Category: BBC; News
Date: 06.09.2005
Printable version
The report into John Humphrys' comments at the Communication Directors' Forum in June has concluded that although John was speaking in an informal and personal capacity at a private conference and not at a BBC event, some of his comments were 'inappropriate and misguided' and could be used to question his - and therefore by extension - the BBC's own impartiality.
John himself accepts that some of his phrases were injudicious and recognises that it is vital that all BBC News presenters and reporters are impartial and are seen to be impartial and to support the BBC's values and integrity in everything they do.
He has given a clear undertaking that he will fulfil these requirements as a leading BBC presenter at all future outside events.
The report was compiled for BBC Director-General Mark Thompson yesterday by Deputy Director-General, Mark Byford, who heads all BBC journalism.
Mark Thompson has accepted and endorsed the findings and communicated them to the Chairman of the BBC, Michael Grade.
Mark Thompson said today: "John Humphrys is one of our finest news presenters. He is widely admired by the public for his vigorous and forthright interviews with politicians and others.
"Having read the report prepared for me by Mark Byford, as well as the full transcript of John's remarks, I am satisfied that John did not show any party political bias or lack of impartiality and that he did not intend to be contemptuous or dismissive about politics or politicians.
"However, some specific remarks were inappropriate and ran the risk of calling into question John's own impartiality and, by extension, that of the BBC. We've made it clear to him that this must not happen again.
"BBC presenters should be free to discuss topical issues in journalism in public, but they must do so in a way which does not risk undermining our audience's confidence in their - and our - objectivity, impartiality and courtesy."
There will be no further action.
