BBC News: The BBC’s director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness have resigned after criticism that a Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by Donald Trump.
Davie, in the job for five years, had faced increasing pressure over a series of controversies and accusations of bias that have dogged the public broadcaster.
The Telegraph published details of a leaked internal BBC memo on Monday that suggested the Panorama programme edited two parts of the US president’s speech together so he appeared to explicitly encourage the Capitol Hill riot of January 2021.
UK political leaders expressed hope the resignations would lead to change, while Trump welcomed the decision.
It is unprecedented for both the director general and the head of BBC News to resign on the same day.
Announcing the move on Sunday evening, Davie said: “Like all public organisations, the BBC is not perfect, and we must always be open, transparent and accountable.
“While not being the only reason, the current debate around BBC News has understandably contributed to my decision.
“Overall the BBC is delivering well, but there have been some mistakes made and as director general I have to take ultimate responsibility.”
Turness said in a statement on Sunday night that the Panorama controversy had “reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC”, adding: “The buck stops with me.”
She said: “In public life leaders need to be fully accountable, and that is why I am stepping down. While mistakes have been made, I want to be absolutely clear recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.”
Turness has been CEO of News and Current Affairs for the past three years.
The internal memo published by the Telegraph also raised concerns about a lack of action to address what it described as “systemic problems” of bias in BBC Arabic’s coverage of the Israel-Gaza war.
