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The review set out to examine the systems, checks and training that have been put in place since 2008 to ensure that programmes broadcast on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio meet the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s editorial standards, and to establish whether the measures required by the Trust to improve compliance have been adequately implemented.

The review was carried out by Tim Suter, formerly Partner for Content and Standards at Ofcom, and Tony Stoller, former Chief Executive of the Radio Authority, for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Trust. Its findings included:

The lessons of Ross/Brand have been fully learned and much work has been undertaken to implement them;

• There is stringent policing of and notable leadership towards significant cultural changes in the understanding of the importance of compliance across the whole of ´óÏó´«Ã½ production;
• A number of systems for auditing compliance with editorial standards have been put in place, such as all 'high risk' programmes being listened to before broadcast, and monthly spot checks of editorial compliance;
• 'Risk lists' are now formally created and used to identify potentially risky programmes; and
• In the authors' words, "there is no evidence that programmes which ought to be made are not being made."

´óÏó´«Ã½ Trustee Alison Hastings, member of the Trust's Editorial Standards Committee, said:

"As we have made clear in the past, Ross/Brand was an extremely serious breach of the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s editorial standards. Eighteen months on, the Trust expected to see real evidence of change – so I am pleased to see that this report concludes that this has been delivered and that it has not been at the expense of programme-making. There's still more to do, but it is clear that lessons have been learned."

A number of recommendations are also made in the report to ensure that adherence to editorial standards continues in future, including:

• A 'spring clean' of compliance processes should be carried out to ensure that they are consistent and match best practice;
• Further attention to staff training on compliance; and
• A periodic review of the compliance systems to deal with anticipated future changes such as the growth of new media and its impact on editorial compliance.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Audio & Music will report to the Trust on the implementation of these recommendations in November 2010.

Notes to Editors

The full report and Trust commentary can be read here:

Independent review of compliance procedures in ´óÏó´«Ã½ Audio & Music