Panorama edit ‘probably’ did not damage Trump, author of leaked BBC memo tells MPs – latest updates | BBC
Prescott says Panorama edit ‘probably’ won’t hurt Trump
Liberal Democrat MP Cameron Thomas again pressed Prescott to ask whether he agreed with Trump’s claim that the 12-second video edit of his Jan. 6 speech damaged his reputation.
Thomas: “Do you agree that this documentary discredits Donald Trump?”
Prescott: “Probably not.”
He offers a regretful smile.
important events
Caroline Daniel says that in her experience on the standards committee, there is always an active discussion about editorial bias.
“This, in my view, highlights issues of impartiality that the BBC actively engages with on a regular basis.
“The fact that the committee is extremely robust, that there are discussions, that there is research on a regular basis and that there is rigorous research, I think this is a really healthy organization and a very healthy debate.”
Prescott’s note did not reflect BBC’s full US election coverage – other adviser
caroline daniel He says he thinks his former counsel’s memo “does not provide a comprehensive view of what was in the David Grossman report.”
He sits right next to Prescott and delivers his assessment, which he says is “more of a personal statement than a comprehensive review of everything covered in the (standards) committee.”
Member of Parliament: “What do you think is missing?”
Daniel: “I think David Grossman’s report covers a lot of the basics; issues such as major errors such as the scope of the election and the use of voting, who is represented in the programmes, and issues of impartiality.
Frankly, the BBC also had a reaction to this, which was also important. They were interested in every detail of the David Grossman report.
Daniel says the panorama’s inaccuracy does not undermine the BBC’s wider accuracy principles
Caroline Daniel, Along with Prescott, the standards committee’s other external adviser also stepped in to defend the Panorama regulation.
“Obviously trust issues are fundamental to the BBC. It’s important that they take inaccuracies extremely seriously,” he says.
He adds that “it is regrettable that this was not noticed at the time” and that it was probably too late for the BBC to take practical action by the time Panorama was alerted to it – more than a year had passed since the episode aired.
He also emphasizes that David Grossman’s 20-page report on the US election “is really about a much broader, more comprehensive view of the scope of the US election.”
“This was not about trying to micromanage a particular program, regulating an individual issue on principle… I personally think the BBC takes issues of impartiality and accuracy incredibly seriously. That’s why it’s one of the most trusted news brands in the world.”
Prescott says Panorama edit ‘probably’ won’t hurt Trump
Liberal Democrat MP Cameron Thomas again pressed Prescott to ask whether he agreed with Trump’s claim that the 12-second video edit of his Jan. 6 speech damaged his reputation.
Thomas: “Do you agree that this documentary discredits Donald Trump?”
Prescott: “Probably not.”
He offers a regretful smile.
Committee questions Prescott about his own bias in leaked memo
Deputy Rupa Huq In his note, he questions Prescott about his own political bias, stating that many of his concerns stem from a certain bias.
He points out that some of the language he uses is common expressions used in right-wing ideological circles, or that the experts he cites are “not completely unbiased people.”
prescott He says he is not an “approval list” and that his memo merely reflects reports “commissioned by the entire (standards) committee” for review by editorial consultant David Grossman.
“We never knew what he was going to come back with. And if you take the presidential race in the United States, for example, the comeback has been, it’s actually a bit unbalanced.”.”
Huq said he watched the entire 70-minute Panorama documentary last night and that the 12-second edit did not change the content of the topic, which Trump would likely like since it includes many MAGA supporters.
Prescott was asked whether he agreed with Trump that the BBC documentary constituted an insult, given that the US president has been charged in connection with the January 6 riots.
“I can’t think of anything I agree with Donald Trump on,” Prescott replies.
Watch the interrogation live
A reminder to readers: the live broadcast of the House of Commons session will be available to watch right here in the stream embedded at the top of this blog.
Glastonbury apology a sign of progress – Daniel
Daniel But other external consultants say progress has also been made following systematic reviews on certain issues.
He gives the example of Bob Vylan’s reaction immediately after Tim Davie chanted “Death to the IDF” during the BBC’s live broadcast of his set at the Glastonbury Festival.
I think this is a quick apology, and rightly so. I think there have been many other examples over the last few years where the BBC has apologized.
But I think the real issue in terms of the level of interest in these issues is the culture of the BBC. And again, in my view, it was actually really important that we had a robust committee to discuss impartiality issues, that David Grossman was appointed to ask questions about the BBC’s reporting and to help inform future coverage.
I think there are few organizations where you have that level of internal control on a regular basis, and it’s an ongoing issue. This is not one and done.
Editorial errors were not fully addressed. -Prescott
Most of the criticism prescott This is what BBC News departments say failed to fully address editorial errors when pointed out by the panel.
What I often saw was that the BBC’s idea of tackling something was to change editors, to change the written guidelines, but it seems to me that there was never any willingness to consider exactly what went wrong and whether there were profound consequences.”
He described some of the responses as “defensive” and said there was a problem with some “cultural forces” within the BBC, without specifying exactly what.
When questioned further by the committee he says: “You too urban rural bias, possibly London focus, London values versus values outside the capital”.
‘I have no idea’ how the memo was leaked – Prescott
Prescott is being questioned about how his memo regarding editorial concerns was leaked to the Telegraph report.
“I have no idea,” he says.
His dossier noted errors in the editing of Trump’s speech and allegations of bias in his reporting on the Israel-Hamas war and trans issues.
He also said he had sent it to regulator Ofcom after sending it to the BBC board to highlight what he thought were editorial concerns.
He says the note is “entirely my own work” and that he did not write it with anyone else.
‘I’m a centrist dad’ – Prescott
Prescott is questioned about his own personal biases and refers to reports about Robbie Gibb’s Conservative background.
The committee chair asks whether one personality dominates the other members of the standards committee. It has been claimed that Gibb’s political views swayed the panel in one direction.
“You’re asking about my preferences. I’m not Robbie Gibbs’ ideological soul mate. I’m a centrist father.””
He was asked whether it affected him that his company received more than £100,000 in donations from a conservative Republican donor. He says he wants the BBC to be completely impartial.
