Civil war breaks out at the BBC

The BBC is at war with itself, as rival factions attack each other over competing versions of the events that triggered the worst crisis in the corporation’s long history.

Some of its senior managers turned on the journalist Andrew Gilligan, whose reporting began the crisis, claiming that if he had not resigned last week, he would have been disciplined and possibly sacked.

Friends of Greg Dyke, the former director general, also weighed in, saying that he believed Gilligan was guilty of “rubbishy journalism.” Dyke has also accused Downing Street of “systematic bullying” of the BBC over its coverage of the Iraq war.

Others within a divided BBC want its acting director general, Mark Byford, to continue the battle with the government. A leaked document questions the accuracy of testimony given by Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former director of communications, to a Commons committee, and suggests that Lord Hutton’s report, published last week, was “wrong in law.”

Former chairman Gavyn Davies spent the day with senior figures who were drafting a “freedom of speech defense” -­ a lengthy statement it was believed that Davies would read after Lord Hutton had finished his announcement the following day, say insiders at a key meeting in Broadcasting House. The report disputed Lord Hutton’s sweeping conclusion that “accusations of fact impugning the integrity of others should not be made by the media.”

The report concedes that Gilligan reported some of Dr. Kelly’s claims inaccurately, but adds: “Insofar as Dr. Kelly was accurately reported -- which in large measure he was -­ the BBC was entitled to broadcast them whether or not the BBC had itself managed conclusively to verify what he said. Andrew Gilligan repeatedly made clear that his story was derived from what his source said.” (Independent (UK))

Media owners blasted at hearing

Dozens of citizens, many forcefully expressing their frustration and anger at big media companies and broadcasters, told members of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Jan. 28 that broadcasters aren’t always serving the community.

A standing-room-only and often intense crowd packed into the San Antonio, TX. City Council Chambers to testify at one of six public hearings being held around the nation.

About one-fourth of the 500 people at the five and half hour hearing lined up during the question-and-answer session to talk to FCC commissioners. Some had waited more than 12 hours to explain, in sometimes emotional statements, why they are opposed to deregulation of media ownership.

Many spoke out against profane, violent, and sexually explicit information being broadcast on the TV and radio and others blasted corporate ownership of local media. Still others expressed a desire for low-band FM radio stations in San Antonio and nationwide.

Some of the speakers turned out early to get a seat inside the public hearing.

A few lined up outside the municipal building before 4 am They brought coffee, sleeping bags, cots and even a tent to shield themselves against the cold.

Once inside, many told FCC commissioners that the “airwaves belong to the people” and said deregulation of media ownership leads to more corporate control of the airwaves. (San Antonio Express-News)