BBC’s Revised Social Media Guidelines After Gary Lineker Controversy States Presenters Cannot ‘Endorse or Attack’ Political Parties
variety.comNaman Ramachandran Months after controversy erupted around a political tweet by star soccer player turned sports pundit Gary Lineker, the BBC has published revised social media guidelines for its presenters.
Post that controversy, the BBC commissioned a review by former TV executive John Hardie, which looked at the corporation’s guidance covering “individual use of social media” in relation to those working as on-air freelancers outside of news, current affairs and factual journalism – in other words, someone like Lineker.
Informed by Hardie’s Review, the BBC has updated its social media guidance for staff and freelancers, which was first published three years ago in 2020.
There are now specific guidance for those presenting the so-called ‘Flagship Programs.’ The guidance states that those working in news and current affairs across all divisions and factual journalism production, along with all senior leaders, have a particular responsibility to uphold the BBC’s impartiality through their actions on social media and so must abide by the strictest rules on impartiality.
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