This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/14/tony-hall-wring-cycle-editorial

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Tony Hall: the wring cycle Tony Hall: the wring cycle
(6 months later)
What honeymoon, Tony Hall might be forgiven for wondering as, less than a fortnight after starting his reign as BBC director general, the former chief executive of the Royal Opera House found the corporation's own programmes making the news again. Lord Hall is entirely familiar with the choreography of the BBC row from his earlier years there. But Panorama's North Korea film, due to be broadcast on Monday, presents a challenge of a different order to the skirmish earlier last week about playing a song on the charts that could be taken as disrespectful to Lady Thatcher.What honeymoon, Tony Hall might be forgiven for wondering as, less than a fortnight after starting his reign as BBC director general, the former chief executive of the Royal Opera House found the corporation's own programmes making the news again. Lord Hall is entirely familiar with the choreography of the BBC row from his earlier years there. But Panorama's North Korea film, due to be broadcast on Monday, presents a challenge of a different order to the skirmish earlier last week about playing a song on the charts that could be taken as disrespectful to Lady Thatcher.
The BBC's odd place as a national but not an establishment institution often throws up tricky questions about who to offend. Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead, a song from the 1930s film The Wizard of Oz that has reached number two after being appropriated as an anti-Thatcher anthem, was partly broadcast on Sunday night after an elaborate negotiation calibrated how much should be aired, and – since few of the official chart's audience will have been alive in the Thatcher years – with what kind of contextual material. It is typical of the kind of mildly absurd compromise which sometimes has to be made. Panorama's undercover filming in North Korea raises much more profound questions about the nature of the BBC's journalism and the ethics of undercover reporting. Since complaints like the one received at the weekend from the LSE by the BBC Trust chairman, Lord Patten, are passed automatically to the DG, Lord Hall is unavoidably in the frontline.The BBC's odd place as a national but not an establishment institution often throws up tricky questions about who to offend. Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead, a song from the 1930s film The Wizard of Oz that has reached number two after being appropriated as an anti-Thatcher anthem, was partly broadcast on Sunday night after an elaborate negotiation calibrated how much should be aired, and – since few of the official chart's audience will have been alive in the Thatcher years – with what kind of contextual material. It is typical of the kind of mildly absurd compromise which sometimes has to be made. Panorama's undercover filming in North Korea raises much more profound questions about the nature of the BBC's journalism and the ethics of undercover reporting. Since complaints like the one received at the weekend from the LSE by the BBC Trust chairman, Lord Patten, are passed automatically to the DG, Lord Hall is unavoidably in the frontline.
The university argues that its students were put at risk without being properly informed, and that other academics and students will also now face increased danger, from the way Panorama used them as cover to film in North Korea. The BBC denies the charge. Any way of gauging the mood in a closed society whose leadership appears to be considering a nuclear attack is clearly of great value. John Sweeney, the reporter, has a distinguished reputation for working in hostile environments. It is not surprising that the first reaction from the DG's office was to stand by the film and reject the LSE's request for it to be shelved.The university argues that its students were put at risk without being properly informed, and that other academics and students will also now face increased danger, from the way Panorama used them as cover to film in North Korea. The BBC denies the charge. Any way of gauging the mood in a closed society whose leadership appears to be considering a nuclear attack is clearly of great value. John Sweeney, the reporter, has a distinguished reputation for working in hostile environments. It is not surprising that the first reaction from the DG's office was to stand by the film and reject the LSE's request for it to be shelved.
But now Lord Hall has to explain exactly when the LSE group – mostly mature post-graduate students – knew they were going to be accompanied by a covert film crew, what the potential risks were, and whether the choice they had was either to continue on the BBC's terms, or make their own way home. The LSE is also rightly concerned about the potential danger to the perceived neutrality of researchers working in difficult places where the distinction between the BBC and the British government is not fully accepted. At this point Lord Hall may be yearning for an angry soprano to placate.But now Lord Hall has to explain exactly when the LSE group – mostly mature post-graduate students – knew they were going to be accompanied by a covert film crew, what the potential risks were, and whether the choice they had was either to continue on the BBC's terms, or make their own way home. The LSE is also rightly concerned about the potential danger to the perceived neutrality of researchers working in difficult places where the distinction between the BBC and the British government is not fully accepted. At this point Lord Hall may be yearning for an angry soprano to placate.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.