Complying With Regulatory Bodies

Ofcom 

Broadcasting Code:

Protecting Under-Eighteens

The involvement of people under eighteen in programmes:

1.28 Due care must be taken over the physical and emotional welfare and the dignity of people under eighteen who take part or are otherwise involved in programmes. This is irrespective of any consent given by the participant or by a parent, guardian or other person over the age of eighteen in loco parentis.

1.29 People under eighteen must not be cause unnecessary distress or anxiety by their involvement in programmes or by the broadcast of those programmes.  

Harm and Offence

2.1 Generally accepted standards must be applied to the contents of television and radio services so as to provide adequate protection for members of the public from the inclusion in such services of harmful and/or offensive material.

2.2 Factual programmes or items or portrayals of factual matters must not materially mislead the audience.

Fairness

7.1 Broadcasters must avoid unjust or unfair treatment of individuals or organisations in programmes.

7.2 Broadcasters and programme makers should normally be fair in their dealings with potential contributors to programmes unless, exceptionally, it is justified to do otherwise.

7.3 Where a person is invited to make a contribution to a programme (except when the subject matter is trivial or their participation is minor) they should normally, at an appropriate stage:

• ·         Be told the nature and purpose of the programme, what the programme is about and be given a clear explanation of why they were asked to contribute and when (if known) and where it is likely to be broadcast
• ·         Be told what kind of contribution they are expected to make, for example live, pre-recorded, interview, discussion, edited, unedited, etc
• ·         Be informed about the areas of questioning and, wherever possible, the nature of other likely contributions
• ·         Be given clear information, if offered an opportunity to preview the programme, about whether they will be able to effect any changes to it.

Taking these measures is likely to result in the consent that is given being ‘informed consent’.

Privacy

8.9 The means of obtaining material must be proportionate in all the circumstances and in particular to the subject of the programme.

8.20 Broadcasters should pay particular attention to the privacy of people under sixteen. They do not lose their rights to privacy because, for example, of the fame or notoriety of their parents or because of events in their schools.

8.21 Where a programme features an individual under sixteen or a vulnerable person in a way that infringes privacy, consent must be obtained from:

• ·         A parent, guardian or other person of eighteen or over in loco parentis; and
• ·         Wherever possible, the individual concerned

Why are these relevant?
My video consists of mainly children who are under the age of 16, so they need to be protected, since the video will be public and will be able to be viewed by anyone who visits the Eaton Primary School website. Also, I want to make sure that the audience is not mislead about the challenge approach and that all information is portrayed in such a manner that it is easy to understand and does not give the wrong impression. Finally, I want to be fair to all of the contributors in the video, and I don't want to unfairly treat someone different to someone else, so as to not offend anyone and to make everyone as comfortable as possible during the making of the video.