ITV plc 2005 corporate responsibility report airing the issues Introduction We have the ability to raise awareness, influence opinion and to shape discussions. However, we recognise that with this great influence comes great responsibility. ITV is an integral part of our national Our 50 years of broadcasting experience But we are not just concerned with media and therefore has an immense has given us the self-confidence that raising awareness of issues. There are impact on the society in which we live. comes with maturity. We are able to messages and principles of wider We are visible every day to millions of withstand external influences and importance that we can and do give households. Watching television is the make editorial decisions across all of as part of our corporate culture. In the UK’s number one leisure activity, and our programming on the basis of our field of diversity, ITV has been actively ITV1 is the most popular channel in peak knowledge, our skills and our promoting greater social cohesion by time. The reach of ITV means we are independence. We produce unbiased, ensuring a balanced representation in all uniquely placed to support important informative and entertaining of our programming for all parts of our social campaigns. The success of ITV’s programmes, but we do so with integrity. community. This year we have on-screen Britain On The Move campaign highlights We think long and hard about how our diversity figures to report and have how television can champion a cause output impacts people’s lives both here set targets for the future. We are also and reach into the public consciousness. in the UK and elsewhere. This is not a promoting the same diversity in ITV’s ITV donated 93 hours of airtime to the philosophy that we limit to the news workforce with several initiatives to campaign which raised £1.3 million for room or our current affairs programming; recruit from minority groups at every charity as well as encouraging millions it is a view that underpins all of our level of ITV. We continue to chair the of people to get fitter and become more channels and programming. Cultural Diversity Network, the television active in their community. industry group promoting diversity on air We produce some of the most popular and behind the screens. Airtime is often the most valuable soaps on British TV. These portray real community donation we can make. and current social issues to a mass Our news and documentary programmes By profiling community causes and audience. We do not glamorise life’s are a key part of our corporate campaigns on screen we can encourage difficulties; but nor do we shirk from responsibility. We serve the communities widespread public participation representing them. During 2005 our across the UK with their own news and across the UK. ITV’s total community storylines in Coronation Street and more regional programming than any investments topped the Guardian Emmerdale alone tackled some of the other UK broadcaster. ITV News, together Giving List in 2005. We are also a most deep-seated and controversial with Regional News and GMTV bulletins member of the Business in the issues in our society today. These included had an average weekly reach of nearly Community PerCent Club. under-age sex, diet and health, 31 million viewers last year. To put that volunteering, alcoholism, smoking, into context, more people see our news Through our programming we fathers denied access to their kids, programmes than all the national have the ability to raise awareness, teenage pregnancy, non-Hodgkin’s newspapers combined, and we do it influence opinion and to shape lymphoma in pregnancy, child abuse, with a strict adherence to balance and discussions. However, we recognise single motherhood and homophobia. impartiality, not just because it’s required that with this great influence comes In addition we routinely provide support by the Broadcasting Code, but because great responsibility. information for viewers who may be it is ingrained in decades of journalistic affected by these problems. ITV soaps excellence at ITV and ITN. bring these issues to the attention of more than 10 million people. That, we believe strongly, is a social function. I T Contents V p l c 01 Introduction 2 0 0 02 Responsibility in the programme lifecycle 5 c o r 04 Corporate responsibility management p o r a t On air e r 08 Responsible programming e s 12 Independent reporting p o 15 Reflecting society n s i 18 Supporting communities b i l i t 20 Responsible advertising y r e p Behind the scenes o r 22 Creative economy t 24 Our people 28 Health and safety 29 Protecting the environment 32 About ITV Cover image: In 2005 Coronation Street tackled the complexities of teen contraception in the relationship between Rosie Webster and her mother, Sally. One of ITV’s distinctive characteristics is to make our programmes attractive to the widest possible audience. Our flagship current affairs programme, Tonight with Trevor McDonald, reached nearly 4 million viewers with features including an expose of the rise of the “happy slapping” mobile phone craze, and a year-long undercover investigation of “Fathers4Justice”, council tax protests, binge-drinking in Britain, children’s nutrition and post-natal depression. We make serious issues popular and popular programmes serious. ITV has a direct and quantifiable impact on the UK economy, in particular the creative sectors. ITV spends around £1 billion per year on programmes, more than any other European commercial broadcaster. We are a major employer, not only of actors, producers and directors, but also of technicians, journalists, editors and the many others needed to make high quality television. There is much more in this report than I can touch on here, but I sincerely hope that you find it interesting. Charles Allen Chief Executive, ITV plc < N o & n 0 e 1 > Responsibility in the programme lifecycle Risk assessment I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! (GMOOH) is a The H&S team do comprehensive hugely popular ITV hit. 9.5 million watched the latest risk assessments for all activities and contractors involved in the series where 10 celebrities were thrust into a jungle show’s production, such as fire camp for two weeks to contend with the wild habitat, risk, tree filming, bungee jumps exotic trials and each other’s egos. It is a great example and overall series risk assessment. of the many responsibility issues involved in making The survival “Bible” We issue and broadcasting a television programme. a “bible” to all staff explaining the do’s and don’ts of working in the jungle including: keeping hydrated, snake bites, sun screen, avoiding fatigue when driving, medical attention, and procedures Creative Investment for reporting accidents. GMOOH is a huge production Contestant welfare Prior to with a six to eight month lifespan. selection, each of the celebrities It represents a significant undergoes a full medical and investment in the UK’s creative psychiatric evaluation. Doctors economy with 80 producers, inform us whether they consider writers, designers, editors and them fit and able for the technical supervisors employed challenges and living conditions. to work on the programme at Some celebrities are excluded its peak. from certain trials. Commission k Production On-screen diversity Employment Health & Safety Bush Tucker Trials Producers try to cast the widest About 80 creative and technical A UK-based H&S manager works From eating bugs to swimming range of age, gender and racial staff are flown out from the UK. on the series from pre-production with crocodiles, each trial is diversity. Each series has featured The remaining crew of 350 are to end of production. In Australia, meticulously designed, planned at least one minority contestant Australian freelancers employed we have a team of three full-time and fully tested for safety. and the gender split has been under terms equal to or better H&S officers and there is one The Bush Tucker Trial supervising almost even. The logistics of the than Australian film and TV union on-site 24-hours a day. There is producer, Chris Lore, talks through jungle terrain makes it difficult stipulations. ITV is responsible also a Medic on-site 24-hours a the rules and dangers of each to represent disabled people in for their well-being on location. day when the site is active for trial in great detail with the this programme. We are an equal opportunity the full day. All staff complete celebrity before they attempt employer. a medical background form, it. Chris, Medical and H&S officers which includes details of allergies are all in attendance as the and pre-existing conditions. celebrity attempts a trial and any one of them can call a stop to it if they feel there is a need to. Contestants are free to refuse the trial or stop it at any time. I n t r o d u c t i o n I I T T V Animal welfare Animal welfare V p is a prime GMOOH consideration. p l l c c Specialist animal handlers are 2 2 0 involved throughout, and the 0 0 0 5 production team takes detailed 5 c c o expert advice in protecting animal o r r p well-being. The RSPCA is notified p o o r of all Bush Tucker trials involving r a a t t e mammals or reptiles, and its Taste and decency e r r e inspectors have an open e s s p invitation to visit the location and To meet a tight schedule, all p o o n monitor the trials at any time.