View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Secrecy concerns raised around appointment of new BBC Trust chairman

By William Turvill

The Taxpayers’ Alliance and the BBC Radio Forum have jointly raised concerns about secrecy surrounding the appointment of a new BBC Trust chairman.

In a letter to Culture Secretary Sajid Javid and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the organisations said the application process has not “been remotely satisfactory so far”.

They have also questioned the suitability of current acting chairman Diane Coyle for the role.

The letter raises issues with the fact that a headhunting firm, Saxton Bampfylde, has been hired “at considerable public expense to encourage certain candidates to apply”.

The organisations have also asked Javid to explain why the next chairman will be required to work two days a week – down from three to four – while still being paid £110,000 a year.

The letter asked why no information has been released on who the three people on the interview panel for the Trust role are and how they were picked. It said: “This is the opposite of transparent and is completely unacceptable to the public. Can you please provide us with this information?”

The organisations questioned why Coyle was allowed to make a speech on 23 June at the London School of Economics “outlining her vision of the BBC in the 21st Centry”.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

It said: “Since she has herself applied to succeed Lord Patten as the permanent Trust chairman, this speech was arguably a pitch for her own aspirations, giving her an unfair advantage over other candidates.

“Not only that, but Ms Coyle used the BBC Trust press office to circulate the text of her speech in advance of it being delivered, almost certainly guaranteeing the widest possible coverage in all national newspapers on 24 June. 

“Her use of this publicly-funded press office to give her such a platform cannot be right on any level. We would urge you to investigate on whose authority she made this speech, whose permission she sought, and whether she has broken any BBC Trust rules by using the press office to advertise the speech.”

The letter, reported on by The Mail on Sunday this weekend, also highlighted her role in keeping under wraps a tape recording in which Nick Pollard discussed his failure to include certain evidence in his report into the Jimmy Savile scandal.

The letter said: “How can it be irrelevant that the head of a £3 million BBC inquiry knowingly withheld key evidence from his report and then admitted as much?"

It added: "Ms Coyle should examine her conscience carefully and the DCMS should examine whether she is a fit and proper person to become the BBC Trust chair.”

A BBC Trust spokesman said: “It is a matter of public record that Trustees listened to the recording in question and considered it did not undermine the conclusions of the Pollard report which we believe was an independent, fair and thorough examination of the issues raised.”

Topics in this article : ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network