Category: 大象传媒
Date: 27.02.2006
Printable version
The 大象传媒 Governors have today outlined proposed changes to their complaints appeals process and are inviting licence fee payers to comment on them during a four week consultation.
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This is the first time the procedures for handling appeals have been clearly set out and published for the public.
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The Governors are responsible for ensuring all editorial and programme complaints are properly handled by the 大象传媒 and through their Programme Complaints Committee (GPCC) they consider appeals from people who are not satisfied with management's response to their complaint.
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They are the final authority over the 大象传媒 on matters of impartiality and accuracy.
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The changes outlined today are designed to strengthen the transparency and objectivity of the system used by the GPCC.
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They include proposals for:
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sharing material relied upon by the GPCC with all parties for comment before a decision is reached;
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giving the GPCC Chairman discretion to call hearings for first-party complaints;
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and the addition of a new finding of "already resolved", to be used in circumstances where an error has occurred and the GPCC is satisfied that management has already dealt with the matter appropriately.
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Speaking in the foreword to the consultation document Richard Tait, Chair of the GPCC, said: "The 大象传媒's Board of Governors believes the public should be at the heart of everything that the organisation does.
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"Licence fee payers have a right to expect the highest editorial standards from the 大象传媒, and the right to challenge if they are unhappy with the standards of any output."
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Governors will take account of the responses to the consultation before finalising the procedures and introducing them in the summer.
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Notes to Editors
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The consultation launched today refers to the GPCC's procedures only. It is separate to the 大象传媒's overall complaints process which was re-launched in February 2005.
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The Governors are not proposing that the 大象传媒's complaints process should change and editorial complaints will continue to be handled by 大象传媒 management in the first instance.
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Subsequent appeals will then be considered by the GPCC.
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Next steps:
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The Board of Governors will take account of the responses and publish a summary on its website.
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Governors will then publish and implement the procedures for the GPCC in the summer.
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We intend that the new GPCC procedures will be implemented within the current Charter period in order that processes for complainants can be improved sooner rather than later.
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We will ensure the procedure complies with the new Charter, when it begins in 2007, and the 大象传媒 Trust will of course have the right to review the procedures when it comes into force.
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Full details of the consultation can be found at www.bbcgovernors.co.uk.
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It closes on 24 March 2006.
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