Instead of celebrating the record 12 million viewers who watched the Celebrity Traitors finale, the BBC has collapsed. BBC Director General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resigned after a leaked document alleged bias in BBC programming.
Last May, Michael Prescott, then independent advisor to the BBC’s editorial standards committee, wrote a memo raising concerns about transgender bias and anti-Israel bias in the BBC Arabic service.
In 2024, the Panorama documentary “Trump: A Second Chance?” appears to have had editing as the main issue. The documentary merged two separate pieces of President Donald Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021, into one tape, which could have led viewers to believe he was encouraging rioting. Trump threatens to sue the company.
Over the past week, the Telegraph has accused the BBC of institutional prejudice. In the face of such an onslaught, the broadcasters’ only response was to say they did not comment on leaked information.
While BBC supporters watched in disbelief, news personnel tried to reply. Nick Robinson of Today reported that BBC news officials “agreed the wording of a press release” and that the programming should have disclosed an alteration. Still, there was no “intention to mislead the audience”.
The BBC board declined to approve this statement, suggesting that it was hiding something.
Finally, BBC chairman Samir Shah apologised for an “error of judgement”. He stated that the BBC had discussed their US election coverage and that “We accept that the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action.”
At the White House, Trump said BBC journalists “are very dishonest people”.
Trump may sue the BBC for $1 billion if they don’t retract the documentary. Shah calls Trump “a litigious fellow”.
Paramount resolved a lawsuit for US$16 million (£12.1 million) in July after Trump accused 60 Minutes of “false editing” a Kamala Harris interview headline during the 2016 presidential campaign. He received US$15 million from ABC News as part of a defamation settlement last year.
It is unlikely that the BBC would pay the US government to settle a dispute. Trump may cause a media company to fail with his rhetoric—a crucial own goal for the BBC.
Internal politics
The BBC was not institutionally biased, Turness said this morning at the BBC, despite the Trump edit blunder.
Some critics blame the BBC’s internal political issues. Former Sun editor David Yelland hosts a BBC podcast. He labelled Turness and Davie’s resignations a “coup” due to the BBC board’s political prejudice.
Alongside this drama, BBC journalists Nick Robinson, David Sillitoe, and Katie Razzall are thoroughly analysing the pandemonium. A lesser-known reality is that another outsourced independent production initiative has also contributed to the BBC’s troubles.
October Films Ltd. made BBC Panorama, and HOYO Films made Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. Ofcom sanctioned that film in October because it was narrated by the 13-year-old son of a Hamas deputy minister of agriculture, which wasn’t disclosed.
However, outsourcing production to an independent organisation doesn’t outsource editorial review, which should have been thorough for this Panorama show.
What’s next?
The BBC must hire two top executives as it prepares for its 2027 royal charter renewal (major talks over its future and funding). According to reports, Apple’s Jay Hunt, former Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon, and former BBC Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore are the leading contenders. However, it is early.
Commentators will likely advocate for a “BBC cleanskin” to avoid current scandals. Is this wise for someone who will oversee a sophisticated and sprawling media organisation? Deborah Turness had never worked for the BBC, and Tim Davie had no journalism experience before becoming DI.
The new broom may face disputes, such as Gary Lineker’s social media remarks or Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury anti-Israel Defence Forces chanting. This may be the duty of a deputy director, a BBC position until recently.
Remember that journalism’s most valuable asset is trust. According to the annual Reuters Digital News Report, the BBC tops UK charts. The BBC has top journalists and news programming. The terrible management of this problem puts all of their reputations in danger.
