BBC to time-delay live sensitive broadcasts

The BBC will introduce a time-delay on its live coverage of sensitive news events such as September 11 and the school massacre in Beslan, Ru...

The BBC will introduce a time-delay on its live coverage of sensitive news events such as September 11 and the school massacre in Beslan, Russia, the company said on Thursday. The time delay will last several seconds and will allow editors to cut any scenes they believe are too shocking for viewers.

The decision was made following the unease felt in some quarters over the BBC8217;s coverage of the Beslan disaster in September, the British Broadcasting Corporation said.

All major news broadcasters reported live from the scene of the hostage crisis, in which more than 300 people died. Cameras were rolling as bloodied hostages, many of them children, fled the school.

The BBC8217;s new editorial guidelines stipulate: 8216;8216;A delay must be installed when broadcasting live coverage of sensitive and challenging events such as the school siege at Beslan.8217;8217; If it had been in place in September 11, 2001, the delay would have covered reporting of the twin towers tragedy in New York, which was broadcast live by the BBC and many other broadcasters.

The revised guidelines will come into effect July 25 and will replace the company8217;s producers8217; guidelines to reflect a new broadcasting code by the British regulator OFCOM and the world8217;s 8216;8216;changing media environment8217;8217;.

The new guidelines concern other media issues as well. They include an explicit commitment for the first time that 8216;8216;for the BBC, accuracy is more important than speed8217;8217;.

Undercover investigations using secret recording equipment must be kept 8216;8216;under constant review,8217;8217; the BBC said.

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The company8217;s investigations into crime and serious anti-social behavior 8216;8216;must be clearly editorially justified8217;8217;.

The controller of the BBC8217;s editorial policy department, Stephen Whittle, must personally approve any proposal to employ someone on a BBC investigation who is known to have a criminal record or background of illegal activity, the company said.

8212;PTI