Mandatory Referrals are part of the BBC’s editorial management system. They are an essential part of the process to ensure compliance and must be observed.
Referrals to Director Editorial Policy and Standards
16.2.1 Any proposal to enter into a partnership with a foreign government must be referred to Director Editorial Policy and Standards.
(See 16.3.10)
Other Referrals
16.2.2 Any proposal for a Public Service editorial partnership with a commercial organisation must be referred to Editorial Policy.
(See 16.3.11)
16.2.3 Any proposal to broadcast or embed a third party’s live stream must be referred to a senior editorial figure or, for independent production companies, to the commissioning editor.
(See 16.3.18)
16.2.4 Any proposal to link to or embed a live stream from the sponsor of a third-party event must be referred to Editorial Policy.
(See 16.3.18)
16.2.5 Any co-funding projects must be approved in writing by the relevant director.
(See 16.3.25)
16.2.6 Any proposal for sponsorship of a UK Public Service on-air or online event or for a World Service on-air or online event targeted at a UK audience, and the proposed credits, must be referred to a senior editorial figure, or for independent production companies to the commissioning editor, and Editorial Policy.
(See 16.3.27)
16.2.7 The commissioning of a new category of event with charged ticketing arrangements must be approved by the relevant controller who must refer to Editorial Policy.
(See 16.3.35)
16.2.8 Any proposal for funding of off-air support material from a commercial organisation must be referred to Editorial Policy.
(See 16.3.37)
16.2.9 On-air and online proposed references on Public Services for sponsors of third-party, non-sports events, or any proposal to use content from the sponsor on Public Services, must be referred to a senior editorial figure, or for independent production companies to the commissioning editor, and Editorial Policy.
(See 16.3.39)
16.2.10 Any coverage by a Public Service of an event that is sponsored by a BBC Commercial Service, brand or product or mounted by a BBC Commercial Service must be editorially justified and must be referred to Editorial Policy.
(See 16.3.41)
16.2.11 Proposals for broadcast appeals (which are not cross-funding initiatives) must be referred to the Charity Appeals Adviser.
(See 16.3.43)
16.2.12 The arrangements for the broadcast of Disasters Emergency Committee appeals must be referred to the Charity Appeals Adviser.
(See 16.3.44)
16.2.13 Advice must be sought from Editorial Policy before opening discussions with prospective partners for the start of a new cross-BBC charity fundraising initiative.
(See 16.3.45)
16.2.14 Any reference to an external funder in World Service Group editorial content must be referred to a senior editorial figure or, for independent production companies, to the commissioning editor.
(See 16.3.52)
16.2.15 Any proposal for World Service Group editorial content to be externally funded by a non-UK government department or agency must be approved by the relevant director.
(See 16.3.53)
16.2.16 World Service Group external funding acknowledgements must be approved by the relevant output controller, or by the relevant BBC Media Action country director for Media Action content that does not appear on a BBC service.
(See 16.3.54)
16.2.17 Any proposal for World Service Group democratic governance content to be externally funded must be approved by the relevant director after taking advice from Director Editorial Policy and Standards.
(See 16.3.56)
16.2.18 Any proposal to use a BBC News brand for marketing purposes in connection with any BBC Global News off-air sponsored event, or any third-party event, must be approved by a senior editorial figure.
(See 16.3.57)