Last night’s Question Time saw David Dimbleby chair a debate on freedom of expression following the Charlie Hebdo shootings. During the programme, Dimbleby stated that the BBC’s policy with regards to representations of Mohammed was to not depict the Prophet in any shape or form. This policy was met with criticism from panel and audience members alike.
@bbcquestiontime that is utterly disgraceful bbc. #shamefulbbc
— IAN REA (@ianrea7) January 8, 2015
Here is the part of the BBC Editorial Guidelines that Dimbleby read out on #bbcqt http://t.co/qFOxuMVws2 pic.twitter.com/nRc6Y43zKk — BBC Free Speech (@BBCFreeSpeech) January 8, 2015
So, Mr S was curious to learn that the website page detailing its guidelines is now down. When you click on the link Dimbleby gave, all that appears is an internal error.
It appears the BBC have decided to revise their editorial guidelines regarding depictions of Mohammed #CharlieHebdo pic.twitter.com/WjXpFaRrKL — Secularism UK (@NatSecSoc) January 9, 2015
Has the BBC rethought its policy? Steerpike is still waiting for the corporation’s press office to respond to his request for comment. However, as Guido has pointed out, they did show the Charles Hebdo cover featuring Mohammed on the News at Ten.
Update: The BBC press office has put out a statement in which they say that the ‘guidance is currently being revised’.
For those discussing the @BBC’s editorial guidance mentioned on last night’s @bbcquestiontime, here is our position: pic.twitter.com/DYKkRPdM2l
— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) January 9, 2015
A BBC spokesman adds that ‘the guidance quoted has not been the policy of the BBC for many years and our policy has not changed as a result of the discussion on Question Time‘.
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