us us from the wilkinson joining us from the newsroom. what can you tell us about the new guidelines? for newsroom. what can you tell us about the new guidelines?— the new guidelines? for those of us, ou and i the new guidelines? for those of us, you and i who _ the new guidelines? for those of us, you and i who work _ the new guidelines? for those of us, you and i who work in _ the new guidelines? for those of us, you and i who work in news, - the new guidelines? for those of us, you and i who work in news, we - the new guidelines? for those of us, j you and i who work in news, we have to abide very strictly to the impartiality guidelines on social media, but as you mention now, this all kicked off earlier on this year with danny matt gary lineker, the bbc highest paid presenter, when he put on social media, a tweet criticising government asylum policy and it followed after that he was temporarily suspended from the bbc, and after that, he was brought back to present the programme and the director general of the bbc, tim davie commissioned a review, that you havejust davie commissioned a review, that you have just mentioned davie commissioned a review, that you havejust mentioned now. this was carried out by the former tv executive john hardy and was carried out by the former tv executivejohn hardy and looked specifically at the social media,

bbc social media guidelines and around freelance presenters like gary lineker. it has updated following that review the guidelines. what it does say in this report is that the new guidance recognises the importance of freedom of expression, but there are a group of expression, but there are a group of presenters, like gary lineker who present these flagship and high—profile programmes who are in this new group, where the bbc says they have a particular responsibility to respect the bbc�*s impartiality because of their profile on the bbc. what does this mean? it means, from the report from mr hardy, he says that high—profile presenters outside ofjournalism should be ale to express views on issues and policies, including matters of political contention, but there is a window, though, while

their high—profile flagship programme is going out and a two—week window either side of it, in this report, it says that its presenters of those programmes must not endorse or attack a political party. they must also not criticise the character of individual politicians in the uk or comment on anyissue politicians in the uk or comment on any issue of political debate during any issue of political debate during an election period or take up an official role for a campaigning group. there are those flagship programmes in the presenters of those programmes that have to stick now, they have been told about this updated guidance, the otherflagship programmes include antiques roadshow, the one show another major sporting events. some of the top presenters at the bbc. you just mention there, gary lineker in the last 15 minutes responding to these new guidelines saying that they

sound sensible.— new guidelines saying that they sound sensible. , ., ., ., sound sensible. does that mean that it is a win for — sound sensible. does that mean that it is a win for gary _ sound sensible. does that mean that it is a win for gary lineker? - sound sensible. does that mean that it is a win for gary lineker? while . it is a win for gary lineker? while this debate was happening across the country, it was really seen as a debate between gary lineker and the bbc. is this more of a positive win for him? i bbc. is this more of a positive win for him? ~' �* �* .,, for him? i think the bbc, as i said, they would — for him? i think the bbc, as i said, they would say _ for him? i think the bbc, as i said, they would say that _ for him? i think the bbc, as i said, they would say that they _ for him? i think the bbc, as i said, | they would say that they absolutely recognise the importance of freedom of expression. it is clear that freelancers are free to talk about theissues freelancers are free to talk about the issues that matter to them. it will be interesting to see what follows in terms of high—profile presenters and what they tweet in the future. tim davey, the director—general, has from day one, since he got into the job three years ago, has made it very clear that impartiality is one of the bbc's that impartiality is one of the bbc�*s core values and i want and centre of what he does and the importance of impartiality and the trust in audiences of the bbc. —— is

at front and centre. whether it is a win for gary lineker, i sat there, he says it is very sensible. the change in update to the guidelines of what the presenters will be able to say on their social media accounts. to say on their social media accounts-— to say on their social media accounts. �* , , ., , accounts. and 'ust give us a bit more detail— accounts. and just give us a bit more detail on _ accounts. and just give us a bit more detail on what _ accounts. and just give us a bit more detail on what exactly - accounts. and just give us a bit| more detail on what exactly has changed. obviously, there is a question about whether gary lineker�*s former tweet that he made in march about their government immigration policy. what that has stood under these rules? how does it work? ., . ., , stood under these rules? how does it work? ., , ., , , ., work? that is a very good question. the answer — work? that is a very good question. the answer to _ work? that is a very good question. the answer to that _ work? that is a very good question. the answer to that is _ work? that is a very good question. the answer to that is we _ work? that is a very good question. the answer to that is we simply - the answer to that is we simply don't know. that is a question that will be put to the director general tim davey later on today. because whether that tweet that gary lineker put out earlier this year, whether that would breach these updated guidelines, we simply don't know at this stage. guidelines, we simply don't know at this staue. ., ~ guidelines, we simply don't know at this staue. . ~ i. guidelines, we simply don't know at this staue. ., ~' ,, , . this stage. thank you very much.

