The BBC has announced an independent review of its social media guidance after a weekend that saw much of its sporting coverage diminished in a row over the treatment of a star presenter.
Director-General Tin Davie said he recognised the “potential confusion” caused by grey areas in the social media guidance introduced in 2020.
In a Tweet last week, Gary Lineker, the former England footballer who has been the face of BBC Sport for three decades, described the government’s immigration bill as an ‘immeasurably cruel policy’. A comment from a high profile presenter on a matter of Government policy was seen as being against the guidance and Lineker was suspended. Lineker, like some of his predecessors on Match of the Day does not work in news and he is also a freelancer. For the last two seasons he has also worked on La Liga TV and before that BT Sport.
Lineker’s suspension led to a revolt from pundits including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright. This then extended to presenters who refused both to cover for Lineker’s absence or present their own shows and the BBC’s TV commentary team. The hour-long Match of the Day was reduced to 20 minutes presented without commentary. Radio 5 Live was also hit, though Premier League commentary continued, with the radio commentators being BBC staff members rather than freelancers.
“Impartiality is important to the BBC. It is also important to the public,” said BBC Director-General Tim Davie:. The BBC has a commitment to impartiality in its Charter and a commitment to freedom of expression. That is a difficult balancing act to get right where people are subject to different contracts and on air positions, and with different audience and social media profiles. The BBC’s social media guidance is designed to help manage these sometimes difficult challenges and I am aware there is a need to ensure that the guidance is up to this task. It should be clear, proportionate, and appropriate.”
Also, I’d like to thank Tim Davie for his understanding during this difficult period. He has an almost impossible job keeping everybody happy, particularly in the area of impartiality. I am delighted that we’ll continue to fight the good fight, together.
— Gary Lineker ?? (@GaryLineker) March 13, 2023
Lineker, who supports the review, will be back on-air next weekend. ““I am glad that we have found a way forward. I support this review and look forward to getting back on air,” he said in a statement.
A final thought: however difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away. It’s heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you. 3/4
— Gary Lineker ?? (@GaryLineker) March 13, 2023
However, in Tweets following the release of the BBC statement, Lineker made clear he wouldn’t be silenced on political issues. He said the difficulty of the last few days “doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away”.
The Lineker dispute follows a period of several weeks during which there have been continued calls for BBC chairman Richard Sharp, a former Conservative Party donor to resign over his involvement in facilitating a loan for former prime minister Boris Johnson.
