An organisation like the BBC, whose Charter at part 6 para 1 includes a public purpose of impartiality, should never have board-level appointees whose background calls into question this impartiality. This is not a new problem. The first example I am aware of is Marmaduke Hussey, whom the Thatcher government appointed BBC Chairman. Arguably, Greg Dyke was an unwise appointment, given his Labour Party connections, as was John Birt for the same reason.
Of course she does! It’s all these people have (along with “tribalism” and “Putin”) to explain a situation they find alarming and bewildering. Filling the executive board with right wing hatchet men and demanding total fealty to the government cause on pain of defunding? Populism! Democratic reform that will secure the broadcaster’s independence from government? Populism! And possibly Putin-inspired!
All news is a product and can be good, mediocre, or bad. News is produced with certain markets and consumers in mind, so requires an amount of conceit. Any staff journalist refusing to write pieces conforming to employers’ product spec are toast. EM fell out with BBC after she broke house rules.
