View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
January 29, 2004updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

BBC clears show of bullying claims

By Press Gazette

A BBC management investigation has found no evidence to support allegations of bullying on daytime programme Working Lunch.

Journalists have expressed their dismay at the finding of the inquiry, which was carried out by head of political programmes and news management board member Fran Unsworth.

She is understood to have interviewed up to 20 people but declined to discuss her findings with Press Gazette, insisting it was a “private matter” for the corporation.

A source said: “People are worried that all the incidences they’ve outlined will be swept under the carpet.”

Another journalist close to the case said those affected had believed the evidence “would lead to no other conclusion than that there was inappropriate behaviour in the department”.

He added: “For the BBC to come out against it shakes any confidence people may have had in the process.”

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

Others said the investigation was “better than nothing”, but would wait to see what happened.

“The BBC says it wants to clamp down on bullying, yet it still has an amazingly successful record at defending grievances,” a journalist said.

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