Afternoon:
10°c
BBC newsreaders told to read out phone numbers
Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter18 Feb 2009
The BBC has ordered news presenters to read out all telephone numbers and internet addresses flashed up on screen - for fear of offending blind people.
An email has been sent to newsreaders including Huw Edwards, Fiona Bruce and Kate Silverton warning the corporation could face a discrimination lawsuit for failing to read out numbers and addresses in full.
The email was sent two days ago by Peter Horrocks, head of the BBC's multimedia newsroom, and one of the most senior corporation employees.
Telephone numbers are often written on screen during appeals, and the BBC routinely gives out email and web addresses.
But the memo has exasperated senior staff. One insider told the Evening Standard: "This is political correctness gone mad. All the BBC's big-name presenters received this email from Peter Horrocks saying that whenever they refer to an on screen phone number or email address they should no longer say, 'You can see the number on the screen now', because it might offend blind people - and could even be illegal.
"But where does it end? Does that mean presenters will be banned from saying: 'If you don't want to know the football scores look away from the screen now', because that could be just as offensive. It's insanity."
A BBC spokeswoman said: "A significant number of blind people use TV news, so it makes sense with numbers and addresses to spell them, so everyone can access the information."
Reader views (19)
More than ten years after the change of area code to 020 for London, it's still common to hear 0207 and 0208 being read out, even when the on-screen caption correctly says "020".
- Richard Mathers, London, 26/10/2010 09:29
Report abuse
It's still a problem when they are read out incorrectly...
and that's still happening ten years after the changes happened.
- Steve, London, 21/06/2010 23:56
Report abuse
Having the number or address read out whilst writing it down makes it much easier for everybody - not just those with a sight disadvantage or those with perfect photographic memories or recall. When looking down at what you are writing, how many can still read the TV screen. It also helps ensure it remains visible or 'the subject' long enough before moving to the next topic.
It might also help act as a corrective check by the presenter against some of the many spelling errors present in captions. At least it ensure SOMEONE reads it !
- Phil Spiegelhalter, Sandhurst, UK, 17/06/2009 18:44
Report abuse
On BBC News there is a ticker tape banner that provides headlines whilst the normal news is being reported. This obviously discriminates against the blind. How does the BBC going to move this to being non-discriminatory?
- Dave, London England, 14/04/2009 16:42
Report abuse
Rogan, Irving - If the end result is the same then what does it matter?
Or is this just another excuse for everyone to bash the BBC for no particular reason?
- Simon, London, 21/02/2009 13:42
Report abuse
How do the blind people know that the numbers aren't being read out to them if they can't see them anyway? - Paul, London
Because they say "you can see the number/address on screen now".
- Paul Ebbens, East Dereham, England, 19/02/2009 21:48
Report abuse
Geronimo - I will excuse your ignorance. But a quick Google search would have answered all your questions.
Many blind people are online and enjoy a full, interactive experience on the web.
Despite the best efforts of this and other newspapers to create a "PC gone mad" story out of nothing, this is purely about helping make information available as widely as possible.
- Poochy, London, 19/02/2009 17:07
Report abuse
"This is political correctness gone mad."
No, it's not. It's amusing how often people love to jump on the PC bandwagon without giving a moments consideration to what they're really saying. It just goes to show the mentality of the people who quote the tired "PC-gone-mad" line.
To quote Mr Horrocks, for he has put it better than I could:
"It is not (PC Gone Mad). This issue is not about avoiding causing offence. It's about information and how to access it.
Eleven million adults are considered to have a disability in the UK which affects their everyday life, and this group make up 19% of the working population and an even higher proportion of our audience. For instance 21% of the audience to the BBC News at Six on BBC One is considered to have a disability. Surely it's not political correctness to consider whether the content we're producing is suitably accessible and understandable?"
- Dan, London, 19/02/2009 17:02
Report abuse
How do the blind people know that the numbers aren't being read out to them if they can't see them anyway?
- Paul, London, 19/02/2009 09:23
Report abuse
Simon, London - I agree that it should be more about getting the information out to those who can't see. The trouble is that it is not - it is about the PC perspective and the thinking behind it. It isn't about providing a service, but fear of accusation; fear of litigation; fear of bad publicity.
They are not saying, "lets get this information out to as many people as possible as a service". They are not being proactive. In taking the PC line they are simply being defensive - a negative. And in so doing they are making themselves look weak-minded and ineffectual.
- Rogan, Irving, 19/02/2009 05:24
Report abuse
Excuse my ignorance, but how would a blind person use the internet? (Might be O.K for the partially sighted though)!
Are there Brail keyboards? (There probably is, although I've never seen one).
I am aware that there is software that will speak to you as you type!
Would it read out the URL for a site you are trying to access when you type it in the browser?
And what about the multiple choices that Google would throw up on the screen? Would it read them all out to you?
Telephone numbers would be a good idea, provided you have a memory like a vice when they are read out, for myself, I need a pencil & writing pad beside me!
I feel sure someone out there is going to take me to task over the above,...Ah well,......S'pose it goes with the territory!
- Geronimo, LONDON MIDDLESEX, 19/02/2009 03:50
Report abuse
As with a lot of political correctness; looks feeble and tokenistic now, vaguely helpful and polite in a few months and entirely normal and proper in a few years.
Donald Smith's comment does however, raise the major problem that the BBC has with theme tunes and background music when it comes to making their TV and Radio output accessible to all.
- Al, London, 18/02/2009 23:21
Report abuse
What about nice people like me who don't understand the dysfunctional behaviour portrayed in the news.
- Gordon, mexico, mexico, 18/02/2009 18:41
Report abuse
Perhaps Peter Horrocks would like to instruct his sound team to stop early running of the introduction theme under presenters words on from programmes such as Breakfast and the NewsChannel so that viewers can actually hear the introductory headlines. It has been raised on the Newswatch programme often enough and the viewers opinions are ignored
- Donald Smith, london, 18/02/2009 18:34
Report abuse
Surely this is more about giving blind people access to information rather tahn avoiding offence? Seriously what is the problem with this? It's not like it's going to cause any problems for the rest of us.
- Simon, London, 18/02/2009 18:11
Report abuse
I don't think blind people would be offended but at least they will now get the info.
- Ayliff Mcnab, Spain, 18/02/2009 16:08
Report abuse
What about deaf and blind people. They might get offended. Then there's dead people, mustn't forget them too.
- Marc, Harrow, UK, 18/02/2009 15:35
Report abuse
Clearly Peter Horrocks is a little short of things to do. Parhaps the BBC need to re-look at his job content?
- Jc, london, 18/02/2009 15:30
Report abuse
Did someone read out the email to all the recipients or was it just allowed to sit silently on screen? (rolls eyes)
- Tom Moncrieff, london W6, 18/02/2009 15:22
Report abuse
