Outgoing BBC boss seeks to rally journalists amid leadership crisis, Trump lawsuit
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Mr Tim Davie stepped down as head of the BBC on Nov 9 following accusations of bias at the British broadcaster.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – The outgoing boss of Britain’s BBC sought to rally his journalists on Nov 11, saying that although they have made mistakes they need to fight for their work as the broadcaster confronts legal action by US President Donald Trump.
The BBC has been plunged into its biggest crisis in decades after its two most senior staff – director-general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness – quit following criticism over bias
Mr Davie told BBC employees he was fiercely proud of the publicly funded organisation, while acknowledging that “we have made some mistakes that have cost us”.
“We are a unique and precious organisation, and I see the free press under pressure, I see the weaponisation,” he said at an all-staff meeting, without elaborating.
Analysts say the resignations have exposed deep frictions over governance and editorial standards, raising questions about whether the BBC can maintain public trust.
An internal memo by a former BBC adviser accused it of editorial failings on Mr Trump, the Israel-Hamas war
But Mr Davie, who became director-general in 2020, also tried to calm worries over the future of the broadcaster.
“The BBC is going to be thriving, and I support everyone on the team,” he said.
Mr Davie said he decided to step down because of the job’s relentlessness, the need to give his successor time to prepare for the next review of the BBC’s funding model, and an editorial breach that required accountability, according to a transcript of his comments at the staff meeting.
He said he was proud of the team he built, adding that “some responsibility had to be taken” for mistakes made.
He added that the BBC would “survive” his departure and thanked staff for their work.
Trump edit
Critics have accused the BBC of failing to uphold impartiality, citing the edit of a speech made by Mr Trump in 2021 on the day his supporters overran the US Capitol as part of a wider pattern.
BBC chair Samir Shah apologised for the “error of judgment”
The programme – produced by a third party – spliced together remarks delivered nearly an hour apart, omitting Mr Trump’s call for peaceful protest, creating the impression he urged violence.
Mr Trump threatened legal action
The BBC, founded in 1922 and funded largely by a licence fee paid by all TV-owning households, is now without a permanent leader as it faces a government review of the terms of its charter and funding model.
The current 10-year charter expires in 2027.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the BBC was not “corrupt” or “institutionally biased” and stressed the need for it to maintain high standards.
When asked for a response to Mr Trump’s legal threat, a spokesman for Mr Starmer told reporters: “It is clearly not for the government to comment on any ongoing legal matters.”
“Our position is clear that the BBC is independent, and it is for the corporation to respond to questions about their editorial decisions and, more broadly, we have a close relationship with the US on shared priorities including security,” he added.
The spokesman also noted Mr Starmer’s “very strong relationship” with Mr Trump.
In a letter to British lawmakers, Mr Shah also rejected claims of systemic bias, saying surveys showed Britons trusted BBC News more than any other outlet. REUTERS
