I've been following the Jimmy Saville affair with some interest, watching and listening as various BBC bigwigs twisted and turned in the unfamiliar glare of scrutiny. I heard parts of the DCMS quetioning of George Entwistle and the Radio 4 Media Show last night where Steve Hewlett asked some direct and pertinent questions of David Jordan, the Director of Editorial Policy and Standards at the BBC.Take a listen and enjoy the sound of a BBC chief frantically trying to explain without saying anything of note.
Meanwhile we have heard that BBC Trust Chairman Chris Patten has warned the government not to question the corporation's editorial independence in relation to its handling of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal. Thinly veiled threats from a CINO to a dripping wet Conservative led coalition. In any case, the BBC tell me that 'The purpose of the BBC Trust is to work on behalf of licence fee payers, ensuring the BBC provides high quality output and good value for all UK citizens, and to protect the independence of the BBC.' Did you spot that 'work on behalf of licence fee payers' not try and stop anyone criticising or investigating alleged wrongdoing at the BBC.
It seems to me that there is a lot more to come out re the BBC in the Savile affair.
I don't think anyone doubts that Jimmy Saville was a paedophile. It also seems that he seemed not to bother covering up his activities whilst working on BBC premises.
So how did managers not know what was happening on BBC premises when others have admitted that they knew? A BBC employee was having sexual relations with underage girls on BBC premises and rather than censure him or fire him, the BBC continued to employ him and use him to front more programmes, including ones that involved him being put in close proximity to children.
If all the above is true, and does anyone think it isn't, then how can the BBC avoid taking corporate responsibility for the abuse?
By the Way: If you haven't yet done so, may I suggest that you watch the Panorama Report into the Newsnight Jimmy Saville story, it is absolutly fascinating .
Meanwhile we have heard that BBC Trust Chairman Chris Patten has warned the government not to question the corporation's editorial independence in relation to its handling of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal. Thinly veiled threats from a CINO to a dripping wet Conservative led coalition. In any case, the BBC tell me that 'The purpose of the BBC Trust is to work on behalf of licence fee payers, ensuring the BBC provides high quality output and good value for all UK citizens, and to protect the independence of the BBC.' Did you spot that 'work on behalf of licence fee payers' not try and stop anyone criticising or investigating alleged wrongdoing at the BBC.
It seems to me that there is a lot more to come out re the BBC in the Savile affair.
I don't think anyone doubts that Jimmy Saville was a paedophile. It also seems that he seemed not to bother covering up his activities whilst working on BBC premises.
So how did managers not know what was happening on BBC premises when others have admitted that they knew? A BBC employee was having sexual relations with underage girls on BBC premises and rather than censure him or fire him, the BBC continued to employ him and use him to front more programmes, including ones that involved him being put in close proximity to children.
If all the above is true, and does anyone think it isn't, then how can the BBC avoid taking corporate responsibility for the abuse?
By the Way: If you haven't yet done so, may I suggest that you watch the Panorama Report into the Newsnight Jimmy Saville story, it is absolutly fascinating .
2 corrections:
ReplyDeleteSavile was not a BBC employee,although I am not sure that makes any difference.
His producer at Top of the Pops has admitted knowing about his behaviour.
Savilegate – Independent Inquiry Now
ReplyDeletehttp://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40450
www.fairplayforchildren.org