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Letter
from Stephen Whittle, Controller, Editorial Policy, BBC to Ben Bradshaw
MP
Thank
you for your letter.
Richard
Sambrook has made a very detailed response to the questions that
were posed to Alastair Campbell which covers many, if not most,
of the points that you raise.
As
to your specific questions about the Producers' Guidelines, I am
satisfied that the reliance on a single source (provided that source
is credible and in a position to know what they are talking about)
is not in conflict with our guideline on accuracy.
As
you will know from your own experience as a journalist and politician,
political journalism would virtually cease in both print and broadcast
media if every report relied on several sources.
The
key test is rigorous editorial judgement based on a reliable journalistic
process.
The
original report on the Today programme met that criterion, with
Government ministers given the opportunity to respond then and subsequently.
Incidentally,
the guideline that you cite on anonymity relates to situations where
programmes are seeking to talk to people in trouble with the law.
The
Guidelines are a public statement of our editorial values. I am
confident from what I know of the circumstances that they were followed.
We
will, of course, go on reporting the responses of the government,
the wider public debate, and the findings of committees of the House,
fully, fairly, and impartially.
I
am releasing this letter to the press.
Yours
Stephen Whittle
Controller,
Editorial Policy
Notes
to Editors
Letter
from Richard Sambrook, Director BBC News, to Ben Bradshaw MP
(29.06.03)
Letter
from Andrew Gilligan, Today programme Defence and Diplomatic Correspondent,
to Phil Woolas, Deputy Leader of the House of Commons (28.06.03)
Letter
from Richard Sambrook, Director, BBC News to Alastair Campbell
(27.06.03)
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