Our editorial policies

The ABC Editorial Policies set out the ABC’s self-regulatory standards and how the Corporation enforces them. They are also the source for the ABC Code of Practice, which the ABC notifies to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

The ABC Board amends the Editorial Policies from time to time to meet changing needs and circumstances including legislation affecting the ABC, and the booklet is updated regularly to incorporate new material. The latest review followed the adoption by the ABC Board of the recommendations of the ABC Self Regulation Framework Review. The 2011 edition of the Editorial Policies comprises:

  • a booklet setting out the principles and standards to guide editorial decision-making and content creation;
  • associated standards that deal with specific topics (such as television program classification);
  • guidance notes to assist content makers and complaint handlers to apply the standards in the many and varied circumstances that arise for a public broadcaster;
  • a glossary of terms.

The Editorial Policies are distributed amongst all staff. An awareness of the required standards is essential for all who have editorial responsibility for ABC content. A copy of the documents comprising Editorial Policies and the ABC’s Code of Practice can be downloaded from this page. This page also includes information on how complaints can be made and procedures for how they are handled.

The Editorial Policies enable content makers and the public to understand the editorial and ethical principles that are fundamental to the ABC. They are developed with the experience of ABC content makers and take account of the requirements of current legislation and regulation. Most importantly, they seek to reflect the standards that ABC audiences can reasonably expect of their national broadcaster.

The Editorial Policies offer a frame of reference as well as, on occasions, a check list of considerations aimed at helping content makers to make difficult judgements for themselves and to explain their reasons for those judgements.

ABC Editorial Policies & ABC Code of Practice

Current versions:

Superseded versions:

Guidance

Complaints Procedures

Reviews & Discussion Papers

Editorial Reviews

Quality Assurance Reports & Papers

Speeches & Other Publications

  • Adapting a public broadcaster’s self regulation for the convergence era, speech by ABC Director Editorial Policies Paul Chadwick at the RIPE@2012 Conference, Sydney, 5 September 2012
  • Threads, presentation by ABC Director Editorial Policies Paul Chadwick, Panel discussion The Ethical Journalist Online at the Melbourne Writers Festival, The Wheeler Centre, 3 September 2010
  • Hazards of compression, presentation by ABC Director Editorial Policies Paul Chadwick at Ethically speaking: media and journalism, Panel discussion co-hosted by The Wheeler Centre: Books, Writing, Ideas and Centre for Advanced Journalism, University of Melbourne, 17 February 2010
  • A shared challenge, presentation by ABC Director Editorial Policies Paul Chadwick, Panel discussion Self regulation and the Media at the Journalism Education Association Conference 2009, Perth, 1 December 2009
  • Adapting to digital technologies: Ethics and privacy, presentation by ABC Director Editorial Policies Paul Chadwick at the Future of Journalism Summit, Sydney, 2 May 2008
  • A new transparency, address by ABC Director Editorial Policies Paul Chadwick to the Melbourne Press Club Journalism Conference, 6 September 2007
  • Legitimacy requires accountability, Opinion piece by ABC Director of Editorial Policies Paul Chadwick, The Walkley Magazine, 15 February 2007