Media News

In a protracted process taking several months of complaints, investigations and an appeal instigated in January 2008 by the Ligali Organisation, the BBC has admitted its illegal recording in Zimbabwe by reporter John Simpson constituted a breach of its own guidelines. Unrepentant and unwillingly they refer to their clandestine activities in Zimbabwe a ‘technical’ breach for failing to refer this matter to the Head of Programme Legal Advice before broadcast as is a mandatory requirement.

Earlier Fran Unsworth, BBC Head of Newsgathering had deliberately sought to mislead the Ligali organisation and claimed that “in reaching this decision, the BBC’s Guidelines around breaking the law in the public interest were correctly followed…”. The corporation now admits this was untrue however it is unlikely any of the BBC management take face any disciplinary action as the BBC places almost no priority on offences committed against African people.

Toyin Agbetu, a spokesperson for Ligali said; “this should not be interpreted as a victory, we always knew the BBC was guilty, yet eleven months after the original broadcast the BBC still has not exhibited any willingness to modify its anti-African behavior or fully admit its failings, don't expect justice… but we can use this finding as a lesson plan providing us with an opportunity to examine the deliberately protracted nature of corporate complaints and appeal procedures and see how it is only through persistently chasing the truth we can successfully challenge them inside their own corrupt system”.

The BBC also rejected claims that it was the corporation’s historic anti-African bias that emboldened its staff to disrespect the laws and people of Zimbabwe. Jonathan Baker, deputy head of Newsgathering claimed “The charge of anti-African bias is without foundation, and is not supported by any evidence” he was supported by Roger Hermiston, assistant editor of Today who claimed that the report by BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson which asserted that it is a surprise for Africans to dress “reasonably well”, to live without “serious malnutrition” and appear “normal” was acceptable and did not stem from a stereotypical expectation/promotion of the opposite.

Many Africans in the UK see these responses as classic examples of the patronising anti-African content the BBC frequently outputs exposing the institutionally racist attitudes held within the corporation. The BBC’s recent debacle after its choice of media performer Dylan “Dizzy Rascal” Mills as the authentic political voice of ‘urban’ youth following the recent election of Barack Obama as President of the United States drew much condemnation.

This is not the first time that BBC staff has been involved in producing racist, illegal and offensive broadcasts.

In the past few months, BBC Bristol presenter, Sam Mason was recently fired, but only after a national newspaper exposed her refusal to take a cab was fuelled by racist attitudes. Two of the BBC’s highest paid media performers Jonathon Ross and Russell Brand were embroiled in a national debacle after BBC management deliberately allowed them to violate the privacy of private citizens by broadcasting an offensive Radio 2 recording completely lacking in moral integrity. Earlier this year, agents of the BBC also assaulted Ligali founder Toyin Agbetu on its Notting Hill Carnival 1Xtra float and then lied to the Police fabricating evidence to protect their jobs and the corporations reputation.

The BBC Committee hearing the appeal asserted that “conflict with the law when providing accurate, impartial and fair coverage in the public interest” was an acceptable practice. The BBC Trust which is the corporations governing body is not an impartial regulator, its members are selected for their willingness to protect the interests of the BBC and restore public confidence in the state broadcaster.

Recent public pressure recently forced The BBC Trust into ‘demanding’ restraint after the disclosure that the BBC’s top 10 directors had their pay boosted by 17 per cent this year (£708,000) despite committing a series of phone-in and editorial voter frauds on viewers ranging from children’s programme Blue Peter to the charity fund raiser Children in Need.

The BBC annual report reveals that the total income of the corporation’s top executives was £4.96 million. In the same period the public were forced to pay the BBC’s media tax (license fee) which was increased by 3 per cent to £131.50 or face imprisonment.