Following accusations of bias at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and specific criticism over the editing of a speech made by U.S. President Donald Trump, the BBC’s head of news, Tim Davie, vacated his position on Sunday.
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According to Reuters, the BBC had been under mounting pressure after an internal report by a former standards adviser was leaked to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, which cited failings in its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war, transgender issues and a speech made by Trump.
Trump welcomed the departures, criticising the two as “very dishonest people” after the BBC’s flagship Panorama programme edited two parts of one of his speeches together so he appeared to be encouraging the Capitol Hill riot of January 2021.
Trump wrote, “The TOP people in the BBC, including TIM DAVIE the BOSS, are all quitting/FIRED, because they were caught “doctoring” my very good (PERFECT!) speech of January 6th. Thank you to The Telegraph for exposing these Corrupt “Journalists.”
“These are very dishonest people who tried to step on the scales of a Presidential Election. On top of everything else, they are from a Foreign Country one that many consider our Number One Ally. What a terrible thing for Democracy!”
Tim Davie, who has led the British Broadcasting Corporation since 2020, defended the organisation, saying its journalism was seen as the gold standard around the world. But he said mistakes had been made and he had to take ultimate responsibility.
Deborah Turness, the CEO of BBC News, also resigned. In an email to staff she said: “I want to be absolutely clear recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.”
