In the wake of controversy surrounding the editing of a Panorama documentary focusing on former US President Donald Trump, BBC Director-General Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness have announced their departure from the corporation. The documentary, which aired a week before the US election, featured excerpts from a speech Trump delivered in January 2021.
Concerns arose when it was revealed that the program spliced together two separate segments from the hour-long speech. Michael Prescott, previously an external advisor to the BBC editorial standards committee, brought the issue to light in a memo that was subsequently leaked. According to Prescott, "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."
BBC Chairman Samir Shah acknowledged the resignations in a statement, stating: “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, who previously held executive positions at ITV and NBC News, served as the head of BBC News for three years. Shah expressed his gratitude for her service, saying: “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.”
Davie had recently faced criticism regarding other incidents, including politically charged statements made by Bobby Vylan at the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage and a documentary about Gaza presented by the son of a Hammas official. In a message to staff, Davie stated: “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.”
Turness, in her own statement, addressed accusations 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."
The resignations of Davie and Turness are seen by some as an attempt to mitigate potential conflict with the White House. The BBC, which operates commercially in the US and maintains a significant news presence in Washington, is expected to announce interim leadership plans and initiate a formal search for permanent replacements soon.