Section 8: Duty of the Authority as to programmes and publications

(1) The Authority shall satisfy itself that the programmes broadcast by the Authority or on its behalf comply with the following requirements-
(a) that nothing is included in the programmes which is likely to offend against good taste or decency or is likely to encourage or incite to crime or to lead to disorder or to be offensive to public feeling, or to contain any offensive representation of, or reference to, a living person;
(b) that the programmes maintain a proper balance in their subject matter and a generally high standard of quality;
(c) that any news given in the programmes (in whatever form) is presented with accuracy, impartiality and objectivity;
(d) that due impartiality is preserved in respect of matters of political or industrial controversy or relating to current public policy; and
(e) that, subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, no matter designed to serve the interests of any political party is included in the programmes.
(2) Nothing in paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of this section shall prevent-
(a) the inclusion in the programmes of properly balanced discussion or debates in which the persons taking part express opinions and put forward arguments of a political character; and
(b) the inclusion in the programmes of party political broadcasts which seek to explain the views and policies of the various political parties in accordance with a scheme of such broadcasts which apportions the facilities and time allowed between the representatives of the political parties in such a manner as appears to the Authority equitably to represent their respective claims to the interest of the public.
(3)
The Authority shall secure the exclusion from any publication which may be issued by it, or on its behalf, and without prejudice to the generality; of the provisions of this section, from the programmes broadcast by it or on its behalf, of all expressions of its own opinion as to the matters referred to in paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of this section, or of the opinion as to any such matters of any of its members or officers, or of the opinion as to any such matters of any director or officer or any agent of the Authority.