There is so much disinformation in the world that people know not what to trust. The BBC is still respected for its news journalism, but the UK and the world need more. It should be a beacon of integrity, distinguishing itself with its impartiality but also realism. It should also respect its Britishness and be willing to uphold important British values. It is now taking a battering of its own making and now needs leadership to restore it to greatness.
There is a disease spreading in the UK which is eating away at the heart of institutions in the shape of cowardice and inability to face tough realities and deal with them.
The BBC was tarnished years ago by the infamous case of Jimmy Savile and his abuse of children, but it never lanced the boils by heads having to roll at the top. An unwillingness to change and to admit mistakes and to react to change culture besets the BBC. The Dyson report in 2021 castigated the BBC for the Martin Bashir disgraceful behaviour in his approach to Diana, Princess of Wales, and the Peter Hall report whitewashing Bashir. Peter Hall then became Director General of the BBC and could never admit error along with many of his colleagues. There have been numerous criticisms of the BBC and bad behaviour, but it has never taken criticism and responded constructively. It has a lot in common with the NHS.
Today, a spate of incidents has more than embarrassed it. Greg Wallace of MasterChef has now been fired for his apparent inappropriate behaviour, but it took years, the first allegations being it seems in 2013. At Glastonbury the musician Bob Vylan used the occasion to rabble rouse with open antisemitism calling for the death of members of the Israeli Defence Force: that the “spoilt” entitled Glastonbury crowd sang along with it is a disgraceful shame on their carelessness for the awfulness of war. As for the BBC, they published the event over the airways, a reckless error. And Tim Davie, today’s DG, when aware of the livestream, failed to stop it. And perhaps worst of all its documentary “ Gaza: how to survive a war zone” was narrated by a child who, it was later established after the broadcast, is the 13 year old son of a Hamas deputy minister for agriculture, Ayman Alazouri. This was later found to be a breach of editorial accuracy guidelines but not in breach of impartiality guidelines, the investigation having been done internally, not independently. Lack of disclosure of the narrator’s Hamas connection was a profound mistake. Presumably, had the due diligence been thorough, that narrator would not have appeared.
In the recent past the sad behaviour of their top news man, Huw Edwards, leading to his resignation was slow to be recognised. And top football man, Gary Lineker, for years used his BBC fame to promote his personal agendas, including a pro Palestine and anti-Israel one. There are multiple suggestions of other bullying incidents by senior performers. This looks like an institution where the leadership are too weak to deal with those who regard themselves as bigger than the organisation.
Finally, Newswatch is the BBC’s own programme where it examines complaints about its news coverage. It almost never accepts criticism or offers any apology or change as a result. It marks its own homework. And lo and behold the other day Tim Davie was interviewed about the recent mistakes and embarrassments, and the interviewer was a BBC presenter. The idea of independent scrutiny is anathema. The culture of arrogant superiority continues, just like the NHS, never admitting it needs to change.
But does not the UK need the BBC to change, up its news game, show contrition and then demonstrate to the world a newfound integrity, and a respect for the UK as its home nation. For that perhaps it is time for senior leaders, including Tim Davie, to make way for new blood, with tough standards, a new broom and the desire to make the BBC the most trusted news organisation in the world.
See also: –
The BBC’s Big Opportunity – If it will Listen – BBC Cowed, Chaotic and Compromised – Search for the Truth: Step Forward the BBC
