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Panel to Question Top BBC Figures About Abuse Scandals Panel Questions Top BBC Figures About Abuse Scandals
(about 1 hour later)
A parliamentary panel known for often aggressive interrogations in scandals at Britain’s newspapers and broadcasters prepared on Tuesday to question two key figures at the British Broadcasting Corporation about botched reporting of sexual abuse and “the future of the BBC.” A parliamentary panel known for often aggressive interrogations in scandals at Britain’s newspapers and broadcasters met on Tuesday to question two key figures at the British Broadcasting Corporation about botched reporting of sexual abuse and “the future of the BBC.”
The witnesses on Tuesday are Chris Patten, the head of the supervisory BBC Trust since April 2011 who was Britain’s last colonial governor in Hong Kong in the 1990s and who has played a central and frequently contentious role in the BBC’s current crisis; and Tim Davie, who has been the interim head of the BBC since George Entwistle resigned as director general on Nov. 10 after only 54 days in office. Both are appearing before the panel for the first time since then. The session is scheduled only days before the publication on Thursday of a long-awaited report into the phone hacking scandal that has focused on Rupert Murdoch’s British newspaper outpost and could lead to tighter regulation of the rambunctious British press. The witnesses were Chris Patten, the head of the supervisory BBC Trust since April 2011 who was Britain’s last colonial governor in Hong Kong in the 1990s and who has played a central and frequently contentious role in the BBC’s current crisis; and Tim Davie, who has been the interim head of the BBC since George Entwistle resigned as director general on Nov. 10 after only 54 days in office. Both are appearing before the panel for the first time since then.
“I think we have done the right thing in the right way and we must bear the costs however much they are,” Lord Patten told the panel, referring to the BBC’s handling of the crisis. The session began shortly before the publication on Thursday of a long-awaited report into the phone hacking scandal that has focused on Rupert Murdoch’s British newspaper outpost and could lead to tighter regulation of the rambunctious British press.
The combination of inquiries and findings seemed to illustrate once more the intensity of the scrutiny faced by journalists and editors in Britain at a time when the news business is struggling to make a painful and costly adjustment to the digital era. The newspaper scandal, in particular, has drawn in British politicians, including Prime Minister David Cameron, who have testified about what seems to have been a cozy relationship with Murdoch executives.The combination of inquiries and findings seemed to illustrate once more the intensity of the scrutiny faced by journalists and editors in Britain at a time when the news business is struggling to make a painful and costly adjustment to the digital era. The newspaper scandal, in particular, has drawn in British politicians, including Prime Minister David Cameron, who have testified about what seems to have been a cozy relationship with Murdoch executives.
One issue the parliamentary select committee on culture, media and sport said it wants to explore is a decision by Lord Patten to authorize resignation benefits to Mr. Entwistle including a payoff equivalent to a full year’s salary of $750,000, twice the contractual obligation.One issue the parliamentary select committee on culture, media and sport said it wants to explore is a decision by Lord Patten to authorize resignation benefits to Mr. Entwistle including a payoff equivalent to a full year’s salary of $750,000, twice the contractual obligation.
Mr. Entwistle appeared before the panel on Oct. 23 when its attention was focused on a decision a year ago by the editor of the “Newsnight” current affairs program to cancel an investigation into the sexual misconduct of Jimmy Savile, a longtime television host who died in Oct. 2011 at age 84.Mr. Entwistle appeared before the panel on Oct. 23 when its attention was focused on a decision a year ago by the editor of the “Newsnight” current affairs program to cancel an investigation into the sexual misconduct of Jimmy Savile, a longtime television host who died in Oct. 2011 at age 84.
At that time, Mr. Entwistle was in charge of television programming, while the director general was Mark Thompson, who resigned in September to become the president and chief executive of The New York Times Company. Mr. Thompson appeared on Friday before a separate closed-door inquiry in London into the cancellation of the “Newsnight” segment last year.At that time, Mr. Entwistle was in charge of television programming, while the director general was Mark Thompson, who resigned in September to become the president and chief executive of The New York Times Company. Mr. Thompson appeared on Friday before a separate closed-door inquiry in London into the cancellation of the “Newsnight” segment last year.
