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| BBC Episode Examines Its Own Scandal | |
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| LONDON — Seeking to quell a growing uproar over its mishandling and possible cover-up of sexual abuse allegations, the British Broadcasting Corporation broadcast a highly critical examination of what one insider called the worst crisis in half a century to afflict the BBC, a national institution once viewed as an emblem of ethical probity. | LONDON — Seeking to quell a growing uproar over its mishandling and possible cover-up of sexual abuse allegations, the British Broadcasting Corporation broadcast a highly critical examination of what one insider called the worst crisis in half a century to afflict the BBC, a national institution once viewed as an emblem of ethical probity. |
| The unusual spectacle of one BBC show broadcasting a hard-edged look at the journalistic integrity of another reflected the sense of crisis across Britain, as journalists, school officials, politicians and others question whether they did enough to stop decades of widely-rumored abuse by Sir Jimmy Savile, a high-profile television personality accused of victimizing some 200 girls. | The unusual spectacle of one BBC show broadcasting a hard-edged look at the journalistic integrity of another reflected the sense of crisis across Britain, as journalists, school officials, politicians and others question whether they did enough to stop decades of widely-rumored abuse by Sir Jimmy Savile, a high-profile television personality accused of victimizing some 200 girls. |
| The events recalled in some ways earlier turmoil at the BBC after the 2003 invasion of Iraq when a BBC reporter accused the government of embellishing intelligence information about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein. That crisis cost the corporation’s director general and the chairman of the board of governors their jobs in early 2004. But, for some, the latest scandal surpassed those events by far. | The events recalled in some ways earlier turmoil at the BBC after the 2003 invasion of Iraq when a BBC reporter accused the government of embellishing intelligence information about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein. That crisis cost the corporation’s director general and the chairman of the board of governors their jobs in early 2004. But, for some, the latest scandal surpassed those events by far. |
| “This is the worst crisis that I can remember in my nearly 50 years at the BBC,” John Simpson, a veteran BBC foreign correspondent, told the “Panorama” investigative program late Monday during its hourlong scrutiny of events at the often hard-hitting “Newsnight” program. “All we have as an organization is the trust of the people the people that watch us and listen to us and if we don’t have that, if we start to lose that, that’s very dangerous I think for the BBC.” | “This is the worst crisis that I can remember in my nearly 50 years at the BBC,” John Simpson, a veteran BBC foreign correspondent, told the “Panorama” investigative program late Monday during its hourlong scrutiny of events at the often hard-hitting “Newsnight” program. “All we have as an organization is the trust of the people the people that watch us and listen to us and if we don’t have that, if we start to lose that, that’s very dangerous I think for the BBC.” |
| Compounding the mood of disillusion, the mishandling of accusations of abuse came midway through a separate probe into the way British tabloids gather news in the phone hacking scandal, deepening public mistrust of those who are supposed to keep the nation informed. | Compounding the mood of disillusion, the mishandling of accusations of abuse came midway through a separate probe into the way British tabloids gather news in the phone hacking scandal, deepening public mistrust of those who are supposed to keep the nation informed. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron called on the BBC Monday to address the serious questions surrounding its handling of the affair, after the broadcaster announced that the editor of a flagship news program was “stepping aside” after giving an “inaccurate or incomplete” account of why he abandoned an journalistic investigation into Mr. Savile, who died last year at 84. | Prime Minister David Cameron called on the BBC Monday to address the serious questions surrounding its handling of the affair, after the broadcaster announced that the editor of a flagship news program was “stepping aside” after giving an “inaccurate or incomplete” account of why he abandoned an journalistic investigation into Mr. Savile, who died last year at 84. |
| The editor, Peter Rippon, head of the “Newsnight” program, was the first and most senior BBC News executive to face public censure in the scandal over his decision to drop the inquiry into Mr. Savile, a prominent disc jockey, television host and showman known also for his philanthropy. | The editor, Peter Rippon, head of the “Newsnight” program, was the first and most senior BBC News executive to face public censure in the scandal over his decision to drop the inquiry into Mr. Savile, a prominent disc jockey, television host and showman known also for his philanthropy. |