that is the _ this stage. thank you very much. that is the bbc's _ this stage. thank you very much. that is the bbc's helena - this stage. thank you very much. l that is the bbc's helena wilkinson joining us from the newsroom there. and as she mentioned, we have reaction from the bbc director—general. tim davey said that we all have a responsibility to treat people with civility and respect, particularly at a time when public debate and discussion both on and off—line can be so polarised. that is the statement there from the bbc's director—general responding to the new social media guidelines that have been published. the more reaction on this, i am joined now by the former head of news at itv and former managing editor at sky news. what was your reaction to these new social media guidelines published today? it social media guidelines published toda ? . social media guidelines published toda ? , , ., today? it is interesting. i have read the report _ today? it is interesting. i have read the report in _ today? it is interesting. i have read the report in as - today? it is interesting. i have read the report in as much - today? it is interesting. i have. read the report in as much detail today? it is interesting. i have- read the report in as much detail as possible, there hasn't been much time. it is very lucid. what it has

done is to has a new super brand of presenter, special rules for then that will apply. it still leaves us with quite a few shades of grey. for example, when does commenting on policy stop and campaigning against the policy start? in very good question about what it means looking back at the gary lineker case, we still don't know whether it would have been right or wrong under these guidelines. although the report reads very well, it will be terribly difficult to apply it. mr hardy does profess that the bbc provides examples when engaging with presenters. perhaps this will be tested by time. it also only applies to very key programmes and very key presenters as a result and it does leave me wondering, what about minor characters, if i may call them such? but somebody who does a voluntary

programme for radio? where do they stand in this, that can they criticise the local council online? it is not entirely clear when you extrapolate. the third point i would like to make is the idea of civility in public discourse. this is something thatjohn hardy points out he wants to promote and wants to do with the guidelines i think a lot of people will feel that that is a good idea, particularly looking at issues in other parts of the forest where really unpleasant things are being sad and broadcast media. overall, i think it looks good, but it will be hard to apply. bud think it looks good, but it will be hard to apply-— think it looks good, but it will be hardtoaul.�* ., hard to apply. and what do you make of gary lineker— hard to apply. and what do you make of gary lineker pass _ hard to apply. and what do you make of gary lineker pass response, - of gary lineker pass response, tweeting that it is all very sensible? it tweeting that it is all very sensible?— tweeting that it is all very sensible? , , , , , tweeting that it is all very sensible? , i, ,, ,�* sensible? it is very sensible, isn't it? it sensible? it is very sensible, isn't it? it does — sensible? it is very sensible, isn't it? it does look— sensible? it is very sensible, isn't it? it does look sensible. - sensible? it is very sensible, isn't it? it does look sensible. it - it? it does look sensible. it depends whether he is thinks it sensible because it endorses what he did all whether he thinks in a broader discourse that he shouldn't have done it. i don't know, i can't read his mind. but i would say that

it makes life, not much easier really, it was going to be tough one and dealing with social media as difficult altogether. i and dealing with social media as difficult altogether.— and dealing with social media as difficult altogether. i was going to ask ou difficult altogether. i was going to ask you where _ difficult altogether. i was going to ask you where it _ difficult altogether. i was going to ask you where it leaves _ difficult altogether. i was going to ask you where it leaves the - difficult altogether. i was going to ask you where it leaves the bbc . difficult altogether. i was going to l ask you where it leaves the bbc and all of this. how does it handle any other future all of this. how does it handle any otherfuture comments all of this. how does it handle any other future comments like this? and how does it handle the situation around gary lineker? because he wants to continue making comments. he is still making comments. i think this is the issue between policies and politics. mr lineker wants to make a comment within two weeks either side of his programmes, which actually these programmes are on for actually these programmes are on for a long time, so doesn't get an awful lot of opportunity to do this, if he wants to do that, he has to decide whether he will be talking about politics or politicians or policies. that goes back to his original tweet. was that about politics and politicians are about policies? at the same time, it was while much of the same time, it was while much of the day was airing, set under these

