Humanists UK has responded to the BBC consultation on its draft Editorial Guidelines, calling for the BBC to provide programming and coverage for and about non-religious people and about their beliefs. Such coverage has remained disproportionately low in the face of an increasingly non-religious population.
Humanists UK highlighted the exclusion of non-religious beliefs and communities in the Editorial Guidelines, which has allowed for an unbalanced production of programmes that are explicitly religious or about religion with almost no content on humanism.
Humanists UK made the point that since the last consultation on the BBC Editorial Guidelines in 2018, the UK population has grown more non-religious. The 2021 Census was the first time that more people aged 66 and under ticked ‘No religion’ than ‘Christian’. Humanists UK reiterated its call for specific and equal inclusion of non-religious beliefs in the guidelines to ensure BBC programming serves all the communities of the UK, as required in the BBC Royal Charter.
Humanists UK welcomed a change in the guidelines to remove a ban on contributors not denigrating the beliefs of others. The BBC rightly acknowledged this could stifle debate. However, Humanists UK also called on the BBC to remove barriers to free expression and debate from the guidelines that require contributors to avoid causing unjustified offence to those with religious views.
Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson said:
‘It is beyond time that the BBC Editorial Guidelines consider and represent humanists equally to religious people. The non-religious are a growing majority of the BBC’s licence fee payers, viewers, and listeners. We hope that in this consultation the BBC will seriously consider our response and update its guidelines to produce informative and interesting content on the beliefs and worldviews of all parts of the UK population today.’
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For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 0203 675 0959.
Read Humanists UK’s consultation response to the BBC in December 2024: https://humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024-12-19-Humanists-UK-response-to-BBC-editorial-guidelines-consultation.pdf
Read the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines consultation document: https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/reports/consultation/bbc-draft-editorial-guidelines-2024/
Read more about Humanists UK’s work on broadcasting rights for the non-religious: https://humanists.uk/campaigns/human-rights-and-equality/broadcasting/
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 130,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.