Mistakes

Will the mistakes that beset the commissioning and delivery of Gaza: How to survive a war zone have real world consequences for those involved ? Steely-eyed BBC News Ceo  Debbie told Sara Montague on The World At One Yesterday there were fair and accountable processes already in play. 

The Peter Johnston report has plenty of titles for those involved, but names no names. However it's really not difficult to track down the production credits for the documentary. The executive producer made his name in  BBC Natural History programmes, and, from outside the BBC, won a BAFTA as part of the Hoyo team that made Ukraine: Enemy in The Woods for BBC2. 

The two commissioning editors came from different BBC departments - one from BBC News and one from the This World team providing documentaries to BBC2. The overall commissioning editor for BBC Current Affairs was quoted in the press release ahead of transmission thus "“The attack of October 7th and subsequent events in Gaza have dominated the news for over a year. It’s a story of immense consequence, and I am delighted that Jamie and Yousef have found a way to bring this unique insight to our audiences.”

Ms Turness has announced that she will appoint a new Director of Current Affairs to her board, with an ad appearing within a week. It is hard to imagine anyone above being a successful candidate. 

The BBC staff will have to go through the wringer of a disciplinary process; the 'compliance document', which Peter Johnston says should not have been signed, would have been the responsibility of the production company and the executive producer, both sitting outside the BBC. 

The 'fair and accountable' process will be further extended by charmless Ofcom saying they want to do their own investigation.