Category: BBC; News
Date: 06.09.2005
Printable version
Michael Grade, Chairman of the BBC, said:
"I am grateful to the Director-General for his swift response to my request for a report on John Humphrys' comments to the Communications Directors' Forum.
"The BBC's independence is vital to the provision of public service news and other programming that is recognised as being impartial and accurate. It is the duty of the BBC Governors to protect that independence from any political or commercial influence and we shall never shirk that responsibility. Likewise, everyone employed by the Corporation carries the responsibility of protecting the BBC's reputation and credibility for accuracy and impartiality.
"I have read the report and the available transcript and am satisfied by the conclusions reached by the Director-General. It is essential that no public comments made by BBC presenters and journalists should ever be perceived to compromise the BBC's independence or its reputation for impartiality and the highest standards in journalism.
"I am pleased to draw a line under this episode and, at the same time, reassure those who pay for the BBC through their licence fee of the BBC's continued commitment to independence, impartiality and accuracy."
