BBC announces plans for impartiality crackdown, with panel of external experts to review ALL its programmes for bias.

  • BBC will hire external experts to ensure that its content is impartial
  • This comes after Director General Tim Davie stressed neutrality in news roles, and placed controls on staff sharing opinions on social media.
  • Outside experts will conduct rolling reviews of all content to be reviewed 










The BBC will appoint external experts to ensure impartiality of its content.

Tim Davie, Director General of the BBC, has taken the decision to address allegations of bias at the broadcaster.

According to the Telegraph, Mr Davie has already taken steps to address the issue by placing restrictions on staff sharing views on social networking and focusing on neutrality in news roles.   

However, the BBC will be able to hire outside experts to analyze all broadcaster content for potential biases.

Rolling reviews, which examine different output areas, are a way for investigators to do this. 

These will include everything from tax news coverage to CBeebies programme content. They will also be used to ensure impartiality across the company. 

External experts are set to be appointed by the BBC to ensure its content is impartial. Tim Davie, the BBC's Director Genera (pictured), has decided to handle accusations of bias at the broadcaster by cracking down

The BBC will appoint external experts to ensure impartiality in its content. Tim Davie (pictured), the BBC’s Director Genera, has decided to address allegations of bias against the broadcaster by taking a firm stand.

The initiative was unveiled in a 10-point plan to preserve editorial standards.

It states: “This strategic programme will have topics and review chair – likely not to be independent from the BBC.

The action plan states that reviews will not only examine news and current affairs but will also examine how the issue is handled across a wider range of BBC outputs, such as documentaries and children’s programming. 

External experts will examine how the wider output might affect public perceptions about impartiality. However, they will also recognize that audiences have different expectations of output.  

Experts will consider how the broader output might contribute to overall public perceptions of impartiality, while recognising that audiences have varying expectations of output

Experts will examine how the wider output might influence public perceptions about impartiality. However, they will also recognize that audiences have different expectations of output.

His new policy of impartiality comes weeks after it was claimed he had ‘blocked’ a leading diversity activist from getting a job at BBC. 

Sources tell the Daily Mail that he was concerned about the appointment of someone who is regarded as a “campaigner” in the industry.

The candidate, Marcus Ryder,  50, a former head of current affairs programmes at BBC Scotland, was the preference to become executive editor for Newsbeat and Asian Network News. 

Although the BBC denied Mr Ryder’s appointment, a source claimed that Mr Davies felt burned by Jess Brammar’s controversy and was worried about the backlash.

After being criticised for being openly left-leaning during her recruitment, Ms. Brammar was promoted to the top-ranking editor position at the BBC news channels.  

The candidate, Marcus Ryder, 50, (pictured) was the preference to become executive editor for Newsbeat and Asian Network News

Marcus Ryder, 50 (pictured), was the preferred candidate for executive editor at Newsbeat and Asian Network News.

The Guardian reported last week, that Mr Davie had offered to meet Mr Ryder after the reports.

After stating that it didn’t appoint anyone externally, the BBC conducted an internal recruitment search and Danielle Dwyer was appointed as an assistant editor at Radio 1 and 1Extra newsbeat. 

The BBC had stated before the confirmation of the new appointment that they wouldn’t comment on applicants for jobs.

“After an external search, BBC News decided that this role was to bring together departments from across the nation. Therefore, we are looking to hire an internal candidate who has an understanding of BBC. We are not accepting any external candidates for this position.

“This is a BBC News decision. It is wrong to suggest that any candidate has been denied a veto. 

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