Task 1

Handling of stories involving minors

When handling stories with minors, you have to withhold information about them
for their safety so that they cant be identified. This includes any information that
could lead to their identification, such as; their name, address, their school or
any photographs of them.
Example:
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/news/stories/04/19/mother-fourchildren-homeless-after-farm-demolition/
BBC Guidelines
We will always seek to safeguard the welfare of children and young people who
contribute to and feature in our content, wherever in the world we operate. We
will preserve their right to speak out and participate, while ensuring their dignity
and their physical and emotional welfare is protected during the making and
broadcast of our output. Content which might be unsuitable for children will be
scheduled appropriately.
OFCOM Guidelines
Principle
To ensure that people under eighteen are protected.
Rules
Scheduling and content information
1.1 Material that might seriously impair the physical, mental or moral
development of people under eighteen must not be broadcast. 1.2 In the
provision of services, broadcasters must take all reasonable steps to protect
people under eighteen. For television services, this is in addition to their
obligations resulting from the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (in particular,
Article 27, see Appendix 2). 1.3 Children must also be protected by appropriate
scheduling from material that is unsuitable for them.
Meaning of children:
Children are people under the age of fifteen years.
Meaning of appropriate scheduling:
Appropriate scheduling should be judged according to:
The nature of the content;
The likely number and age range of children in the audience, taking into
account school time, weekends and holidays;
The start time and finish time of the programme;
The nature of the channel or station and the particular programme; and
The likely expectations of the audience for a particular channel or station at a
particular time and on a particular day.
This means that OFCOM believes that it is important that people under the age of
eighteen are protected in all ways so that being involved in a crime doesnt
affect their safety.
Contempt of court
This is where someone interferes with the administration of justice. This might
affect how guilty the court thinks the suspect is because if someone has reported
them as guilty, the public might believe it and this could change the courts
decision. Another example could be revealing someones identity, e.g. a name or

a photograph when the person is meant to be protected by the courts. This could
result in being sent to prison for betraying the justice system.
Example: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-32331559

Libel and defamation

This law effects a persons reputation being lowered, makes them hated or
avoided by the public or belittles them in their office, trade or profession. If the
person is affected in any of these ways, they can sue them for not protecting
their reputation.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13751454
Coverage of elections
These are rules that broadcasters must follow around the time of election and
referendum periods, stating that all major parties must have equal coverage as
well as appropriate coverage time for other parties. These rules are stated by
OFCOM:
Principle
To ensure that the special impartiality requirements in the Communications Act
2003 and other legislation relating to broadcasting on elections and
referendums, are applied at the time of elections and referendums.
Rules
Programmes at the time of elections and referendums
6.1 The rules in Section Five, in particular the rules relating to matters of major
political or industrial controversy and major matters relating to current public
policy, apply to the coverage of elections and referendums.
Example: http://www.london24.com/election2015/live_coverage_of_the_opposition_leaders_debating_on_the_bbc_election_de
bate_1_4037783
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/apr/16/bbc-election-coverage-davidcameron

Official Secrets Act