BBC Publishes Updated Editorial Guidelines

The BBC has published updated Editorial Guidelines, maintaining its commitment to upholding the highest possible editorial standards across all our output.

The Editorial Guidelines set the editorial values and standards for all BBC output – in the UK and internationally – and apply to anyone making content for the BBC, whether BBC public service, BBC Studios or independent production companies.

The BBC periodically reviews these guidelines to ensure they keep pace with legal, editorial, regulatory and technological changes, as well as changes in audience habits and attitudes. These reviews typically take place approximately every four to five years.

The updated guidelines come into effect on 1 September 2025, to allow BBC staff and production companies working with us time to adjust to the changes. The existing guidelines, published in 2019, remain in place until then.

There have been some structural changes to the Guidelines: some sections have been renamed to make things clearer, and the Impartiality guidelines have been brought forward to reflect their importance to the BBC.

There is also a new section – Statistics, Data, Polls and Surveys – which stresses the importance of the use of data to accuracy and impartiality.

They also reflect the developing law on privacy, regulatory requirements to exercise a duty of care to contributors and the implications of technological developments like the use of AI.

The updates were subject to a consultation with both staff and the wider public.

Under the current Charter, the BBC Board is responsible for setting the standards for the BBC’s editorial and creative output and services.

www.bbc.co.uk