After looking into legalities from Ofcom I have two sections that are relevant to my documentary. These are section 5 due impartiality and due accuracy and undue prominence of views and opinions, and section 7 fairness.

Section 5 looks at impartiality in programming and favoring one side over the other which is transferable to the subject of the documentary.

5.12 In dealing with matters of major political and industrial controversy and
major matters relating to current public policy an appropriately wide
range of significant views must be included and given due weight in each
programme or in clearly linked and timely programmes. Views and facts
must not be misrepresented.

If the subject is to look at the decline of traditional crafts in Britain it would be pro crafts and could possibly present mass production and industry in a negative light. Although it is true that industry has played a key role in the decline of crafts it is not solely to blame, it is a means to an end and its presence in the documentary should be fair, balanced and not slated heavily. This is also important where crafts are concerned as crafts should not be over exaggerated in terms of there history e.g. blacksmithing is older than Jesus. Facts and figures involving crafts should be well researched and also be represented fairly and honestly.

Section 7 looks at how to treat individuals and organization fairly for filming purposes.

7.3 Where a person is invited to make a contribution to a programme (except when
the subject matter is trivial or their participation minor) they should
normally,
at an appropriate stage:
• be told the nature and purpose of
the programme, what the programme is
about and be given a clear explanation
of why they were asked to contribute
and when (if known) and where it is
likely to be first broadcast;
• be told what kind of contribution they are
expected to make, for example
live, pre-recorded, interview, discussion,
edited, unedited, etc.;
• be informed about the areas of questioning and,
wherever possible,
the nature of other likely contributions;
• be made
aware of any significant changes to the programme as it develops
which might
reasonably affect their original consent to participate, and
which might
cause material unfairness;
• be told the nature of their contractual rights
and obligations and those of
the programme maker and broadcaster in relation
to their contribution; and
• be given clear information, if offered an
opportunity to preview the
programme, about whether they will be able to
effect any changes to it.

This section will be relevant to treatment of contributors. Informing them of what the documentary whishes to achieve will help them give the correct information but will mean they have an understanding of what they are contributing towards (in case they have any reasons against speaking for the subject). Giving contributor information on the type of contribution will also give them time to prepare material suitable for that particular method e.g. doing a live interview when the contributor planned for an edited one. Also informing them of changes to the documentary is advisable because the change made could how the contributor’s works appear.

These points should be strictly followed to during filming but also included into the pre-production paperwork so that time has been allowed for these measures to take place.