Treating microphones as if they are live

Last year a radio programme was interrupted with swearing when another studio was accidentally put on air. Listeners heard someone say “It’s so f***ing cold in here”.

Shortly before that a television cricket commentator said “they haven’t got a f***ing clue” when they thought their microphone had been muted after commentary duties passed from the studio to the match team.

There have been many examples of offensive language being broadcast accidentally on radio and television in the last few years. Many complaints could have been avoided if someone near a microphone hadn’t used offensive language.

It’s not just swearing that poses a problem. Anything that shouldn’t be said on air shouldn’t be said in the studio, during a recording or at an outside broadcast.

There are a few ways that these mistakes can occur:

• Any microphone that’s plugged in could be on air. Even if you think it’s been faded down by someone else, or you think you’re only recording it on the studio desk, a mistake can mean that it’s on air.
• Pre-recorded content that’s not been edited can be played by mistake. The wrong file could be loaded or someone might email the raw version instead of the edited one.
• Microphones could be recording, even if they’re not live on air. Two politicians were having an off-air conversation in a television studio in 2016 when one made a comment about a colleague.
• Talkback could end up on air. A presenter or reporter might be talking to someone in the studio or control room. If using a desk without a dedicated talkback function a tech-op could end up on air.

Talkback between presenters and producers is also something to be careful with. Outside broadcasts can certainly be difficult and stressful, but it’s important to be professional at all times. I think it even helps to keep chatter to a minimum so that everyone can concentrate on the production of the programme.

While being in the studio for outside broadcasts I’ve heard presenters comment on passers-by and complain about the venue or their PR representative.

If any of these were to be broadcast by accident it would be embarrassing for all involved. Depending on what was said it could lead to complaints, a loss of access to an event or even a breach of the broadcasting code.

A reporter during the BBC’s 2019 election coverage was faded up and said “I can hear you… I can hear you… I’ve lost clean feed.”

This might be a bit embarrassing, but sticking to mundane technical language means it is quickly forgotten by most people and causes little to no offence.