Not enough people trust the BBC, new chairman Sir David Clementi admits
New chief says viewers must know the difference between commentary and reporting in an era of fake news
THE new BBC chairman yesterday said not enough people trust the Beeb as he insisted coverage on the Brexit debate should be “objective”.
Sir David Clementi said viewers must know the difference between commentary and reporting in an era of fake news.
And he separately called for “crown jewel” sports rights to be reviewed to allow the Beeb to screen more blue riband events.
Quizzed over the promotion of former Labour Culture Secretary James Purnell, who is now radio boss at the BBC, he said there should be tests for political independence.
He told MPs on the Commons Culture Committee: “Those who come with a political agenda will not be appointed.
“There should be open competition for all senior appointments and one of the tests will be political independence.”
He was also questioned over his own suitability for the job as BBC chair – because the former deputy governor of the Bank of England has never worked in television.
Sir David said: “I am satisfied I am well qualified to do the job.”
But he said the debate over what top sporting events should be free to watch should be reopened.
He said there were at least “one or two national occasions” which should be reviewed including The Open golf tournament which moved to Sky in 2015.
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He added: “There were just a few I regard as national events and I would like to see free to air.”
Backing the Beeb’s Brexit coverage, he said reporters had done a “good job in a difficult set of circumstances”.
But he said a poll showing only 58 per cent of people trusted the BBC needed to be improved adding: “The BBC is nothing if it doesn’t carry the trust of the people to be impartial and accurate.
“Above all the BBC needs to be seen as the medium of record in an era of fake news.”