USER-GENERATED CONTENT AND GATEKEEPING AT THE BBC HUB

Abstract

This is an observational study of the way the BBC deals with user-generated content (UGC) at its UGC hub. It finds four types of UGC. First a form of unsolicited news story: second a form of solicited content for specific extant news stories; third a form of expeditious content for specific items and features, and fourth a form of audience watchdog content. The study also finds that UGC is routinely moderated by the BBC hub and that traditional gatekeeping barriers have evolved over time to ensure the maintenance of core BBC news values. The study concludes with the view that the extensive use of UGC at the BBC hub encourages the increasing use of “soft journalism”, with as yet unknown consequences for the BBC.

Keywords:

• BBC
• gatekeeping
• news values
• UGC

Notes

1. I abide throughout to the clear distinction made to me by people at the BBC that UGC is defined as “where the audience does it for the BBC” and citizen journalism is defined as “where the audience does it for themselves”. This is by no means accepted by all and other distinctions and definitions are made. For example, Wardle and Williams (2008) argue UGC represents five different types of audience material.

2. I was generously given access to the UGC hub at the BBC between 4 and 10 November 2007. I was granted observer status and allowed to watch whatever I wished. I was not allowed formally to interview staff using recording equipment (this was seen as being potentially disruptive), and I was provided with an exceptionally helpful minder who introduced me to people and acted as catalyst for my being able to talk informally with all members of staff. The latter proving far more valuable than formal interviews given the limited amount of time I had available. I took field notes in shorthand, which I found encouraged greater freedom of expression than I had noticed when on previous observational work where I had taped conversations and conducted formal interviews (Harrison, 2000). The study was funded by the British Academy to whom I am grateful.

3. I am grateful to an anonymous reviewer for emphasising this point and for the content of this paragraph.

4. See, for example, Singer and Ashman's (2009: 18) study at the Guardian which explores journalists' struggles to reconcile “opportunities for freedom and dialogue presented by UGC while safeguarding their credibility and sense of responsibility”. See also Domingo et al. (2008), Hermida and Thurman (2008), Thurman (2008), and Paulussen and Ugille (2008).

5. Core editorial values for all BBC news journalism were identified in the Neil Report in June 2004.

6. Subjective moderation only appeared to occur in some of the grey areas of taste and decency and not in relation to the BBC's core editorial and organisational values.

7. “Have Your Say” had over 200,000 registered users in November 2007.