Sources

Don't open the champagne yet!

Andrew Neil sums up today's lead story in The Times as, "Hilarious! PM moves to protect BBC from his own government". 

It's all about those "sources" again. There are two of them in this latest article. One says, “The PM is not as gung ho on the licence fee as Dom. With Dom it’s ideological — he believes the licence fee should be scrapped. With the PM it’s more reform than revolution,” while the other one says that Boris is personally “cool” on the idea of scrapping the licence fee. 

Much less confusing is John Whittingdale telling The Critic: “There are large parts of the country that haven’t got broadband or indeed choose not to pay for it. You are turning round to all those households that don’t have fast broadband and saying, ‘You can’t get the BBC any more.’ Politically that would be utterly impossible. It is just not possible to make the BBC a voluntary subscription service for as long as it is broadcast on Freeview. We are some way off being able to switch off Freeview and put it all online.”

Meanwhile, the BBC and its allies, including The Guardian and plenty of celebrities, are on manoeuvres. From Labour to the Conservatives, the various posses of the corporation's political friends are also riding to its rescue, all guns blazing. As you've been noting in the comments, even its supposed political critics - Lord Adonis, Alastair Campbell & Co. - have given up their cynical pretence of being anti-BBC and are manning the barricades for 'the Brexit Broadcasting Corporation'. The war is far from over.

"Mission: attack"

It looks as if Dominic Cummings is "not bluffing". 

Tim Shipman of The Sunday Times has been told by "senior aides" to the Prime Minister that Downing Street is determined that the licence fee will be scrapped and the BBC turned into a subscription service. The BBC will be "pruned" and forced to sell off most of its 61 radio stations, with Radio 3 and Radio 4 preserved and protected. The BBC website will be scaled back, the BBC's TV channels reduced in number from the present ten, more money invested in the World Service, and BBC stars banned from "cashing in with lucrative second jobs". 

John Whittingdale will return to the Government to lead the charge, which "one source" described as "Mission: attack". 

"The PM is firmly of the view that there needs to be serious reform. He is really strident on this", a "source" says. 

Batten down the hatches, BBC!

Enshrining diversity

I’ve been religiously watching John Whittingdale. My attention kept wandering. I did hear “enshrine diversity”[...]“Black and ethnic minorities”[...]“must reflect the whole of the UK population” and more global something or other.

Most controversial areas of interest are: 

top salaries, 

independence from government, 

the Importance of ‘Strictly’.

"I'm paid too much. Pay us less"

Ofcom is to replace the BBC Trust, but Rona Fairhead remains in her post till 2018.The consensus appears to be that the BBC is the most respected, trustworthy and impartial broadcaster in the world; I feel concerns about bias are unlikely to be allayed by any changes. I didn’t hear anything specific about the complaints procedure, but I imagine we’ll hear more as time goes on. Or not.

“A unitary board will be responsible for ensuring that the BBC’s strategy, activity and output are in the public interest and accord to the mission and purposes set out in the charter.

Editorial decisions will remain the responsibility of the DG and his editorial independence will be explicitly enshrined in the charter, while the unitary board will consider any issues or complaints that arise port transmission.”

The CEO of Ofcom is Sharon White “ trained economist and studied at Cambridge University and  University College London.”    UCL’s union hosted this. Not very reassuring. 

The Guardian seems rather worried about the BBC’s bias against the left.

Sir Michael Lyons thinks political pressure is making the BBC  biased against Labour and Jeremy Corbyn.  Thank goodness he’s no longer chair of the BBC Trust.

**********

Update:
Page 60 (complaints)

Introducing an easier, more efficient complaints system for audiences. 

An important way in which audiences can hold the BBC to account is by telling the BBC what they think about its services and programmes directly: the BBC receives more than 250,000 editorial complaints every year. The current complaints system was described by the Clementi Review as “complicated and confusing”. 

130 This reflects long-standing concerns about the complaints systems in the BBC. For example, in evidence to the House of Lords back in 2011 Lord Grade, former Chair of the BBC, described the situation as “hopeless, absolutely hopeless”. 

131 Since then the relevant bodies – the BBC Executive, the BBC Trust and Ofcom – have worked together to try and make things work as well as possible, implementing changes following the 2012 complaints framework review,132 but they are hampered by the structures in which they work. A number of consultation responses reflected this concern. 

There are two main reasons why the reforms have not satisfied critics. First, there remains confusion around responsibilities. Currently, one complaint can be handled by two different regulators, the BBC Trust and Ofcom.  

