Journalism of Courage
Tim Davie, the outgoing head of BBC has told staff that the national broadcaster has “made some mistakes” but urged journalists to “fight for their work” as the corporation faces a legal threat from US President Donald Trump, Reuters reported.
Speaking at an all-staff meeting on Tuesday, Davie said he remained “fiercely proud” of the BBC despite recent controversy. “We are a unique and precious organisation, and I see the free press under pressure, I see the weaponisation,” he told employees, according to Reuters.
Davie and the BBC’s head of news, Deborah Turness, resigned last week following criticism of how the broadcaster edited a 2021 Trump speech in a Panorama documentary. The edit reportedly removed the part where Trump urged his supporters to protest peacefully, creating the impression he had incited violence on January 6th.
The BBC, founded in 1922 and funded largely by licence fees, is now without a permanent leader. Davie said his decision to step down was due to the relentless nature of the job, the need to allow time for his successor to prepare for the next funding review, and “an editorial breach that required accountability.”
“I am proud of the team we have built, but some responsibility had to be taken,” he said. “The BBC will survive my departure.”
BBC chair Samir Shah called the editing of the Trump speech “an error of judgment” and apologised. The documentary, produced by a third party, aired shortly before the November 2024 US presidential election.
Analysts told Reuters the departures have deepened concerns over the BBC’s governance and editorial standards, with internal criticism of its coverage of Trump, the Israel-Hamas war and transgender issues.
President Trump has threatened to sue the BBC over what he called “a deliberate attempt to mislead viewers” through the edited footage, according to Reuters.
In response, a BBC spokesperson said the corporation would cooperate with any legal proceedings and reaffirmed its commitment to editorial accuracy.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer rejected claims that the BBC was “corrupt” or “institutionally biased.” His spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday: “It is clearly not for the government to comment on any ongoing legal matters. Our position is clear that the BBC is independent, and it is for the corporation to respond to questions about their editorial decisions.”
The spokesperson added that Starmer had a “very strong relationship” with President Trump and said the government valued its close partnership with the US.
The BBC’s current 10-year charter runs until 2027, and the government is expected to review the terms of its funding and operations before then.
In a letter to lawmakers, Shah dismissed claims of systemic bias, noting that surveys continued to show the BBC as Britain’s most trusted news source.
