91Èȱ¬

The Trust welcomes the contribution made by the report and makes some specific recommendations of its own in its commentary. It also outlines the next steps for the full forthcoming review of the 91Èȱ¬'s Editorial Guidelines. The Trust is interested in public feedback and comments on the findings of the Executive's report, and will be taking this into account in the review.

David Liddiment, 91Èȱ¬ Trustee, said:

"Ensuring audiences aren't exposed to unnecessarily offensive content, while guarding against stifling creativity, is a balancing act. Audiences clearly expect the highest standards from the 91Èȱ¬ – and 91Èȱ¬ One in particular.

"The Trust is determined that those standards are met and the new research and the commentary published today will help deliver this."

The Taste and Standards report has three main outcomes. First, it contains a series of detailed recommendations for action – some immediate – which will be carried out by the Executive and which the Trust welcomes.

The Trust has asked the Executive to consider altering the 91Èȱ¬ Editorial Guidelines or online guidance to the effect that the most offensive language should only be used in exceptional circumstances on 91Èȱ¬ One between 9 and 10 pm. In addition, the Trust recognises that licence fee payers can distinguish between comedy and satire, which they appreciate, and unjustified humiliation, of which they disapprove. The 91Èȱ¬ should not make programmes that celebrate or condone gratuitous, aggressive, intrusive, and humiliating behaviour. The Trust has challenged the Executive to clearly address this issue in the Editorial Guidelines.

Second, the research will inform the Trust's long-term goal to improve editorial standards and encourage creativity at the 91Èȱ¬.

Third, public feedback we receive, along with the research, will feed into the full review of the 91Èȱ¬'s Editorial Guidelines which the 91Èȱ¬ Trust has commissioned for later in 2009. These set out the standards that all 91Èȱ¬ content must meet.

The Executive will submit revised guidelines to the Trust for consideration at its July meeting, with a view to implementing the new Editorial Guidelines by early summer 2010.

The full text of the 91Èȱ¬ Trust's commentary can be accessed at:ÌýTrust response to 91Èȱ¬ Executive's Taste and Standards report.

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Ends

Notes to editors:

'Taste, Standards and the 91Èȱ¬: Public Attitudes to Morality, Values and Behaviour in UK Broadcasting' was commissioned by the 91Èȱ¬ Executive at the request of the 91Èȱ¬ Trust following the broadcasts on Radio 2's Russell Brand Show in October 2008.

It details major new in-depth audience research carried out by the 91Èȱ¬, and sets out the resulting recommendations to tighten up protection for 91Èȱ¬ audiences from potentially offensive content, whilst providing appropriate safeguards for creativity and innovation in programming.