Introduction

[See Section 5 of the Code]

Note: Channel 4's news is produced by Independent Television News ("ITN"). All legal and compliance queries regarding Channel 4's news programmes should, in the first instance, be directed to the Head of Compliance at ITN.

Viewers have high expectations of television journalism, particularly in news programmes and factual programmes dealing with controversial matters, for example politics and public policy issues. Audiences expect programmes to be accurate and to be appropriately balanced and fair.

To ensure this is achieved, Parliament has made it a statutory requirement that broadcasters ensure that news and matters of political or industrial controversy or matters relating to current public policy (in any type of programme), are reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. In turn, these statutory provisions are reflected in the Code.

The Code contains a number of rules that apply specifically to news programmes and further rules that apply to all programming dealing with certain types of subject matter.