BBC Trust

Following a public consultation last year, the BBC Trust has today published the final set of guidelines which will assist BBC journalists and content producers reporting on the European Union membership referendum.

The guidelines, which will sit alongside the BBC’s main editorial guidelines, are intended to act as a framework to ensure that journalists and content makers can operate in as free and creative an environment as possible while delivering to audiences impartial, independent reporting.

 The Trust recognises that a number of key points about the referendum have still to be confirmed, but considers it appropriate to publish the referendum guidelines now so that they will be in place before the campaign starts.

The guidelines will come into effect at the beginning of the official referendum period, once it is known, and will remain until the close of polls.

The Trust’s consultation outcome document which explains what  changes have been made; the final referendum guidelines, organisational and individual responses can be read below. 

Guidelines - Referendum Campaign on the UK's membership of the European Union