BBC Director-General Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness are to leave the corporation following controversy over the editing of a Panorama documentary on US President Donald Trump.
The edition of Panorama, broadcast a week before the US election, used clips of a speech made by the US President in January 2021. An edit used in the programme spliced together two clips from either end of an hour-long speech. The matter was highlighted by Michael Prescott, a former external adviser to the BBC editorial standards committee, in a memo leaked to the Daily Telegraph.
“It was completely misleading to edit the clip in the way Panorama aired it. The fact that he did not explicitly exhort supporters to go down and fight at Capitol Hill was one of the reasons there were no federal charges for incitement to riot,” read one extract.
In a statement issued on Sunday afternoon, BBC Chairman Samir Shah said: “This is a sad day for the BBC. Tim has been an outstanding Director-General for the last five years. He has propelled the BBC forward with determination, single-mindedness and foresight.
“He has had the full support of me and the Board throughout. However, I understand the continued pressure on him, personally and professionally, which has led him to take this decision today. The whole Board respects the decision and the reasons for it.”
Turness, a former ITV and NBC News executive, had been in charge of BBC News for three years.
In a separate statement, Shah said: “I want to thank Deborah for her leadership of BBC News over the past three years. She has transformed the operation of News with real commitment and a clear vision of the future.
“She has acted with integrity in challenging circumstances and leaves a strong legacy from which to build for the many millions around the world who rely on and trust the voice of BBC News every day.”
In recent months, Davie has faced criticism of the BBC’s Glastonbury after Bob Vylan frontman Bobby Vylan made several politically charged statements and led the crowd in anti-IDF chants. There was also the Gaza documentary fronted by the son of a Hammas official.
“Despite a hugely competitive market, I am proud that the BBC remains the most trusted news brand globally. We have continued to ensure that it is used by almost everyone in the UK as well as hundreds of millions of people globally. Despite the inevitable issues and challenges, our journalism and quality content continues to be admired as a gold standard,” Davie said in a statement released to staff.
In her own statement, Turness addressed the issue of BBC bias: “In public life leaders need to be fully accountable, and that is why I am stepping down. While mistakes have been made, I want to be absolutely clear recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.
In a polarised world, BBC News journalism is more vital than ever, and I could not be prouder of the work that you do. Together we have bucked the global trend, to grow trust in BBC News, and I want to thank you, wherever you are in the world, for your courageous work to deliver that.
Davie and Turness may have sacrificed themselves to head off a potential row with the White House. President Trump has already exerted pressure over US broadcasters, notably in a $16m over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with former vice president Kamala Harris.
The BBC, which operates commercially in the United States and runs major news operations from Washington, is expected to set out next steps for an interim leadership and a formal search process in the coming days.
