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BBC apologises over 'unfair' Newsnight report on Help for Heroes BBC apologises over 'unfair' Newsnight report on Help for Heroes
(4 months later)
The BBC will broadcast a cross-network apology on Thursday after a "misleading and unfair" report on BBC2's Newsnight accused military charity Help for Heroes of not spending enough of its money helping wounded veterans.The BBC will broadcast a cross-network apology on Thursday after a "misleading and unfair" report on BBC2's Newsnight accused military charity Help for Heroes of not spending enough of its money helping wounded veterans.
The 216-word apology, to be broadcast on BBC2, Radio 1 and Radio 2 on Thursday, follows an investigation by the BBC's editorial complaints unit over the report which was broadcast on 9 August last year, before the corporation was engulfed by the Jimmy Savile scandal.The 216-word apology, to be broadcast on BBC2, Radio 1 and Radio 2 on Thursday, follows an investigation by the BBC's editorial complaints unit over the report which was broadcast on 9 August last year, before the corporation was engulfed by the Jimmy Savile scandal.
The BBC said the report was "misleading and unfair" to Help for Heroes and misrepresented the views of two people who contributed. It also said the response of Help to Heroes to the allegations "wasn't properly reflected" in the programme.The BBC said the report was "misleading and unfair" to Help for Heroes and misrepresented the views of two people who contributed. It also said the response of Help to Heroes to the allegations "wasn't properly reflected" in the programme.
It is the third blow to Newsnight after it failed to broadcast its investigation into Jimmy Savile containing allegations which were subsequently aired by ITV, and the subsquent McAlpine report which wrongly linked the former Tory party treasurer to allegations of child sex abuse.It is the third blow to Newsnight after it failed to broadcast its investigation into Jimmy Savile containing allegations which were subsequently aired by ITV, and the subsquent McAlpine report which wrongly linked the former Tory party treasurer to allegations of child sex abuse.
The Help for Heroes investigation was carried out by Newsnight and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and fronted by Angus Stickler, who was also behind the inaccurate McAlpine report for the BBC2 programme which led to a £185,000 damages payout.The Help for Heroes investigation was carried out by Newsnight and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and fronted by Angus Stickler, who was also behind the inaccurate McAlpine report for the BBC2 programme which led to a £185,000 damages payout.
A BBC spokesman said: "Some veterans had told us about their concerns regarding Help for Heroes and we felt it was right to report those. But in telling their stories, we made some mistakes. That shouldn't have happened and we apologise."A BBC spokesman said: "Some veterans had told us about their concerns regarding Help for Heroes and we felt it was right to report those. But in telling their stories, we made some mistakes. That shouldn't have happened and we apologise."
The apology, which will be broadcast on BBC2 as well as Radio 1 and Radio 2, which reported the claims, will say that the Newsnight programme "gave the impression that Help for Heroes was responsible for shortcomings in the provision of support to wounded veterans", according to the Sun.The apology, which will be broadcast on BBC2 as well as Radio 1 and Radio 2, which reported the claims, will say that the Newsnight programme "gave the impression that Help for Heroes was responsible for shortcomings in the provision of support to wounded veterans", according to the Sun.
"The Eeditorial complaints unit found no evidence to support this suggestion. Although it was legitimate to report the concerns of veterans, the BBC portrayed criticisms about overall support by a number of agencies as specific criticisms of Help for Heroes."The Eeditorial complaints unit found no evidence to support this suggestion. Although it was legitimate to report the concerns of veterans, the BBC portrayed criticisms about overall support by a number of agencies as specific criticisms of Help for Heroes.
"The unfair impression was reinforced by our coverage of the story in other outlets."The unfair impression was reinforced by our coverage of the story in other outlets.
"In addition, the Newsnight report contained interviews with two contributors which were edited in a way which misrepresented their views."In addition, the Newsnight report contained interviews with two contributors which were edited in a way which misrepresented their views.
"Although a representative of Help for Heroes took part in a studio discussion which followed the Newsnight report, the response of Help for Heroes to the criticisms wasn't properly reflected."Although a representative of Help for Heroes took part in a studio discussion which followed the Newsnight report, the response of Help for Heroes to the criticisms wasn't properly reflected.
"This contributed further to the unfair impression of Help for Heroes, for which the BBC wishes to apologise.""This contributed further to the unfair impression of Help for Heroes, for which the BBC wishes to apologise."
Former Newsnight editor Peter Rippon was still in charge of the programme at the time of the report. Rippon stepped aside from the programme at the height of the Savile scandal in October last year.Former Newsnight editor Peter Rippon was still in charge of the programme at the time of the report. Rippon stepped aside from the programme at the height of the Savile scandal in October last year.
Rippon's departure became permanent following publication of the Pollard report, last December, into why Newsnight axed its investigation into Savile in late 2011 and how it came to air its erroneous McAlpine report.Rippon's departure became permanent following publication of the Pollard report, last December, into why Newsnight axed its investigation into Savile in late 2011 and how it came to air its erroneous McAlpine report.
The apology will be broadcast after tonight's edition of Newsnight at 11.20pm and on Radio 1 at 5pm and Radio 2 at 5.45pm. It will also go online on the BBC's website.The apology will be broadcast after tonight's edition of Newsnight at 11.20pm and on Radio 1 at 5pm and Radio 2 at 5.45pm. It will also go online on the BBC's website.
A BBC spokesman said: "We accept the findings of the ruling relating to both Newsnight and our wider news coverage. We take our editorial responsibilities very seriously and would like to apologise for this lapse in our usual high journalistic standards. We have committed to broadcast apologies after Newsnight and on Radio 1 and Radio 2 on Thursday 16 May and will ensure any wider lessons are learnt.A BBC spokesman said: "We accept the findings of the ruling relating to both Newsnight and our wider news coverage. We take our editorial responsibilities very seriously and would like to apologise for this lapse in our usual high journalistic standards. We have committed to broadcast apologies after Newsnight and on Radio 1 and Radio 2 on Thursday 16 May and will ensure any wider lessons are learnt.
"It is important to stress that the ruling has found that it is clear that at least some injured veterans and their families had been expressing criticisms of Help for Heroes and it was legitimate to report these.""It is important to stress that the ruling has found that it is clear that at least some injured veterans and their families had been expressing criticisms of Help for Heroes and it was legitimate to report these."
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