guidelines, he probably shouldn't have done it. but had it been when it wasn't airing, could he have done it? it is really quite complicated. what would your advice be for the bbc about how it handles this hot potato situation? this issue? i am not really in _ potato situation? this issue? i am not really in a _ potato situation? this issue? i am not really in a position _ potato situation? this issue? i am not really in a position to - potato situation? this issue? i —n not really in a position to give advice to the bbc, but as a media pundit from the outside, i would say go slowly on this one, is very difficult and lots will depend on individual arrangements with agents of these big players. it is going to have to be made clear. find of these big players. it is going to have to be made clear.— of these big players. it is going to have to be made clear. and what do ou think have to be made clear. and what do you think the _ have to be made clear. and what do you think the public _ have to be made clear. and what do you think the public reaction - have to be made clear. and what do you think the public reaction will. you think the public reaction will be to this? this was such a big issue across the country. how will the public react to this? mr; the public react to this? my personal — the public react to this? ij�*i personal views there the public react to this? m1 personal views there has the public react to this? ii1 personal views there has been the public react to this? i’i1 personal views there has been so much carnage in the media world since march, people have forgotten all about the gary lineker issue to some extent, but this just shows that media at the moment is a bit of a boiling pot and there is so much going on. i think people want the

bbc to be impartial. of course, it is paid for by all of us with all sorts of political opinion, cannot afford to come down on one side or another, it's really important that presenters know what the ground rules are regarding this. on the other hand, they also have a right to express themselves and we have a right to know what they think. it is a complicated one. definitely, this is incredibly helpful and it's a very well written and easy to read report. personally, applying it is not going to be a piece of case. thank you very much. that is the former managing editor at sky news and director of broadcasting at city university. you're watching bbc news and we have been recapping breaking news. new social media guidelines issued for bbc employees and freelance staff.

hello, much quieter out there after we finished with some agnes out there. this in cloud drifting in from the west. the sunshine has been turned hazy for some of you this morning, some brighter breaks at times as we go through the afternoon comes of the best will be the north—east of scotland, some towards the east as well. isolated showers in the west, most of you have a dry day. still a bit of a breeze in the south—west, that keeps temperatures around 15 to 21 celsius. by the end of the afternoon and into the evening, heavy bursts of rain pushing in, west of scotland, northern ireland, short and intense bursts of rain and gusty winds, proceeding across england, and rain developing through the evening rush hour and working its way southwards and eastwards. one or two intense bursts of rain on that, clearer skies follow for many. temperatures at the moment around eight or 11 degrees. a mild and muggy night

towards the south—east, 15 or 17 as we start tomorrow morning. weather systems tonight, clear out the way, a bulge of high pressure pushing in, quiet day for many, but low pressure in north of scotland. this will bring gale force winds, 60 mph gusts but one or two, frequent showers broken in by that wind, and the bulk if not all the day dry, the first you ourselves, the more likely that will be. feeling fresh across north—west scotland. especially given showers and strength of the wind. into the start of the weekend, a cool and fresh start, a lovely bright start for many, but clouding overfrom bright start for many, but clouding over from the west and particularly because ireland, south—west scotland, northern eden don't match england and north—west wales. temperatures are not particularly warm in those cloudy conditions in the west. another bill of overnight rain into sunday. this drags its

heels across southern counties into wales. with that cloud, like rain and drizzle, misty on the coast, breaking up with some sunshine, but away from the southern coastal counties, isolated showers and temperatures between 14 and 20 degrees. pleasant enough in the sunshine. take care.

take care. live from london. this is bbc news. balancing freedom of expression and impartiality —

bbc stars are told what they can say on social media. as ethnic armenians leave their homes forever, the separtist leader of nagorno karabakh formally ends the struggle for independence. donald trump stays away, but the other candidates in the latest republican party presidential debate have plenty to fight about. what you have got, every time i hear you ifeel a little bit dumberfor what you say. a bbc investigation finds that uk police officers have been misusing their body worn cameras, but police leaders say the majority of footage shows good policing. hello, welcome to bbc news now. three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. an independent review into bbc social media guidelines for its employees and freelancers been published in the last hour. the bbc has a huge committment

to achieving due impartiality in all its output.