BBC
publishes latest Programme Complaints Unit and Governors' Programme
Complaints Committee findings
The
BBC has today (29 October 2002) published the latest findings of
the Programme Complaints Unit (PCU) and those of the Governors'
Programme Complaints Committee for the period July to September
2002.
In
this quarter the Unit dealt with 195 complaints concerning 160 items.
16 complaints were upheld (6 of them partly), 8% of the total number
of complaints. Of the items investigated complaints were upheld
against 11 (7%). The PCU contains summaries of the findings in those
cases.
In
a forward to the PCU Bulletin Director-General Greg Dyke highlights
the fact that complaints can now be submitted through BBCi: "Requiring
viewers to register serious complaints exclusively by post would
be as quaint as telling them to use a quill pen.
"So
now there's a page on the BBC website where you can e-mail your
complaint direct to the unit.
"It's
pretty simple to use, though we do ask you to supply some basic
information, and to think about whether your complaint is really
one for the unit - the page gives guidance on that."
Complaints
may be registered online at bbc.kongjiang.org/www.bbc.co.uk/info/bbc/complaints_form.shtml
The
Governors' Programme Complaints Committee (GPCC) takes appeals from
complainants who are not happy with the response they have received
from BBC Management.
It
also published its findings for the same period. It came to a decision
on five appeals, three of which concerned matters related to fairness
and accuracy.
The
other two appeals concerned complaints which the Head of Programme
Complaints had judged did not suggest a serious breach of the BBC's
Producers' Guidelines, and did not therefore warrant investigation
under the remit of the Programme Complaints Unit. None of the appeals
was upheld.
In
a foreword to the bulletin, Chairman of the Governors' Programme
Complaints Committee, Sir Robert Smith, noted that although none
of the appeals had been upheld they raised some important issues,
including how programmes deal with contributors: "The Committee
reviewed this complaint against the requirements of the BBC Producers'
Guidelines: that all contributors were treated honestly, and with
respect - and that the programme ensured the contributor concerned
was clear about the nature and purpose of the programme in which
they were taking part. The issues involved in this appeal were complex,
but the Committee was satisfied that the BBC fulfilled its obligations
in a fair way."
Sir
Robert went on to refer to an appeal concerning the handling of
the debate about voluntary euthanasia. "This was clearly a
subject of great public concern and controversy. The Committee judged
that the BBC got it right, but it recognised that coverage of such
issues always needed careful consideration."
Notes
to Editors
· Both bulletins can be found at bbc.kongjiang.org/www.bbc.co.uk/info/bbc/pcu_index.shtml
· The Programme Complaints
Unit deals with letters of complaint which give reason to believe
that something broadcast by the BBC's licence fee-funded services
may have fallen seriously short of the standards set out in the
BBC Producers' Guidelines.
Complaints about other matters, such as policy, changes to the published
schedule, technical standards or questions of personal preference,
are forwarded to the appropriate areas of the BBC for attention.
The Unit is commissioned to investigate complaints impartially and
to recommend appropriate redress. Generally this involves viewing
or listening to a recording of the material and pursuing the complainants'
points with the programme-makers and editorial executives directly
responsible.
·
The
Governors' Programme Complaints Committee (GPCC) consists of five
Governors of the BBC, to whom the full Board of Governors have delegated
the power to consider appeals.
The GPCC's conclusions are reported to the full Board.
It is the specific function of the GPCC to consider appeals against
decisions and actions of the Programme Complaints Unit or of the
Directors of BBC Divisions in dealing with serious editorial complaints.
The GPCC considers appeals in relation to complaints about programmes
transmitted, or material carried, by the BBC's domestic public services
on radio, television and online, and which allege:
· that the complainant has suffered unfair treatment
in a transmitted item
· that the complainant's privacy
has been unjustifiably infringed, either in a programme or item
as transmitted or in the process of making the programme or item,
or
· that there has otherwise
been a failure adequately to observe the BBC's editorial guidelines.
BBC
management and Governors publish separate reports on programme complaints
for the first time (30.04.02)
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