| Smoking long cigars and wearing his peroxide blond hair at collar length, Mr. Savile was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and regarded by some as a national treasure — until the scandal broke this month, with a documentary on a rival channel, ITV. | Smoking long cigars and wearing his peroxide blond hair at collar length, Mr. Savile was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and regarded by some as a national treasure — until the scandal broke this month, with a documentary on a rival channel, ITV. |
| Mr. Savile is accused of abusing teenage girls in hospitals and children’s homes and on the premises of the BBC, a public broadcaster financed by compulsory license fees from viewers. The police said Friday that more than 200 “potential victims” had come forward, more than tripling the number of suspected cases. | Mr. Savile is accused of abusing teenage girls in hospitals and children’s homes and on the premises of the BBC, a public broadcaster financed by compulsory license fees from viewers. The police said Friday that more than 200 “potential victims” had come forward, more than tripling the number of suspected cases. |
| In a statement on Monday, the BBC said that Mr. Rippon’s explanation that the“Newsnight” segment on Mr. Savile was dropped purely as a matter of news judgment was “inaccurate or incomplete in some respects.” It said Mr. Rippon would step aside while an investigation was conducted by Nick Pollard, the former head of Sky News. | In a statement on Monday, the BBC said that Mr. Rippon’s explanation that the“Newsnight” segment on Mr. Savile was dropped purely as a matter of news judgment was “inaccurate or incomplete in some respects.” It said Mr. Rippon would step aside while an investigation was conducted by Nick Pollard, the former head of Sky News. |
| Much of the scandal revolves around events at the Duncroft School for emotionally disturbed teenage girls. The school, located in an 18th-century manor house near Staines in Surrey, has since been closed. | Much of the scandal revolves around events at the Duncroft School for emotionally disturbed teenage girls. The school, located in an 18th-century manor house near Staines in Surrey, has since been closed. |
| “Panorama” quoted “Newsnight” journalists as saying that they had worked on the investigation of Mr. Savile for a month and that they were close to a proposed broadcast date when their editor told them to stop. Mr. Rippon had responded enthusiastically to their work just days before he killed the story. | “Panorama” quoted “Newsnight” journalists as saying that they had worked on the investigation of Mr. Savile for a month and that they were close to a proposed broadcast date when their editor told them to stop. Mr. Rippon had responded enthusiastically to their work just days before he killed the story. |
| The journalists had filmed an interview with an important witness, Karin Ward, who said that she had been sexually abused by Mr. Savile during her time at Duncroft. The script they had prepared also quoted three other unidentified former Duncroft students who said they had been sexually abused by Mr. Savile. A report of sexual abuse of a teenager at Stoke Mandeville hospital was also included in the proposed show. | The journalists had filmed an interview with an important witness, Karin Ward, who said that she had been sexually abused by Mr. Savile during her time at Duncroft. The script they had prepared also quoted three other unidentified former Duncroft students who said they had been sexually abused by Mr. Savile. A report of sexual abuse of a teenager at Stoke Mandeville hospital was also included in the proposed show. |
| In the examination of the decision to kill the show, “Panorama” quoted Liz MacKean, a “Newsnight” reporter, as saying: | In the examination of the decision to kill the show, “Panorama” quoted Liz MacKean, a “Newsnight” reporter, as saying: |
| “I was very unhappy the story didn’t run, because I felt we’d spoken to people who collectively deserved to be heard, and they weren’t heard, and I thought that was a failing. I felt very much that I’d let them down.” | “I was very unhappy the story didn’t run, because I felt we’d spoken to people who collectively deserved to be heard, and they weren’t heard, and I thought that was a failing. I felt very much that I’d let them down.” |
| Referring to Mr. Rippon’s attitude toward the story, Ms. McKean said: “All I can say is that it was an abrupt change in tone from, you know, one day, ‘Excellent, let’s prepare to get this thing on air’ to ‘Hold on.’ ” | Referring to Mr. Rippon’s attitude toward the story, Ms. McKean said: “All I can say is that it was an abrupt change in tone from, you know, one day, ‘Excellent, let’s prepare to get this thing on air’ to ‘Hold on.’ ” |
