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.
Nvidia, the world's most valuable chip company, is investigating its own boss, and China says the reasons behind it are false....
A large majority of Americans want the incoming Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress to end the war with Iran an...
Spain’s government has approved a package of rail safety measures after train drivers went on strike on Tuesday to demand more investment in ...
Delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for their first formal talks in nine months. They did so with no agreement on what a ceasefire would be tied to or who gets to keep the land currently under Russian control.
At least 17 people have been reported killed in an explosion at a steel plant in western Türkiye, after a crane collapsed during maintenance work. The disaster has prompted a criminal investigation into what went wrong at the industrial facility.
Russia and Ukraine are set to return to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for a fourth round of U.S.-brokered peace talks, with European participation, security guarantees and territorial disputes expected to shape the negotiations.
Nvidia has launched an independent investigation into whether its chief executive, Jensen Huang, was targeted in a foreign intelligence operation, following allegations that a businesswoman with whom he had a relationship passed information to Beijing.
U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said Washington believes the Russian President is prepared to reach a peace agreement under the right conditions, as U.S., Russian and Ukrainian delegations began trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday 10 November.
Nvidia, the world's most valuable chip company, is investigating its own boss, and China says the reasons behind it are false.
A large majority of Americans want the incoming Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress to end the war with Iran and repeal President Donald Trump’s tariffs, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows, pointing to strong pressure for quick action on the cost of living.
Spain’s government has approved a package of rail safety measures after train drivers went on strike on Tuesday to demand more investment in maintenance, following the country’s second deadly rail crash this year.
Russia has declared a Moldovan diplomat at the country’s embassy in Moscow undesirable, in retaliation for a similar move by Moldova last month, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday (10 November).
A senior U.S. Army soldier has been arrested in Britain on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence, British police said on Tuesday (10 November), a day after the United States moved aircraft out of a British air base over an apparent threat from Iran.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment