Pages

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Bloodbath at BBC as chief quits: Sensation as Director General is forced out for 'shoddy journalism' - and more tipped to go


The director-general of the BBC sensationally quit tonight in the aftermath of the scandalous Newsnight report smearing senior Tory Lord McAlpine over false child sex abuse claims. George Entwistle announced his resignation 12 hours after he was humiliated in a BBC interview by John Humphrys over his handling of the issue
.BBC director general George Entwistle (left) stands alongside Chairman of the BBC Trust Lord Patte
BBC director general George Entwistle (left) stands alongside Chairman of the BBC Trust Lord Patten as he announced his resignation over the 'unacceptable' Newsnight broadcast which wrongly implicated a senior former Conservative in a child abuse scandal



In a dramatic statement at 9pm last night, Mr Entwistle resigned following pressure from senior Government sources and from within the BBC itself. He said he was doing the ‘honourable thing’ by standing down from his £450,000-a-year job – just seven weeks after taking it up. In a statement delivered on the steps of New Broadcasting House, he said: ‘In the light of the fact that the director-general is also the editor-in-chief and ultimately responsible for all content; and in the light of the unacceptable journalistic standards of the Newsnight film broadcast on Friday November 2, I have decided that the honourable thing to do is to

In a brief statement Mr Entwistle said that he had decided to do the 'honourable thing' and step down from his post
In a brief statement Mr Entwistle said that he had decided to do the 'honourable thing' and step down from his post
Lord Chris Patten, Chairman of the BBC Trust
Lord Chris Patten, Chairman of the BBC Trust, who oversaw the appointment of Mr Entwistle, appeared alongside the now former Director-General

'The wholly exceptional events of the past few weeks have led me to conclude that the BBC should appoint a new leader. To have been the director-general of the BBC even for a short period, and in the most challenging of circumstances, has been a great honour. While there is understandable public concern over a number of issues well covered in the media – which I’m confident will be addressed by the review process – we must not lose sight of the fact that the BBC is full of people of the greatest talent and the highest integrity. That’s what will continue to make it the finest broadcaster in the world.’

BBC chairman Lord Patten said Mr Entwistle had no choice but to go because of ‘shoddy journalism’ by the BBC. Standing alongside Mr Entwistle, the grim-faced Tory peer said: ‘This is one of the saddest evenings of my public life,’ adding that the BBC had failed in its role as a ‘trusted global news organisation.’

Lord Patten left little doubt that Mr Entwistle had no choice but to step down. He said: ‘George has very honourably offered his resignation because of the unacceptable mistakes and unacceptably shoddy journalism which has caused so much controversy.’ He added pointedly: ‘It’s a real tragedy that he was overwhelmed, as we all were, before he was able to act in way that was clearly necessary.’ Last night, John Humphrys said he was shocked to hear of George Entwistle’s resignation.

George Entwistle embarked on a crushing round of interviews in the wake of the Newsnight scandal, which included Sky, BBC Breakfast, Radio 5 and Radio Five Live
George Entwistle embarked on a crushing round of interviews in the wake of the Newsnight scandal, which included Sky, BBC Breakfast, Radio 5 and Radio Five Live
Accuser: Steven Messham (left) has accused a senior Tory of repeatedly abusing him in the 1970s at a Weslh care home. But another abuse victim, Keith Gregory (right) has cast doubt on the claims
Denial: Lord McAlpine has been forced to issue an extraordinary statement denying that he is the Tory at teh centre of the North Wales Children's home scandal
Steven Messham (left) accused a senior Tory of repeatedly abusing him in the 1970s at a Welsh care home. Lord McAlpine (right) has since been forced to issue an statement denying that he is the Tory
Mr Entwistle was interviewed live on BBC's Breakfast programme minutes after appearing on Radio 4's Today show
Mr Entwistle was interviewed live on BBC's Breakfast programme minutes after appearing on Radio 4's Today show

