BBC chief rallies ‘incredible’ troops in face of ‘attacks’ over Donald Trump Panorama scandal – and urges staff to ‘check in’ with colleagues working on news
A senior BBC chief has urged staff to ‘check in’ with colleagues working in the news industry following ‘attacks’ over the Donald Trump Panorama scandal.
Kate Phillips, one of the leaders set to replace Tim Davie as Director General, sent out an impassioned internal email last Friday to rally her ‘incredible’ troops.
The content chief sought to boost morale after Mr. Trump threatened to sue the broadcaster for up to $5 billion after it admitted to doctoring footage of his speech.
In an email seen by the Mail following the resignation of Mr Davie and News chief executive Deborah Turness, Ms Phillips wrote: ‘Well, we’ve made it through the week.
‘Thank you very much to everyone who has been in touch.
‘I really appreciated your candor and it became clear how passionately you care about the BBC and the work you do, as well as the understandable sadness and disappointment you feel at what has happened. I feel the same.”
BBC chief content officer Kate Phillips sought to boost morale by praising ‘incredible’ staff after Tim Davie’s resignation
Donald Trump threatens to sue for $5bn after BBC Panorama airs doctored footage of his speech
It took Lisa Nandy’s speech in Parliament in which the Culture Minister ‘highlighted the danger of continued attacks on the BBC’.
“Of course, we are always fully responsible and concerns about editorial errors should always be raised,” Ms. Phillips wrote.
‘But this must be in the spirit of making the best public service broadcaster in the world even better.
‘As Tim said in his call to all staff earlier this week, these are difficult times for us all, but if we stand up for the BBC and focus on serving viewers, we can get through them and thrive.’
Ms Phillips praised the BBC for providing ‘the world’s best journalism’, adding: ‘Our friends and colleagues at the News are doing an outstanding job; Please take a moment to talk to people you know there.
‘And if you still have questions, I encourage you to continue talking to senior leaders in your area.’
Earlier in the week, Phillips had sent an enthusiastic email praising Mr Davie for his ‘exceptional service’: ‘I have never known anyone who worked harder, worked under more pressure and remained so resilient.’
Chief executive Tim Davie resigned last week amid scandal
He also had high praise for staff across the company; He acknowledged this in his last letter on Friday.
‘Finally, I realize I used the word ‘incredible’ a lot in my last email (I was promptly fired because I wanted to reach you all as soon as possible)’ he wrote.
‘But that’s because I think we’re truly incredible as a department, and I’m incredibly proud to work with all of you.’
Ms Phillips has overseen production of hit shows such as The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing and was promoted from unscripted director to chief content officer last year.
Announcing the move, Mr Davie praised him for his ‘brilliant record of delivering creative hits featuring the BBC’s best’.
The BBC’s culture and media editor last week described Ms Phillips as the ‘likely internal frontrunner’ to take over as Director-General.
Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to ‘defend Britain’ and persuade Donald Trump not to sue the company for billions of pounds.
Sir Keir Starmer is scheduled to call Donald Trump and is under pressure to persuade the US President not to sue the BBC.
On Friday night the US President said he would seek damages of up to $5bn (£3.8bn) over the broadcaster’s misleading editing of one of his speeches.
The BBC’s refusal to pay compensation despite its apology set the stage for a high-profile legal showdown.
People including Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, former BBC chief Lord Patten and former Tory Culture Secretary Sir John Whittingdale have called on Sir Keir to prevent the incident from going to court.
Mr. Trump is expected to begin his trial in Florida. The Panorama film, which includes an edit showing him inciting Capitol Hill protesters to violence on January 6, 2021, was not available in the United States, but experts believe the case could still go before a jury, which would likely have the President’s sympathy.
BBC chief Samir Shah sent a personal letter to the White House last week apologizing for the edit, but this was not enough to satisfy the President.
The BBC declined to comment.
