BOARD DIVISIONS
The BBC, which is funded by the British public, has faced growing accusations of bias from different ideological camps.
The latest crisis, which spiralled after the Daily Telegraph last week leaked a memo by former BBC advisor Michael Prescott, has also laid bare some of the divisions within the BBC and its board.
In his report, Prescott raised concerns about anti-Israel bias in the BBC’s Arabic service, the coverage of the Gaza war, and the BBC’s reporting on trans issues, among others.
In a public apology for the Trump speech edit, BBC chair Samir Shah on Monday said the broadcaster had taken steps to address other issues in Prescott’s memo, vowing to reform oversight within the organisation.
Some current and former BBC journalists have blamed right-wing board members for leading the charge that the BBC is “institutionally biased” – which outgoing BBC News CEO Deborah Turness denied.
However, Mark Urban, a former BBC editor and presenter, suggested in a blog that “culture wars” and liberal voices were also at fault for the lapses.
The BBC is due to renegotiate its Royal Charter, which outlines the corporation’s governance and will end in 2027.
Davie said despite recent controversies – which have sparked calls for changing the licence-fee funding model that the BBC depends on – the broadcaster was in a “really good position to get a good charter”.