Hundreds of complaints about the BBC go to both. Second, Ofcom is specifically precluded from regulating the BBC’s accuracy and impartiality record – the subject of a large proportion of complaints. This means that the BBC Trust deals with this important area without any external oversight.  

The reformed model of governance provides an opportunity to improve and streamline the way audience complaints are considered and make it easier for the public to engage with the BBC.  

The new Charter will introduce two changes: 
−a single complaints system with regards to the BBC in relation to editorial matters. In the first instance the BBC will handle the complaint. Where a complainant is unsatisfied with the response, or where the BBC fails to respond in a timely manner, the complainant will then be able to complain to Ofcom; −external regulatory oversight of editorial matters.  

Ofcom will be able to consider complaints about all BBC content, including accuracy and impartiality in BBC programmes. This means the BBC will continue to be held to the high editorial standards that the public expects. It will build on the expertise and experience that Ofcom already has in considering complaints about the BBC and the rest of the broadcasting sector. 

This approach will require Ofcom to take on responsibility for the regulation of aspects of BBC content currently outside of the Broadcasting Code. The government will work with Ofcom and the BBC to make sure that the BBC is held to the high editorial standards that the public rightly expects.

If

A statistic from David Keighley's latest post at Conservative Woman, BBC apologises shock. But only to a climate change fanatic, rather took me aback (at least to begin with).

David talks about the BBC's "brickwall negativity" when it comes to dealing with complaints, "combined with a liberal dose of bone-headed obfuscation to defend the Corporation at  all costs".

The shocking stat was that:

...according to Complaints Unit figures, only around 6 per cent of complaints are ever upheld by the Corporation - and those that are usually revolve around marginal points.

I'm guessing some naive, BBC-trusting types might have been shocked that only 6% of complaints are upheld. Frankly though, I was shocked that it was as high as 6%!...

... well, at least until I read the bit about those usually revolving around marginal points. All of my own rare victories regarding BBC complaints concern concessions from the BBC "around marginal points". 

Still, fingers crossed, this might all be about to change - if Mr Whittingdale is to be taken at his word (speaking at the Conservative Party conference):

That was the purpose of the Green Paper I launched in July and I am delighted that 80,000 people have already told us what they think. 

Some I have no doubt are in this hall today. And I know from the many letters and conversations that I have had that you have sometimes felt that the BBC has not always been as fair or as impartial as it should. Although the BBC are right to point out that it is a complaint often voiced by other parties too. 

But what is important is that the public should have confidence that complaints are examined independently and carefully. And that it is no longer the case that if you make a complaint against the BBC, the decision on whether it is justified is taken by the BBC.

If the BBC is stripped of its role in acting as sole judge and jury on its own actions (complaints-wise), then this ought to be a big step forward. There might be far fewer acquittals. 

If.

John Whittingdale on BBC bias: "Do I think there is general bias towards the left? No"

John Whittingdale advancing on Broadcasting House (as imagined by  Roger Bolton of 'Feedback')

The BBC's 'nemesis' John Whittingdale has been speaking at the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival.

Here are some of the things he said, as quoted by the Independent and the Guardian:

This idea that there is an ideological drive to destroy the BBC is just extraordinary, the people rushing to defend the BBC are tilting at windmills, they are trying to have an argument that has never been started, certainly not by me. 

Britain's image abroad is enormously strengthened by the success of the BBC. 

Do I think there is general bias towards the left? No. 

For the moment, the licence fee or something like it is the best option.

I’m not convinced that people feel that it is right that the BBC Trust decides if the BBC has got it right or wrong. We haven’t decided yet whether to give it to Ofcom, but Ofcom do carry out that function for other broadcasters and certainly there is an argument … I would say Ofcom are doing a good job in terms of regulation of complaints over Channel 4 and over ITV. I think they probably could do it for the BBC. Whether that’s the right outcome, we haven’t yet decided but a lot of people do hold that view and have expressed it.

Whitters Goes Pop

Please feel free to make what you want of this (and I'm reserving judgement for the time being), but.....

.....according to the Telegraph, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale warned the BBC within weeks of being appointed not to be pro-EU membership in the forthcoming referendum:

In a letter dated June 15, Mr Whittingdale wrote to Rona Fairhead, chairman of the BBC Trust, seeking assurances over “impartiality” in the BBC’s coverage of the upcoming EU referendum. 

