Home | Impartiality | Accuracy | Fairness | Respect | Independence

	Introduction   The war in Iraq: John Simpson   The Middle East: Orla Guerin   Venezuela: Mariusa Reyes   Covering Elections   Kenyas elections: Gray Phombeah   The candidates in Brazil: Edson Porto   Brazils voters: Paulo Cabral   Referendums   The RPA   The Winter Olympics: Alex Gubbay   Offensive views   Using internet links		Referendums The political circumstances in which Referendums are held vary but to fulfil our Charter and Agreement obligations, producers must ensure that during the campaign, our coverage is: - comprehensive. It will ensure that the full range of significant views and perspectives are covered. Very different arguments may be used by different parties to advocate the same vote in the Referendum. The subtlety of the different layers of the debate should be exposed. We must give our audiences as much information and explanation as possible - authoritative. The question to be put to the vote will be fully explained and arguments for and against fully tested. The audience who watch and listen should get a clear picture of the weight of opinion on either side of the argument - impartial. Not only will the BBC not express an editorial view either for or against the proposition, but also the tone and language of our reporting must never give the impression that we are taking sides - supportive of fair and informed debate. Our programmes will flesh out and explore the detail of the proposals in all their complexities through robust journalism. In putting into practice our policy on fairness, all programme makers should note that: - in most referendums Governments frame the question(s) to be put to the electorate and campaign for a yes vote. In news terms it is right that our coverage reports this. If it is the governments proposition that is being scrutinised they have a responsibility for answering questions about it. But this should always be in the context of this being only one side of the argument. - the views of all political parties and of dissenting groups within them must be accurately reflected - debate in the context of the Referendum is important but it should not be seen as the only way of achieving fairness. Analysis of the practical consequences of a yes or no vote may be a more effective way of informing the audience about the choice before them - formal debate programmes should ensure that not only are the panel speakers balanced on either side of the argument but that audiences are also - our journalism must seek out ways of giving a voice to alternative views not expressed by those campaigning for either "yes" and "no" votes. The "don't knows" and others who are in the course of making up their minds should also be reflected.

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