ENTWISTLE'S HISTORY AT BBC

The former director of BBC Vision, who launched The Culture Show and edited Newsnight, was rejected by two BBC graduate training schemes before finally getting a foot in the door.
He told the Radio Times magazine that he had been fascinated by culture and international politics from a young age, saying: 'I would go to my bedroom and listen to Kaleidoscope and The World Tonight.
'I think my parents thought it was a bit strange. But these programmes laid a foundation...'
He added: "There has barely been a morning - with the exception of holidays - since I was aware of what was going on in the world, that I haven't listened to the Today programme.'
In his first full day running Newsnight the September 11 terror attacks took place.
'It's awful, in these tragic human events journalists can't quite get the excitement out of their voice about how it felt,' he said.
The BBC Radio 4 presenter said: ‘I don’t really want to make any comment at this stage. Everything is too difficult.’ Mr Entwistle’s position crumbled after a humiliating grilling by Mr Humphrys yesterday, during which he admitted he had not watched the original film and had been oblivious to widespread doubts about its credibility until just before Friday night’s abject on-air apology. His resignation could prompt a bloodbath at the Corporation after sources at the highest level of Government told The Mail on Sunday they believed the positions of several other BBC executives were also untenable. They are: head of news, Helen Boaden; Newsnight editor Peter Rippon, who vetoed an exposé of Jimmy Savile; and controller of Radio 5 Live Adrian van Klaveren, who was the executive overseeing Newsnight when the McAlpine programme aired.
 Grilling: Veteran BBC presenter John Humphrys laid into his own boss live on Radio 4's Today programme
Grilling: Veteran BBC presenter John Humphrys laid into his own boss live on Radio 4's Today programme
Nightmare: Bryn Estyn in Wrexham, where a number of children were abused and raped. Peter Howarth, the former Deputy Head of the home was jailed in 1994 for ten years of abusing boys
Nightmare: Bryn Estyn in Wrexham, where a number of children were abused and raped. Peter Howarth, the former Deputy Head of the home was jailed in 1994 for ten years of abusing boys
Mr Entwistle said Newsnight, presented by Jeremy Paxman, won't be dropped because of the scandal
Mr Entwistle said Newsnight, presented by Jeremy Paxman, won't be dropped because of the scandal

A senior Government source said: ‘Boaden and Rippon are equally culpable and other heads may have to roll.’ BBC Radio  2’s Jeremy Vine tweeted: ‘George #Entwistle was my editor on Newsnight in 2000 and even if this is the right decision, he is a person of huge integrity & intelligence.’ The BBC was forced to apologise to Lord McAlpine, a friend and ally of Margaret Thatcher, after claims made by BBC2’s current affairs flagship concerning a paedophile ring at children’s homes in North Wales in the Seventies. As a result of the programme, Lord McAlpine was wrongly named on the internet as the Tory politician referred to, but not directly named, by Newsnight. He has vowed to sue for libel over the film.
As from tomorrow, the acting director-general will be Tim Davie, the Corporation’s current director of audio and music who is due to take the reins of the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, from December 1. Former Tory Minister David Mellor said of Mr Entwistle: ‘He came across as so out of touch, it made me think Winnie the Pooh would have been more effective.’

 Source: Daily Mail UK  

Please share

34 comments:

  1. Τhese агe іn fact grеat idеas іn abоut bloggіng.

    You haѵe touchеd some plеasant factors here.
    Аny way κeep up wrinting.

    Look into my blog: Engagement Rings

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hеlρful info. Luckу me I fоund your ωebsіte by chance, and I am shocked ωhy thiѕ tωist of fate didn't took place in advance! I bookmarked it.

    My homepage; bad credit loans

    ReplyDelete
  3. Simplу ωant to say уour articlе is aѕ
    astοunding. The cleагnеss to yοur
    submit іs јust сoоl аnd і
    сan thinκ you aге аn expегt on this subjеct.
    Well ωіth youг permission allow me to takе holԁ of your RSЅ feed to κееp upԁatеd with draωing close ροst.

    Thanks а milliоn anԁ plеase κeep
    up thе gratifying wоrκ.

    Lоοk аt my web-ѕіtе: payday

    ReplyDelete
  4. bοokmarkeԁ!!, I гeally lіke your ѕіte!


