BBC Director General Tim Davie and News Chief Deborah Turness have resigned after mounting criticism over alleged political bias at the broadcaster, including the editing of a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The BBC had been under mounting pressure after an internal report by a former standards adviser was leaked to the Daily Telegraph newspaper which cited failings in its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war, transgender issues and a speech made by President Trump.
Compiled by a former standards adviser, the report listed multiple editorial errors — including a segment in the Panorama documentary that appeared to misleadingly splice together two separate parts of Trump’s 6 January, 2021 speech. The edit, the report said, made it seem as though Trump had directly encouraged the Capitol riots.
Tim Davie, who has led the British Broadcasting Corporation since 2020, defended the organisation, saying its journalism was seen as the gold standard around the world. But he said mistakes had been made and he had to take ultimate responsibility.
“This is entirely my decision,” Davie said in a statement. “I remain very thankful to the Chair and Board for their unswerving and unanimous support throughout my entire tenure, including during recent days.”
Davie added that he wanted to allow his successor time to “shape the Charter plans they will be delivering,” acknowledging the “intense personal and professional demands” of leading the corporation.
Meanwhile, Deborah Turness, the CEO of BBC News, also resigned. In an email to staff she said, "I want to be absolutely clear recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong."
The pair are expected to remain in their roles temporarily to ensure a smooth transition.
Trump welcomed the departures, criticising the two as "very dishonest people" after the BBC's flagship Panorama programme edited two parts of one of his speeches together so he appeared to be encouraging the Capitol Hill riot of January 2021.
The controversy reignited fierce debate over media neutrality in the United Kingdom. Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, blasted the BBC as “100% fake news” and a “propaganda machine” in comments published on Friday.
The British Broadcasting Company - widely respected
Widely respected around the world, the BBC still tops polls in Britain on the most trusted news brand and has huge reach in the country, providing news, entertainment and sport.
But the corporation, which is funded by a licence fee paid by all television-watching households, comes under intense scrutiny from some national newspapers and critics on social media, which object to its funding model and perceived liberal stance.
It has in recent years been accused of failing to maintain its commitment to impartial news by critics on both sides of the political divide, struggling to navigate the fractious political and cultural environment.
The United States has launched strikes on Iran late Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian state media reporting explosions in several...
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have gathered in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the...
Russia has rejected German allegations that Moscow was behind an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, calling the claims “baseles...
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have concluded talks in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as leaders gather for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have gathered in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the group marks 25 years since its creation.
U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, with Tehran responding by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. bases in Jordan in the first direct U.S.-Iran military escalation in weeks.
Iran has reached an understanding with Oman on transit arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz, but the waterway will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils its commitments, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Saturday.
Kyrgyzstan is hosting the sixth World Nomad Games, bringing together thousands of athletes from around the world for a celebration of traditional sports, cultural heritage and nomadic traditions.
The United States has launched strikes on Iran late Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian state media reporting explosions in several areas including Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island.
Russia has rejected German allegations that Moscow was behind an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, calling the claims “baseless”, as Russian air attacks killed at least 12 people in Kyiv and the surrounding region earlier on Tuesday.
China used this week's Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit to deepen ties across Central Asia, turning a largely symbolic multilateral gathering into a series of bilateral agreements and modest progress toward a long-discussed SCO Development Bank.
Türkiye has drawn up a plan to restore safe grain shipments through the Black Sea and is discussing the proposal with both Moscow and Kyiv, its foreign minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday.
Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, with China, Russia, Pakistan, the United States and the United Nations among the key partners on Uzbekistan’s agenda.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment