Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> BBC AND THE HUTTON INQURY ,ANY VIEWS? http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1058947098 Message started by bearsie on Jul 23^rd, 2003, 7:59am

Title: BBC AND THE HUTTON INQURY ,ANY VIEWS?
Post by bearsie on Jul 23^rd, 2003, 7:59am

If this Forum is to mean anything in a topical sense is it not a moment to reflect and discuss the BBC's part in the sad demise of Mr Kelly? It seems to raise profound questions about the current BBC editorial and management attitudes, the behaviour of the Board of Management, and the present DG/Editor In Chief. We cannot be in contempt of the Inquiry surely.

Its hard to get a complete cut on this from overseas. It leaves this writer wondering whether some fundamental areas of journalism and ethics have been thoroughly considered.

For example,years ago, a friend of mine went to prison for six months over the spy Vassell rather than reveal his sources for a Sunday Express story. Did Mr Gilliard ever consider such a position?

What is there about that revolting tosser Alastair Campbell that seems to hold so many modern journalists in sickening thrall ? Those of us who recall him on the Mirror vaguely remember him as the sort of average arsehole who worked for that sad rag some years ago. Do reporters really have to hang onto the coatails of Downing Street in such a way? Would you want to befreind the PM in that way, a man who God help us,employed John Birt ? (Blair's Transport Czar ...ho,ho, ho).

(Even Mussolini made the trains run on time)

Anyway there must be some other retired and /or senior BBC pensioners who have a view surely? If not, perhaps your dead.....By the way, its not to hard to now see the Beeb "cut down to size" in the very near future by these bully boys, along with your pensions. What say you ?

Mike Farman
TVNZ New Zealand.

Title: Re: BBC AND THE HUTTON INQURY ,ANY VIEWS?
Post by Alan_Ashton on Aug 28^th, 2003, 9:03am

Good to hear from Mike Farman and to note he has lost none of his old vitriol!
On the Hutton inquiry - anyone see the disgraceful way the Sunday Telegraph used an article by John Fidler Simpson last week?
They highlighted two sentences on the front page but missed out two vital "maybes" that Simpson used in his article. changed controls into control, thereby implying that this was an attack on the BBC whereas, in fact, it was a defence!
Peter Smith (as an ex-Telegraph man as well as ex-BBC correspondent) and I sent in a protest, but it, of course, was not published. Instead we got a letter from the deputy editor, one Matthew d'Ancona, justifying their use and in fact, telling us both how to suck eggs.
Peter sent an e-mail in reply saying this argument would not wash and how sad he was to see the Telegraph going down the same route as the Murdoch press (ie backing the Conrad Black anti-BBC line).
I am afraid I was more forthright - scrawled "bullshit across it with no "maybes" and faxing it back to d'Ancona!!