified by the context and the editorial needs of the programme. (In the Code, the word ‘programmes' is taken to mean both television programmes and radio programming.)
Broadcasters may make programmes about any issue they choose, but it is
expected that broadcasters will ensure at all times that their
programmes comply with the general law, as well as the Code.
GUIDENCE
It is the responsibility of the broadcaster to comply with the Code. Programme makers who require further advice on applying this Code should, in the first instance, talk to those editorially responsible for the programme and to the broadcaster's compliance and legal officers.
Television Scheduling and the Watershed
5.4.6
Television scheduling decisions need to balance the protection of young people and particularly children with the rights of all viewers, including those without children, to receive a full range of subject matter throughout the day. They must also be judged against the requirements of the watershed.
The 9pm television watershed is used by broadcasters to distinguish between programmes intended mainly for a general audience and those programmes intended for an adult audience. However, parents and carers share in the responsibility for assessing whether programme content is suitable for their children, based on their expectations of that content.
The 9pm watershed signals the beginning of the transition to more adult material, but the change should not be abrupt. Programme makers and schedulers should also take into account the nature of the channel and viewer expectations. The strongest material should appear later in the schedule. If sudden changes of tone are unavoidable they should be clearly signposted, for example by giving clear information about scenes of a sexual nature, violence or the use of strong language.
5.4.7
Programmes broadcast between 5.30am and 9pm must be suitable for a general audience including children. The earlier in the evening a programme is placed, the more suitable it should be for children to watch without an older person. Programmes in later pre-watershed slots may not be suitable for the youngest children or for children to watch without an older person.
Only in exceptional circumstances can there be any departure from this practice, and then clear content information should be given. Exceptions may include, but are not limited to, images that some children might find distressing in natural history programmes or items in pre-watershed news bulletins. Any proposed exceptions must be referred to a senior editorial figure or, for independents, to the commissioning editor.
5.4.8
Programmes that straddle the watershed, that is start before 9pm and finish sometime after 9pm, should normally be pre-watershed compliant throughout.
5.4.9
Programmes should normally be clearly commissioned for broadcast on a specific channel and for pre- or post-watershed, to allow the necessary careful judgements about the suitability of the content to be made during the production process. Changes to originally agreed channel or transmission slots, particularly any proposal to broadcast a programme before rather than after the watershed, may mean a programme requires significant re-editing to ensure that it complies with these Editorial Guidelines for harm and offence, particularly regarding strong language and the overall tone.
Controllers, commissioners and production teams should be aware that channels and transmission slots, whether pre- or post-watershed, often carry well-established audience expectations. It is therefore advisable to determine programme slots as early as possible in the production process.
5.4.10
Interactive content broadcast on BBC public service television must observe the watershed and be appropriate for the audience of any associated programme. Interactive content broadcast on television and associated with pre-watershed programmes should be pre-watershed compliant at all times.
Right of Reply
6.4.25
When our output makes allegations of wrongdoing, iniquity or incompetence or lays out a strong and damaging critique of an individual or institution the presumption is that those criticised should be given a "right of reply", that is, given a fair opportunity to respond to the allegations.
We must ensure we have a record of any request for a response including dates, times, the name of the person approached and the key elements of the exchange. We should normally describe the allegations in sufficient detail to enable an informed response, and set a fair and appropriate deadline by which to respond.
6.4.26
Any parts of the response relevant to the allegations broadcast should be reflected fairly and accurately and should normally be broadcast in the same programme, or published at the same time, as the allegation.
There may be occasions when this is inappropriate (for legal or
overriding ethical reasons) in which case a senior editorial figure, or
commissioning editor for independents, should be consulted. It may then
be appropriate to consider whether an alternative opportunity should be
offered for a reply at a subsequent date.
6.4.27
In very rare circumstances where we propose to broadcast a serious allegation without giving those concerned an opportunity to reply, the proposal must be referred to a senior editorial figure or, for independents, to the commissioning editor. Referral must also be made to Director Editorial Policy and Standards. The allegation must be in the public interest and there must be strong reasons for believing it to be true. Our reasons for deciding to make the information public without requesting a response from the individuals or organisations concerned may include possible interference with witnesses or other legal reasons.
Misleading Audiences
3.4.11
We must not knowingly and materially mislead our audiences with our content. We may need to clarify the nature of some content by labeling (for example, verbally, in text or with visual or audio cues) to avoid being misleading.
Production Techniques
3.4.16
There are very few recorded programmes that do not involve some intervention from the production team, but there are acceptable and unacceptable production techniques. Consideration should be given to the intention and effect of any intervention. It is normally acceptable to use techniques that augment content in a simple and straightforward way, for example by improving clarity and flow or making content more engaging. This may include craft skills such as some cutaway shots, set-up shots to establish interviewees and asking contributors to repeat insignificant actions or perform an everyday activity. It is usually unacceptable to use production techniques that materially mislead the audience about the reality of the narrative or events.
For news and factual content, unless clearly signalled to the audience or using reconstructions, we should not normally:
- stage or re-stage action or events which are significant to the development of the action or narrative
- inter-cut shots and sequences to suggest they were happening at the same time, if the resulting juxtaposition of material leads to a misleading impression of events.
Commentary and editing must never be used to give the audience a materially misleading impression of events or a contribution.
3.4.17
We should ensure that any digital creation or manipulation of material, including the use of CGI or other production techniques to create scenes or characters, does not distort the meaning of events, alter the impact of genuine material or otherwise materially mislead our audiences. We should also be aware that digital manipulation of photographs, video and documents has been used to hoax broadcasters.
