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http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> World Service in peril? http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1230034723 Message started by Forum Admin on Dec 23^rd, 2008, 12:19pm

Title: World Service in peril?
Post by Forum Admin on Dec 23^rd, 2008, 12:19pm

The following appeared on the Letters Page of the Daily Telegraph, December 22, 2008:

World Service in peril

SIR – We are grateful to Andrew Pierce for his informative report about how the Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell misled Parliament with regard to the advertising of the post of director of the BBC World Service.

It is clear from even the most cursory comparison of broadcasting schedules that the claims by the minister and Nigel Chapman, the outgoing director, about “increased cultural output” are empty; all longer features about literature, history and British culture are to be axed.

It is equally clear (contrary to the minister’s claims) that there is more than enough evidence of pro-Kremlin bias in the output of the Russian service. Its refusal to publish the Russian text of Anna Politkovskaya’s last book on its website is one example. As for the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, the Russian service gave more air-time to the Kremlin’s views than to those of its critics.

The producer of the only programme to give fair coverage to all points of view received an official reprimand from the management, even though this programme’s criticisms were far milder than a later Panorama documentary.

To maintain the BBC World Service’s reputation, the new managing director must be chosen through a fully open selection process. In addition, a new managing director must be authoritative in news and current affairs, capable of resisting pressure from all governments and should not believe that the World Service can be founded on the perceived importance of marketing.

To impose a closing date for applications of January 4, 2009 is to foreclose all these options.

Robert Chandler
Translator of Russian Literature
Teresa Cherfas
BBC Russian Service, 1985-88
Sergei Cristo
BBC radio, 1994-2000
Martin Dewhirst
Honorary Fellow, University of Glasgow
Greg Hands MP (Con)
Diran Meghreblian
Former current affairs editor, BBC Russian Service
Donald Rayfield
Emeritus Professor of Russian and Georgian, Queen Mary, London
John Roberts
Director, Great Britain-USSR Association/Britain-Russia Centre 1974-93
Elisabeth Robson
Former Head, BBC Russian Service
Irina Shumovich
Producer, BBC Russian Service, 1989-2003
Sir John Tusa
Former Director, BBC World Service

Title: Re: World Service in peril?
Post by Forum Admin on Dec 27^th, 2008, 8:54pm

Richard Sambrook responded with his own letter to the Telegraph, published on December 27th:

BBC World Service culture

SIR – The letter from correspondents with an interest in Russian affairs (Letters, December 23) makes the erroneous assumption that the BBC World Service’s decision to stop a number of feature programmes means there will be no place for radio output about arts and culture.

We have expressly told the writers of the letter that these important subjects will have a higher-profile place in daily output, especially at weekends, when audiences will be most likely to listen.

They will also feature prominently on BBCRussian.com – with the potential to dwarf the reach of radio, which has declined markedly in recent years.

The BBC rejects suggestions of pro-Kremlin bias in the output of the Russian Service. The priority of the BBC Russian Service is impartial, balanced news and current affairs to Russian speakers, on radio and online. It adheres to the same standards as any other part of the BBC.

The letter suggests that we should have published Anna Politkovskaya’s last book online. The BBC generally does not publish books on its websites. The service reported Anna Politkovskaya’s murder, and has continued to report the impact of her death in Russia and around the world.

The letter also claims that coverage of Alexander Litvinenko’s death was not impartial. Alexander Litvinenko’s last radio interview, discussing his poisoning from his hospital bed, was with the BBC Russian Service. Many prominent critics of the Russian government, including Vladimir Bukovsky and Oleg Gordievsky, have been interviewed about Litvinenko’s death. A formal complaint that the Russian Service covered this story in a biased way was investigated by the BBC and was not upheld.

The BBC Russian Service remains our second-biggest language service after Arabic in terms of budget and hours of radio broadcast. The BBC has great commitment to the BBC Russian Service

Your correspondents also mention the process for the appointment of a new Director of BBC World Service. Following a high degree of interest, the job will be advertised externally in January.

Richard Sambrook
Director, BBC Global News Division
London WC2