29 January 2004
BBC Director General Greg Dyke’s departure came 20 hours after BBC Chairman Gavyn Davies resigned in the wake of Lord Huttons damning verdict.
Both quit after parts of Andrew Gilligan’s BBC reports of claims Downing Street “sexed up” a dossier on Iraq’s illegal weapons were branded “unfounded” by Lord Hutton.
Leaving after four years in his post, Mr Dyke said his position had been compromised by Lord Hutton’s criticisms of BBC management.
Mr Dyke’s deputy, Mark Byford, has been appointed as acting director general until a successor is chosen.
The departure of both the BBC chairman and director general comes amid growing calls for the BBC to come under outside regulation. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said the Hutton report would be taken into account in the 2006 review of the BBC’s charter.
28 January 2004
It is with great sadness that the AIB announces that Tom Walters, one of the co-founders of the Association, passed away on 4th December after a long battle against illness.
Tom Walters joined the AIB after leaving the BBC where he had worked since the early 1960s. He oversaw much of the AIB’s day-to-day administration until ill health forced him to take a less active role in the organisation.
In recent months, Tom had been working on the newsgathering and intelligence research, and was contributing news up until 2nd December.
The AIB sends its sympathies to his wife, Liz, and to Tom’s children.
28 January 2004
A range of companies involved in international broadcasting have joined the Association for International Broadcasting this month.
Harris Corporation, the major supplier of systems and services to customers in more than 125 countries, has enrolled as a Gold Member of the Association.
Philippines broadcaster ABN-CBN, Germany’s international multimedia company Deutsche Welle, Britain’s ITN International and Television New Zealand have each become AIBCorporate Members.
“We’re delighted to welcome all these new members to the AIB,” comments Simon Spanswick, Chief Executive of the Association. “As the AIB gains new members, the strength of the organisation increases, providing benefits to each company that belongs to the Association. The range and depth of AIB services is increasing, from our market intelligence bulletins to our lobbying activity. We welcome the support of these new member companies and our existing members.”
28 January 2004
Gavyn Davies, the BBC’s chairman, has resigned after the Hutton Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of British government scientist Dr David Kelly heavily criticised the public broadcaster.
Davies’ resignation comes after Lord Hutton said the suggestion in BBC reports that the government “sexed up” its dossier on Iraq’s weapons with unreliable intelligence was “unfounded”.
In his resignation statement, Davies said the people at the top of organisations should accept responsibility for their actions.
“I have been brought up to believe that you cannot choose your own referee, and that the referee’s decision is final,” he said.
Davies questioned whether what Lord Hutton described as “bald conclusions” on the dossier’s production could be reconciled with the balance of the inquiry’s evidence.
The Report, available on the Hutton Inquiry website, runs to more than 700 pages. It appears to have cleared the British Prime Minister of any blame in the events leading up to the death of Dr Kelly.
In a move designed to improve systems within the BBC, Mark Byford – director of BBC World Service and Global News – was appointed the Corporation’s Deputy Director General in December with responsibility for complaint handling.
26 January 2004
Radio Free Asia (RFA) has begun broadcasting live streaming audio of its Tibetan-language radio programmes on the Internet.
Listeners can now log on to RFAs Tibetan service web site through www.rfa.org, then click on the upper right-hand button for live streaming audio of RFA Tibetan broadcasts. Listeners should then click on the link at the top that indicates the live streaming audio.
RFA broadcasts news and information to Asian listeners who lack regular access to full and balanced reporting in their domestic media.
RFA is a member of the AIB.