It is understood the Culture Secretary said the vote would be very “high profile” and that “timely” processes for dealing with breaches of impartiality must be in place 

A similar letter was sent to Sharon White, the chief executive of Ofcom. Both replied promptly to say impartiality was paramount. None of the letters have yet been made public.

"None of the letters have yet been made public"....

...which, if so, wouldn't be much of a surprise! Transparent, the BBC certainly isn't.

A terrifying spectacle

John Whittingdale, Secretary of State for Culture, Media, Extermination and Sport

You may have noticed that Genghis Khan (formerly known as John Whittingdale) was on The Andrew Marr Show this morning. 

Terrified BBC staff were seen cowering as the dreaded satellite link to the most destructive man in the history of humanity began its fateful and obedient work. 

The Great Khan spoke, seated on a throne from inside his own dark abode (like a vision from Hell). A miniature grandfather clock loomed behind, half-blocking a dull painting of a young man. 

These words thundered out quietly, chilling the blood of every person who heard them (from Melvyn Bragg to Clare Balding):

I do, I’m a huge admirer of the BBC. I’ve said many times that I think at its best the BBC is the finest broadcaster in the world. 

As I said, I admire the BBC. The last thing I want to do is undermine the BBC.

Professor Brian Cox's impressive hair stood on end out of sheer terror. Graham Norton fainted, theatrically. Billy Bragg began writing a protest song. Danny Cohen texted James Purnell.  

The BBC can stop trembling again

That Telegraph piece by Bruce Anderson also makes it clear that those who expressed scepticism about John Whittingdale's much-touted eagerness to 'screw' with the BBC (as Tony Hall put it) were correct:

John Whittingdale, the new Culture Secretary, is a sound Right-winger and a devoted Thatcherite. So when he was appointed, the BBC trembled. Were the Tories about to take their revenge on the corporation for decades of Left-wing bias? There were reports that the Prime Minister had told his new colleague to “sort out” the BBC. But any BBC executive who entertained such fears might well have been reassured by yesterday’s Telegraph interview with Mr Whittingdale. 

No, the PM had not given him those instructions. He had no intention of privatising the BBC, still less abolishing it. There would be new methods of dealing with allegations of bias. A rigorous examination of BBC practices would be necessary when the new licence fee was negotiated. That sounds awfully like business as usual. It will disappoint some Tory backbenchers, who will accuse Mr Whittingdale of going native already: of forswearing red-bloodedness in exchange for a Cabinet minister’s red box.

Cool; no worries

Further to Craig’s John Whittingdale post, one or two papers have got the wind up about the BBC’s perilous future in the hands of the new UK culture secretary. 

The Telegraph says: "Tories ‘declare war in BBC’ with John Whittingdale appointment."

The Guardian asks:“What will John Whittingdale do with the BBC now he has a free hand?”

Last October he described the BBC licence fee as “worse than the poll tax..."

From the BBC website:

Figures from the media and arts worlds have been reacting to his appointment on Twitter:

1. The Spectator associate editor Toby Young wrote: "Very pleased to see John Whittingdale as new culture secretary. Staunch defender of press freedom."

1. Daily Mirror associate editor Kevin Maguire wrote: "I oppose statutory regulation of newspapers but John Whittingdale as culture secretary is payback time for Tory press barons."

1. Daily Mail political editor James Chapman wrote: "John Whittingdale has been appointed culture secretary. That sound you can hear is the panic alarm at the BBC."

1. Cultural PR guru Mark Borkowski wrote: "Rather alarming news that John Whittingdale has been appointed culture secretary. Not a good day for the arts."

But the BBC is cool no worries.

David Sillito says: When it comes to understanding the brief, you would be hard pressed to find anyone better”

*********

Anita McVeigh spent much of May 8th roaming round the streets of Kingston (not Jamaica) for BBC news channel, asking passers by what they thought of the result.

The newsroom went to her for the umpteenth time. She explained yet again why she was there, then said “one young man who has been waiting patiently to talk to me is..” she named him, and I don’t think she said ‘Will’. 

“You didn’t vote, did you?” she began. “tell us why not.” 

“I wanted to” said he, looking bemused “but unfortunately I found I wasn’t registered” “I would have voted Green, which would have been good for me” he explained mysteriously, “but I think the Conservatives would be good for the country”  He didn’t exactly say “cool; no worries” but if he wasn’t a role model for the intern from W1A, I’d be surprised. When he’d finished, Anita McVeigh walked away, saying “Thank you Will” .

It amused me anyway. Even if his name was Will, it would still be funny.