Twitter-loving BBC stars risk SACK for impartial posts

Are you listening, Gary Lineker? Corporation warns all staff ‘regardless of seniority, profile or role’ they could lose jobs if they break new editorial guidelines with biased Tweets after damning report into Bashir scandal

• The Serota Review commissioned by the BBC board in wake of Bashir scandal
• They acted after Lord Dyson’s scathing report into circumstances of interview
• It said BBC stars could be sacked for ‘conflict with… impartiality and accuracy

The BBC has unveiled plans for what it says is its ‘biggest and most significant push’ to ensure its content is fair, accurate and unbiased – and warned now stars they could be sacked for ‘impartial’ Tweets.

It comes in response to the publication of the Serota Review into governance and culture at the broadcaster, which was published on Friday and made a number of recommendations on improving editorial standards.

The review, which was led by Arts Council England chair Sir Nicholas Serota, states the organisation ‘needs to do more to embed editorial values into the fabric of the organisation’.

It added that ‘a number of those we interviewed felt that individuals, including high profile and senior staff, have not always been held to account for breaching editorial standards’.

The report revealed: ‘It is already a requirement, and a contractual commitment, of working for the BBC to adhere to the BBC’s editorial values and Editorial Guidelines, across all BBC output.

‘This will be reemphasised to all staff, making it clear that deliberate or negligent breaches of a serious nature, or attempts to conceal them, will result in disciplinary action or dismissal, regardless of seniority, profile or role.

‘It is important that the BBC ensures that strongly held beliefs, including those held by BBC staff, do not conflict with its duties of impartiality and accuracy. ‘

Some BBC stars – including Gary Lineker – have been previously criticised on social media

The review was led by Arts Council England chair Sir Nicholas Serota and gave some advice

Some BBC stars have been criticised over their Tweeting, including Gary Lineker.

In June this year Emily Maitlis was slapped down by the BBC after sharing a tweet by Piers Morgan which criticised the Government’s response to the pandemic.

She was told that she breached impartiality rules after retweeting the post.

In May Huw Edwards has deleted a tweet complaining about the BBC being ‘lectured’ over lies surrounding Martin Bashir’s Diana interview.

Newsreader Edwards said it was ‘vexing’ that ‘certain parts of the media’ have held the BBC to account over Lord Dyson’s damning report into how the bombshell 1995 interview was obtained.

Sir Nicholas said in a statement: ‘There is no doubt the BBC is a very different place to that of 25 years ago and, thankfully, progress has been made.

‘Nevertheless, there is an opportunity for the BBC leadership team to go further and ensure that accuracy, impartiality, fairness and integrity are embedded more deeply across the organisation.

‘The BBC can and should be properly held to account against these core values and standards.

‘This can only be achieved through improved transparency and openness, both internally and externally.

‘We have every confidence the BBC leadership understands this and also the very real need to deliver these improvements on behalf of audiences.’

The Serota Review commissioned by the BBC board following Lord Dyson’s scathing report into the circumstances surrounding Martin Bashir’s 1995 Panorama interview

The review was commissioned by the BBC board following Lord Dyson’s scathing report into the circumstances surrounding Martin Bashir’s 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Serota Review made 10 recommendations for the BBC which include extending impartiality training throughout the organisation.

It also recommends the BBC’s board monitors impartiality through metrics including editorial complaints.

The broadcaster said in a statement it has accepted the review’s findings in full as it announced ‘sweeping changes to further raise standards across the organisation and challenge claims of bias’.

Accepting the recommendations ‘represents the BBC’s biggest and most significant push to ensure its programmes and content are fair, accurate and unbiased and truly reflect the broad public which it serves’.

BBC chairman Richard Sharp said: ‘We need a BBC that is beyond reproach when it comes to impartiality, standards, processes and transparency.

‘The Serota Review makes clear recommendations to the board across all these areas, which will be acted upon.

‘We accept the report in full.’

BBC director-general Tim Davie added: ‘The BBC’s editorial values of impartiality, accuracy and trust are the foundation of our relationship with audiences in the UK and around the world.

‘Our audiences deserve and expect programmes and content which earn their trust every day and we must meet the highest standards and hold ourselves accountable in everything we do.

‘The changes we have announced not only ensure we learn the lessons from the past but also protect these essential values for the future.’

Earlier this month the new Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries criticised the ‘elitist’ approach of the BBC and said the broadcaster has a ‘lack of impartiality’.

She questioned whether the broadcaster would continue to exist in 10 years’ time in the face of competition from new players such as Netflix.

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