Thompson, Mark (BBC Astronomer)

[Teddy Bear]

BBC guidelines prohibit its staff from endorsing or promoting a particular product.

Section 14: Editorial Integrity and Independence from External Interests
Principles

14.2.1

We must be independent from outside interests and arrangements which could undermine our editorial integrity.

14.2.2

We must not endorse or appear to endorse any other organisation, its products, activities, services, views or opinions.

14.2.3

We must not give undue prominence to commercial products or services.

14.2.4

There must be no product placement in programmes.

On-air and online credits must be clearly editorially justified.

14.2.6

We must never include a link on a public service website or within the editorial content of a commercial site, in return for cash, services or any other consideration in kind.

14.2.7

We must not unduly promote BBC commercial products or BBC-related commercial products and services on our public service outlets.

For some reason, Mark Thompson the BBC astronomer (not the Director General) seems to think it doesn't apply to him, as he shows on his twitter account under the name of 'Peoples Astronomer'



Here's what he writes in case the image is slow downloading
Just received my heated boots from Columbia Sportswear, courtesy of @canoeinc. Awesome, will be wearing for Stargazing LIVE #bbcstargazing

Here's his details as shown on the twitter account.

# Bio Mark Thompson - Co Presenter on BBCs Stargazing LIVE (BBC2 Jan) Astronomy presenter on BBC's the One Show, also writes for Discovery News and Universe Today

(hat-tip dan212 with thanks)