Caroline Thomson: Profit will never be put before programme integrity
Post categories: Licence Fee
| 09:45 UK time, Friday, 29 June 2012
There have been some stories in the papers in the last few days that have suggested that the Ö÷²¥´óÐã is embarking on a new strategy in which we are asking programme makers to 'commercialise' some of our news and current affairs programming with a view to making money.
It has been said that staff are being asked to exploit commercial opportunities at the expense of focussing on the programmes themselves. Questions are being raised about whether profit is being put before programme integrity. Surely, the critics say, that's not what the Ö÷²¥´óÐã and its staff are there to do? The answer to this is of course an emphatic no.
The Ö÷²¥´óÐã exists, as it always has, to make programmes that audiences love - "to inform, educate, entertain and make a profit" is certainly not the new mantra for all our programme makers.
But it has long been the case in UK public service programme making that we have benefited from revenue generated by the commercial sale of CDs, DVDs, books and other activity linked to programmes which have helped to supplement programme budgets.
The History Of The World in 100 Objects books and CBeebies Live events are just two examples of activity that have delivered profits to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã that have in turn gone back into programme budgets. These are the kinds of ideas we look for - ideas that complement not compromise or change the shape of our programmes.
Ö÷²¥´óÐã News, whether it's domestic TV, radio or online, is of course funded by the Licence Fee and is not subject to any commercial pressures. It's a different story with Ö÷²¥´óÐã World News, the live TV news channel broadcast outside the UK, which is a commercial operation funded through advertising and distribution deals. And it is in this commercial area that we can always use as many good ideas as possible to help generate additional income that can be invested back into the network.
It is also worth saying that any ideas we do come up with have to undergo the intense scrutiny of our editorial guidelines and the sharp eye of the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Trust whose role in part is to ensure that the Ö÷²¥´óÐã is not compromising its position in any way. Editorial integrity remains, as it always has, the unassailable core of what we do and we undermine that at our peril.
I am also happy to reassure NUJ General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet that we would never consider introducing profit targets for programme makers across the Ö÷²¥´óÐã. So yes we will always seek to find appropriate ways in which we can raise commercial revenue that will support licence fee funding for our programmes but never at the expense of the core programme values. And so I am afraid we are unlikely to be seeing a range of Paxman dolls anytime soon.
Caroline Thomson is Chief Operating Officer
Comment number 1.
At 29th Jun 2012, Kit Green wrote:Does the Ö÷²¥´óÐã make any money from the relentless on air encouragement for us all to rush to Twitter and Facebook? This is as prevalent in news as much as elsewhere.
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Comment number 2.
At 29th Jun 2012, Juliantelly wrote:From Ö÷²¥´óÐã Press Office - The Ö÷²¥´óÐã does not benefit in anyway. We use these platforms as a way of engaging with our audiences.
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Comment number 3.
At 30th Jun 2012, jameswdcrawford wrote:While I would hate the Ö÷²¥´óÐã to change here in the UK I do wish that the Ö÷²¥´óÐã would be more commercially minded when operating in foreign markets.
Ö÷²¥´óÐã World could have so much more content on it and whenever I go on sites like Reddit, there are large communities of people craving our TV. Especially our comedy. Surely this kind of commercial activity could be done without ruining journalistic integrity? Hopefully it could support the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's very high standard of journalism?
Ok, so for the purpose of disclosure I should say that I run this so maybe I don't have the same journalistic standards and high moral fibre as you guys and we all know what the media thinks of PR people. However I am speaking as an advocate of public broadcasting here and I would love to see the Ö÷²¥´óÐã represent this country by promoting its best content harder abroad. This could further subsidise us licence fee payers here in the UK
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Comment number 4.
At 1st Jul 2012, amir hamja wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 5.
At 4th Jul 2012, peasants_for_ever wrote:I always love any "crisp" up-todate news of Ö÷²¥´óÐã, especially if it has to do, with Dawkins, Darwin, Anglicans, Landlords, peasants, or the Queen E2 and Parliament ...! IT IS FASCINATING ! As to the latest stories of Venezuela or Vancouver , Canada, you seem to not be quite involved, or much interested in the specifics of "strange" happenings !
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Comment number 6.
At 4th Jul 2012, Tramp wrote:As if integrity is what the Ö÷²¥´óÐã most values. What rubbish. Thomson was at the forefront of attempts to close 6music and never mentioned programme integrity then, it was all pounds, shilling and pence.
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Comment number 7.
At 4th Jul 2012, peasants_for_ever wrote:I always miss the OLD Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio World news via short wave ! I DO NOT HAVE ANY NORTH AMERICAN short wave much programming coverage at all ! WHEN A SATELLITE IS DOWN OR ALL, I WONDER IF THEY WILL DECIDE TO USE RADIO'S AGAIN ?!
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