[Update] BBC DG and head of news resign

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I’m not sure you’ve been keeping up with current events, but this whole story has erupted because the BBC is neither independent or unbiased.

In what way is the BBC not independent?

The whole story seems to be one of incompetence and poor decision-making at the organisation.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

In what way is the BBC not independent?

it's ideologically captured, I don't think Sky and CH4 are much better

The whole story seems to be one of incompetence and poor decision-making at the organisation.

more like one of pushing a narrative and view held by the programme makers.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/donald...ry6-5HjdMsw_2/

Now, the BBC has told the President’s lawyers it would fight his lawsuit, claiming nobody in the US watched the programme and that it did not lead to damage to his reputation as he went on to win the 2024 election.

Their argument is understood to revolve around the fact that Trump: A Second Chance? did not air in the US due to the BBC not having the rights to show it.

Audiences in the US were also prevented from watching via BBC iPlayer because it was “geo-blocked” by the broadcaster, as reported in The Times.

Analysis of whether Trump can sue, where he can sue and how much of a case he has has been circulating on social media since this first started, but it has unfortunately been skewed around partisan divides. Long-term critics of the BBC and Trump supporters have been saying he has a slam-dunk case and the BBC is in serious trouble; supporters of the Beeb and Trump critics have said he has little chance.

I did see Robert Preston report that the BBC's legal advice mirrors this LBC article in saying that American courts probably won't have jurisdiction and that the bar is quite high for libel in America anyway. Preston's reporting did say that Trump could sue in the UK, but the BBC are more willing to contest that as the sums involved would be much smaller.

Again, some pundits are saying the BBC is skewed and should pay a huge settlement to stop the action, but it seems the BBC has decided it's better to fight it.

We'll see if, where and when Trump files his suit.