- Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:42 am
#443255
I think it must be, the link worked for me. I've copied and pasted what it says.
'A group of senior BBC executives are reportedly calling for a ban on actors, writers and other top talent from using social networking sites such as Twitter to discuss their work at the BBC.
According to The Guardian, senior sources at the corporation claim that the need for a ban "was a widely held view". They also said that "conversations have started" regarding the inclusion of measures in contracts to forbid top talent from using Twitter, Facebook and other internet forums to reveal sensitive details of their involvement in BBC productions.
The campaign follows a number of revelations on Twitter that senior BBC executives are understood to feel are disruptive to their marketing and press campaigns.
Only last week, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor revealed that she is to appear in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's new comedy Life's Too Short alongside rock star Sting.
Previously, actor Stephen Mangan leaked on Twitter that the drama Dirk Gently had been recommissioned, while Armando Iannucci announced the return of the comedy The Thick of It before the BBC was ready to make the news public.
Episodes star Mangan has since denied this, tweeting: "The Guardian is wrong... No indiscretion from me, I tweeted after BBC had announced the new series."
BBC executives are thought to believe that the ban would prevent storyline spoilers from being reported in the press, while also stopping news or press announcement leaking out.
One executive, who apparently holds a high-profile job at the corporation's production arm BBC Vision, told The Guardian: "There's no doubt that Twitter is a popular communications phenomenon but it can also be quite disruptive if artists tweet about an appearance on a show or announce a new commission before the broadcaster is ready to go with the story.
"Broadcasters can have a number of reasons for wanting to delay press announcements, such as the deal not being done or contracts not being signed or, indeed, the broadcaster wanting to make a big splash with a great story at a particularly opportune moment. A random tweet can rob an artist of his or her potentially much louder fanfare."
A BBC spokesman said that the corporation already has guidelines on the use of social media when discussing subjects in a BBC capacity.
He added: "Most talent tweeting fall under the personal usage bracket, and are advised by their agents/producers and we encourage them to read our guidelines."
Interesting reading, but somehow I doubt a ban would ever go ahead.
chrismoyles.net