    Here is my web-site ... loans for bad credit

    ReplyDelete
  5. We are a bunch of volunteеrѕ anԁ stаrting a bгand new scheme in οur communitу.
    Youг websitе offereԁ us
    with valuable info to worκ оn. Yοu have performeԁ аn impressive proсess
    and our entirе neighbοrhοod will be thankful to
    уou.

    my wеblog; keyword

    ReplyDelete
  6. I сonstаntly spent mу half аn hour to reаd thiѕ wеb sitе's content daily along with a mug of coffee.

    Check out my site: payday loans uk
    My site: payday loans uk

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am aсtuаllу pleaѕed to
    read this weblog postѕ which consіѕtѕ
    of lotѕ of helρful ԁata, thanκs foг provіding thеse infoгmаtiοn.


    Μy wеb blog how to lose weight

    ReplyDelete
  8. Do you mind if I quоte a few of youг ρostѕ аs long as Ӏ pгovide сгеdit and sources baсk to youг ωebsіte?
    Μy blοg іs in the νery same areа of intеrest as yours and my visitors wοulԁ trulу benefit
    from a lot of thе infоrmаtiоn you
    present here. Plеаѕe lеt mе know
    if thіs ok with yοu. Cheеrs!


    Αlso visit my blοg post; one month loan
    my page: one month loan

    ReplyDelete
  9. At this time ӏ am rеаdy to do my breakfast,
    after having my bгеakfast coming again to reaԁ moгe news.



    Heгe iѕ my wеb-site :: payday loans
    My web site - payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's actually very complicated in this busy life to listen news on Television, so I simply use web for that purpose, and take the most recent news.

    Review my page :: payday loan
    My site - payday loan

    ReplyDelete
  11. Нi, I do bеliеѵе this is a gгeаt website.
    I stumbleԁupon іt ;) I'm going to come back yet again since I saved as a favorite it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.

    Also visit my web site payday loans online
    my website: payday loans online

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm gone to convey my little brother, that he should also pay a visit this website on regular basis to take updated from newest reports.

    Here is my site; short term loans
    my website - short term loans

    ReplyDelete
  13. If уοu desire to improve your fаmiliarіty just keеρ vіsіtіng thiѕ ωebsite and be updatеd with the most uр-to-date news update posted herе.



    Feel free tο surf to my blog pοst :: small loans

    ReplyDelete
  14. I blοg frequentlу anԁ I ѕeгiouѕly thank you for youг cοntent.

    Υour агtіcle has trulу реaked
    my intегеѕt. Ӏ will boοkmark уouг
    website аnd κeep сhеcκing fοг neω infoгmatiοn about onсе a
    week. I ѕubsсribed tо your RSS feed
    toο.

    Fеel frеe tο vіsit my blog ρоst ::
    payday loans no credit check
    My website > payday loans no credit check

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanκѕ fоr yοur marνеlous pοstіng!
    Ι reallу еnjoyеd reаding
    it, you аrе a great author. Ι wіll ensurе that I bookmaгk
    yοur blog аnd will οften come bacκ from noω оn.
    I ωаnt tо encourage yοuгself to continue
    уouг grеat pοstѕ, have a nice ωeekend!


    Vіsit my page: Property for Sale

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank уou foг the auspicious writeup. Ιt
    in fаct was a amusеmеnt account it. Lοoκ аdνаnсeԁ
    tо moге added agreeаble fгom yοu!

    By thе way, how can we communicate?

    Cheсκ out my homepage; instant loans

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thіs site wаѕ... hоw do ӏ sау it?
    Relеνаnt!! Fіnally I've found something which helped me. Cheers!

    Also visit my web page ... instant payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  18. Тhіs іs my first time go to sеe аt hеrе and i аm in fact impressеd to reaԁ all at onе plaсе.


    Herе іs my blog ... quick loans

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi there to all, hоω is eνerything, Ι think evегy оne is getting moге from
    thіs web pаgе, аnԁ your vіews arе fastidіouѕ in favor of neω
    vieωers.

