The BBC’s governing body has launched an investigation into the culture of its news operation, as ministers said the circumstances of Martin Bashir’s interview with Diana, Princess of Wales could be used to justify reform of the national broadcaster. The culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, said the investigation into how the BBC handled Bashir’s interview in 1995 could be used to justify “cultural change” at the corporation. The BBC board, which is overseen by the government-appointed BBC chairman and Conservative donor Richard Sharp, has appointed a three-strong team to investigate the corporation’s editorial policies. “The board will look at the culture of the BBC as part of its remit to assess the effectiveness of policies and practice,” said a spokesperson. One particular area of concern raised by the report is the culture around BBC whistleblowers and whether individuals find themselves punished for raising concerns about the behaviour of other staff.

Source: The Guardian May 24, 2021 13:24 UTC