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29|11|07

Broadcasters agree measures to build public confidence at Ofcom and BBC Trust seminar

Ofcom and the BBC Trust jointly hosted a seminar on Monday 26 November on the issue of trust in broadcasting.

The seminar was convened following an agreement by industry leaders in September to meet and discuss collective steps that could be taken to rebuild public trust in broadcasting following recent editorial and compliance failures.

Since then, the senior executives of the public service broadcasters have met as a group to share initiatives they have already taken and the progress they have made to address these issues and to agree a number of areas where a joint approach between broadcasters would be the best way forward.

At Monday’s seminar, leading representatives of the broadcasting industry committed to:

• Formalise a cross-industry group to share best practice and consider a common approach to issues raised by the use of premium rate services in programmes.
• Address the relationship between all parts of the supply-chain, where premium rate services are offered, including clarity on contractual and compliance issues, to ensure that responsibilities are clearly expressed and audience interests are clearly protected.
• Develop proposals for industry-wide training that includes freelance workers, based on ethical standards and editorial best practice that encompasses compliance with regulation and work towards a system of accreditation.
• Explore over the coming months a common framework of principles to promote best practice in programme-making. This would complement the existing compliance requirements by which all UK broadcasters are bound.

Participants also agreed to meet again in summer 2008 to review these actions.

Speaking after the meeting, David Currie, Ofcom Chairman, said: “The issue of trust has been the dominating theme for the UK broadcasting sector in 2007. The UK has a thriving and vibrant broadcasting industry. It is therefore absolutely critical for both viewers and the industry as a whole that broadcasters take the initiative to regain the trust of their audiences. I look forward to working with broadcasters and the BBC Trust in taking forward the important agreements reached at the seminar.”

Sir Michael Lyons, BBC Trust Chairman added: "The meeting was extremely constructive and both David Currie and I are encouraged by the level of agreement achieved. It is essential that broadcasters work together in building audience confidence and trust in programme-making and both Ofcom and the BBC Trust are committed to supporting the broadcast industry in doing all it can to achieve this.”

Ends.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1.    The seminar was held at the Royal Society for the Arts and hosted jointly by David Currie, Ofcom Chairman and Sir Michael Lyons, BBC Trust Chairman. Attendees included:

Andy Duncan, Chief Executive, Channel 4,
Michael Grade, Executive Chairman, ITV plc,
Jane Lighting, Chief Executive, Five,
Ed Richards, Chief Executive, Ofcom
Mark Thompson, Director-General, BBC.

The Radio Centre; PACT, (the trade association for independent producers); SCBG (Satellite and Cable Broadcasting Group); and Skillset (the Sector Skills Council for the audiovisual industries); and BTSR, (the Broadcast Training and Skills Regulator) were also represented at the meeting which was chaired by Philip Graf, Ofcom Deputy Chairman and Richard Tait a BBC Trustee.

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