This time because of the way Donald Trump’s January 2021 speech was portrayed.
In recent months, the BBC has faced a series of accusations of bias and loss of neutrality in its reporting, particularly when it comes to Trump, the war in Gaza and issues of gender identity.
The latest scandal erupted after the Daily Telegraph published parts of an internal report by the BBC’s former ethics adviser, which claimed that Panorama had “improperly edited” Trump’s speech, giving the impression that the former US president had encouraged the invasion of Capitol Hill.
According to the document, the producers spliced together two unrelated parts of the speech – in one, Trump talked about a “peaceful walk to the Capitol” and in the other, he called on supporters to “fight like never before.”
In a statement, Davie said that the decision to resign was entirely his, and thanked the Board of Directors for their support:
“I have taken this decision after serious personal and professional reflection. It is time for someone new to lead the BBC into its next phase.”
He is expected to remain at the helm of the BBC for a few more months, until a successor is named. According to British media, the Board of Directors welcomed the resignation with surprise.
In her speech, Deborah Turness pointed out that “the controversy surrounding Panorama has reached a point where it is damaging the entire organization” and added that “ultimate responsibility always lies at the top”.
Davie spent five years at the head of the BBC, and his tenure was marked by other scandals – from criticism over coverage of the Glastonbury festival, to the documentary Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone, which was not revealed to have been directed by the son of a senior Hamas official.
British Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy thanked Davie for “leading the BBC through a period of change” and supported his decision to step down. A new CEO should be appointed in the coming weeks.
(Vijesti.ba)