| Meirion Jones, the producer of the Newsnight program, told Panorama that he warned Mr. Rippon on Dec. 7, 2011, of what he feared would happen if the show was canceled. | Meirion Jones, the producer of the Newsnight program, told Panorama that he warned Mr. Rippon on Dec. 7, 2011, of what he feared would happen if the show was canceled. |
| “I was sure the story would come out one way or another and that, if it did, the BBC would be accused of a cover-up,” he said in an excerpt from the Panorama program released ahead of the main broadcast. “In fact I wrote an e-mail to Peter saying, ‘The story is strong enough,’ and the danger of not running it is ’substantial damage to BBC reputation’.” | “I was sure the story would come out one way or another and that, if it did, the BBC would be accused of a cover-up,” he said in an excerpt from the Panorama program released ahead of the main broadcast. “In fact I wrote an e-mail to Peter saying, ‘The story is strong enough,’ and the danger of not running it is ’substantial damage to BBC reputation’.” |
| The accusations against Mr. Savile have stunned many Britons, shattering the public image of a television personality who for decades attracted a young audience through his role as host of two popular BBC programs — “Top of the Pops,” a music chart countdown show, and “Jim’ll Fix It,” in which Mr. Savile promised to grant viewers’ wishes. | The accusations against Mr. Savile have stunned many Britons, shattering the public image of a television personality who for decades attracted a young audience through his role as host of two popular BBC programs — “Top of the Pops,” a music chart countdown show, and “Jim’ll Fix It,” in which Mr. Savile promised to grant viewers’ wishes. |
| The circumstances surrounding Mr. Rippon’s decision to halt work on the Savile exposé, which he said he made on his own, exposed the BBC to attack both from members of Parliament, who are holding a hearing on the matter Tuesday, and from its own governing body. | The circumstances surrounding Mr. Rippon’s decision to halt work on the Savile exposé, which he said he made on his own, exposed the BBC to attack both from members of Parliament, who are holding a hearing on the matter Tuesday, and from its own governing body. |
| The BBC Trust, the corporation’s governing body, said it was “deeply concerning that there have been inaccuracies in the BBC’s own description of what happened in relation to the ‘Newsnight’ investigation.” | The BBC Trust, the corporation’s governing body, said it was “deeply concerning that there have been inaccuracies in the BBC’s own description of what happened in relation to the ‘Newsnight’ investigation.” |
| “Newsnight” canceled the segment at about the same time that other departments at the corporation were broadcasting three tributes to Mr. Savile. | “Newsnight” canceled the segment at about the same time that other departments at the corporation were broadcasting three tributes to Mr. Savile. |
| The director general of the BBC at the time the segment was canceled was Mark Thompson, the incoming president and chief executive of The New York Times Company. In a letter sent to members of Parliament earlier this month, a BBC spokeswoman said that neither Mr. Thompson nor George Entwistle, his successor as director general of the broadcaster, was involved in the “Newsnight” decision. | The director general of the BBC at the time the segment was canceled was Mark Thompson, the incoming president and chief executive of The New York Times Company. In a letter sent to members of Parliament earlier this month, a BBC spokeswoman said that neither Mr. Thompson nor George Entwistle, his successor as director general of the broadcaster, was involved in the “Newsnight” decision. |
| On Oct. 13, Mr. Thompson said: “I was not notified or briefed about the ‘Newsnight’ investigation, nor was I involved in any way in the decision not to complete and air the investigation. I have no reason to doubt the public statement by the program’s editor, Peter Rippon, that the decision not to pursue the investigation was entirely his, and that it was made solely for journalistic reasons.” | On Oct. 13, Mr. Thompson said: “I was not notified or briefed about the ‘Newsnight’ investigation, nor was I involved in any way in the decision not to complete and air the investigation. I have no reason to doubt the public statement by the program’s editor, Peter Rippon, that the decision not to pursue the investigation was entirely his, and that it was made solely for journalistic reasons.” |
Ravi Somaiya contributed reporting. | Ravi Somaiya contributed reporting. |
| This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: | This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: |
| Correction: October 22, 2012 | Correction: October 22, 2012 |
An earlier version of this article referred imprecisely to Mark Thompson’s connection to The New York Times Company. He was recently named to become president and chief executive of the company, but he has not yet taken up those posts. | An earlier version of this article referred imprecisely to Mark Thompson’s connection to The New York Times Company. He was recently named to become president and chief executive of the company, but he has not yet taken up those posts. |