Since the panel’s session with Mr. Entwistle on Oct. 23, the scandal has widened with a “Newsnight” segment on Nov. 2 that wrongfully implicated a former Conservative Party politician in sexual abuse at a children’s home in North Wales during the Thatcher era. Events in that imbroglio forced Mr. Entwistle to resign, appearing with Lord Patten at his side to announced his decision on a Saturday night in London.Since the panel’s session with Mr. Entwistle on Oct. 23, the scandal has widened with a “Newsnight” segment on Nov. 2 that wrongfully implicated a former Conservative Party politician in sexual abuse at a children’s home in North Wales during the Thatcher era. Events in that imbroglio forced Mr. Entwistle to resign, appearing with Lord Patten at his side to announced his decision on a Saturday night in London.
The session on Tuesday, the panel said on its Web site, “will provide the committee with an opportunity to question the chairman of the BBC Trust and the acting director-general of the BBC about the abandoned Newsnight investigation into Jimmy Savile; the Newsnight report on child abuse connected with North Wales children’s homes dating back to the 1970s and 1980s; the severance settlement with Mr. Entwistle; and the future of the BBC.”The session on Tuesday, the panel said on its Web site, “will provide the committee with an opportunity to question the chairman of the BBC Trust and the acting director-general of the BBC about the abandoned Newsnight investigation into Jimmy Savile; the Newsnight report on child abuse connected with North Wales children’s homes dating back to the 1970s and 1980s; the severance settlement with Mr. Entwistle; and the future of the BBC.”
Last week, the BBC announced that Tony Hall, the head of the Royal Opera House, would take over as the broadcaster’s director general next year.Last week, the BBC announced that Tony Hall, the head of the Royal Opera House, would take over as the broadcaster’s director general next year.
Between now and then the British print and broadcast industries face a thicket of inquiries. The BBC has launched two internal investigations. One is into the cancellation of the “Newsnight” segment, led by Nick Pollard, a former head of the rival Sky News, and the other is into the culture and practices of the BBC over decades, led by Dame Janet Smith, a former appeals court judge known for conducting an earlier inquiry into a notorious serial killer.Between now and then the British print and broadcast industries face a thicket of inquiries. The BBC has launched two internal investigations. One is into the cancellation of the “Newsnight” segment, led by Nick Pollard, a former head of the rival Sky News, and the other is into the culture and practices of the BBC over decades, led by Dame Janet Smith, a former appeals court judge known for conducting an earlier inquiry into a notorious serial killer.
The parliamentary panel is also likely to call further witnesses while, on Thursday, much attention in Britain will be focused on the publication of the report by Lord Justice Sir Brian Leveson, who has conducted lengthy inquiries into the phone hacking scandal, with witnesses including Mr. Murdoch and his son James testifying publicly and under oath.The parliamentary panel is also likely to call further witnesses while, on Thursday, much attention in Britain will be focused on the publication of the report by Lord Justice Sir Brian Leveson, who has conducted lengthy inquiries into the phone hacking scandal, with witnesses including Mr. Murdoch and his son James testifying publicly and under oath.
Apart from those inquiries, Scotland Yard has launched three police investigations into phone hacking, computer hacking and the corruption of public officials. Scores of journalists, lawyers, executives and others have been arrested and questioned.Apart from those inquiries, Scotland Yard has launched three police investigations into phone hacking, computer hacking and the corruption of public officials. Scores of journalists, lawyers, executives and others have been arrested and questioned.
Last week, the Crown Prosecution Service announced corruption charges against two former top figures in Mr. Murdoch’s newspaper operations in Britain, Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, who both denied the charges.Last week, the Crown Prosecution Service announced corruption charges against two former top figures in Mr. Murdoch’s newspaper operations in Britain, Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, who both denied the charges.