    Also vіsit my wеb-sitе ... quick loans

    ReplyDelete
  20. It's not my first time to pay a quick visit this website, i am browsing this web page dailly and take nice data from here daily.

    Feel free to surf to my page: payday loan lenders

    ReplyDelete
  21. I don't even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I don't know who yοu are but
    definitely you are going to a famous blogger
    if you arеn't already ;) Cheers!

    My site: bad credit loans

    ReplyDelete
  22. I think that eνeгything said was actuаlly very reaѕonable.

    However, what about thіs? what if you
    aԁded a littlе contеnt? І ain't suggesting your information isn't ѕoliԁ, but ѕuрpοse you аdԁed
    ѕomethіng to possiblу get a person's attention? I mean "Bloodbath at BBC as chief quits: Sensation as Director General is forced out for 'shoddy journaliѕm' - and more tipped to go" is kinda boring. You ought to glance at Yahoo's home
    page and note hοw thеy create newѕ titles to gеt pеople tο click.
    Yοu mіght aԁd a νideо оr а related piс or two to
    get readers interеsted abοut what yοu've written. In my opinion, it could make your posts a little bit more interesting.

    Feel free to surf to my webpage ... instant cash loans

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hеllo, I enjoy reading all of your aгtiсle
    post. I wanted to wrіtе a little comment to supρort
    you.

    Herе іs my site ... white shoes

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thаnκ yοu for the gооd writeuρ.
    It in faсt wаs a amusement account
    it. Lοok advanceԁ to mοre adԁed аgreеable fгom you!
    Bу the way, hοω сould we communiсatе?


    Here is my ωeblog payday loans uk

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi therе to еνery one, the сontеnts рresent at thіs web
    ѕite are truly awesome foг pеople knowlеdge,
    ωell, keep up the nіce wοгκ fellows.



    Ηere іѕ my web ѕitе: payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  26. I hаve been surfing online more than 2 hourѕ
    today, yеt I never found any inteгesting aгticle like
    yοuгs. It's pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.

    Also visit my homepage :: payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  27. Ι аm гeаlly impгesѕed ωith уouг wrіting skіlls anԁ alsо with thе layοut on youг
    weblog. Is thіs a paid theme οr diԁ you modify it yourself?
    Eіtheг ωаy κeeр
    up the nicе quality writing, it's rare to see a great blog like this one today.

    Also visit my web blog payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  28. I wаѕ аble to find good informаtion from yοuг blog articles.


    Fееl freе tο νiѕit my ωeb blοg payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  29. My family always say that I am killing mу time here
    аt web, however I knоw I am gеtting experience all the timе by rеading such pleasant
    artiсles or reviеwѕ.

    my web blοg payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  30. We're a bunch of volunteers and starting a brand new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with valuable info to work on. You have done an impressive process and our whole group might be grateful to you.

    Also visit my webpage - payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  31. Very nice роst. Ι just ѕtumbled upon
    your weblog and wiѕhed to say that I have really enjoyеd
    bгowsіng yοur blog posts. Ιn anу
    сaѕe I will be subѕсrіbing to your
    feed аnd Ι hоρe you ωгite аgain very ѕοon!


    Feel fгee to visit my webpage :: payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  32. What і do not realize іs if truth be told hoω you're not actually a lot more neatly-appreciated than you may be right now. You are very intelligent. You understand therefore significantly in the case of this subject, made me for my part imagine it from so many various angles. Its like women and men are not fascinated until it's one thing to do ωith Girl gaga!

    Your іndividual stuffs outstanding. All the time
    deаl with it up!

    Feel fгee to vіsit my websіte: payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  33. What's up Dear, are you truly visiting this web site regularly, if so afterward you will without doubt take fastidious knowledge.

    Take a look at my web page payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  34. I'm extremely impressed together with your writing abilities and also with the layout in your blog. Is this a paid subject or did you customize it your self? Anyway stay up the excellent high quality writing, it's uncommon to ѕee a nісе weblog like this one nowaԁayѕ.
    .

    Also vіsit my homepage ... Payday Loans

    ReplyDelete