'Are you allowed to vox pop your family on BBC1?' blog discussion

JimmyTheWig

Oh, of course. It's _that_ Uncle Tony!

mini

I think he will be snapped up soon by an elite modelling agency, lovely to see Uncle Tony again on here & in person:)

words_4_thought

l don't see any reason for him not to be able to be on the show - it is not his fault what Martin does for a living - It is what you call equal rights - and by now nearly everyone in the UK and overseas will know about Uncle Tony and we look forward to seeing his minute of fame - go Uncle Tony :T

hare_krishna

I do think in this circumstance it is ok. It is open to abuse though. Family members can be more likely to play along with a pre planned situation where they will say what the presenter wants them too and potentially give bias to a particular situation, person or organisation etc.

Whilst it is acceptable in this circumstance and a situation (peek time charges) most can have sympathy with it is indeed a slippery slope.

DarkConvict

You have ethical guidelines not hard rules, in this case the guidelines should allow you to use it. But do say he was your uncle just for listeners clarity.

As you say it was not prearranged and he had no knowledge of the questions going to be asked. Nothing wrong at all.

Errata

There's a danger that if Uncle Tony was the only person interviewed to give a half sensible answer. whatever the actualite will look like a set up given his financial background.
Pop him on the cutting room floor.

lauraland

Mark_Hewitt wrote: »

As long as it is made clear on the TV broadcast who he is, then I don't see any problem.

my thoughts exactly

Karmacat

I think its absolutely okay ... I saw Kate wotsername from BBC morning TV (not Kate Adie, t'other one) and her father had been on the last flight out of somewhere in Africa, and she interviewed him in exactly the same way as you describe interviewing your uncle (:wave:waves at distinguished Uncle Tony ) so I'm sure the BBC are fine with it too.

Wiccapaedia

When I was a freelance journalist, I got fired for quoting colleagues in one place I worked (even though I had their permission) in an article I wrote for another publication. It was an unrelated subject, nothing controversial, they were quoted as private citizens, but the management, a public utility company, never gave me a reason. But journalists, always desperate to meet deadlines, do make up a lot of stuff, I did it quite a lot during my 20 years at that particular coalface!