The Mess at the BBC Will Never End

"Last week, the Daily Telegraph-the traditional newspaper of Britain's conservative élite-reported on the existence of a secret memo that appeared to shatter the illusion that the BBC is an impartial news organization. The memo, some eight thousand words long, took the form of a letter to the BBC's board and was written by Michael Prescott, a recent editorial adviser to the broadcaster."

"In the letter, Prescott attested that he did "not hold any hard and fast views" on U.S. politics, or on the Middle East, nor did he have any political agenda at all. But, after three years as an adviser to the BBC's Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee, he had been driven to despair by the broadcaster's refusal to address deep-seated problems with its news coverage."

A former BBC editorial adviser produced an eight-thousand-word letter to the BBC board alleging persistent editorial problems. The adviser said he lacked a political agenda but claimed three years on the Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee revealed a refusal to confront coverage failings. The memorandum cataloged mishaps and alleged chronic bias across coverage of President Donald Trump, racial diversity, gender issues, and the war in Gaza. The letter was published by the Daily Telegraph and catalyzed right-wing criticism. Many incidents cited were real and previously investigated or acted upon. The broadcaster faces declining public confidence amid internal errors and sustained external hostility.

Read at The New Yorker