Right idea, wrong place

Clearly no issue can be off limits for a BBC News bulletin. I have, however, always struggled with tv editors' urges to 'go large' with series of features. BBC News, BBC1, BBC2, BBC4 and BBC World can create space where large and sensitive topics can be examined at the appropriate length. Yet editors - currently Paul Royall - invest in serial attempts to put these tricky and nuanced debates into five to six minute nutshells, taking up a fifth of nightly news round-ups. 

The current series, Echoes of Empire, has seen Clive Myrie, Fergal Keane, some outside contributors and some unsigned pieces take on big themes arising from the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the toppling of the statue of Colston in Bristol. The problem for these attempts to make a long story short is that they can't possibly include an extensive range of voices. The mini-essay on Churchill's role in the Bengal famine, by Mumbai correspondent Yogita Limaye, has created some controversy for balance, and has not yet made it onto the "Echoes of Empire" hall of fame. 

One other part of the BBC 'had a go' at Churchill's legacy on 20th June. You could argue it was too defensive about Churchill. Going back further, when BBC News Online boasted a 'magazine' there was this longer think piece.  

The consideration and re-consideration of history is a live debate, that needs space. Even if the BBC News series "Echoes of Empire" visits every corner of what was once pink on the map, it will not produce a rounded picture. Top editorial figures at the BBC need to steer this discussion into better places in the schedule. 

ICYMI How Britain’s role in slavery and empire shaped modern America #BBCNewsTen coverage with ⁦@huwbbc⁩ ⁦@AleemMaqbool⁩ https://t.co/IglBnGtavO

— Paul Royall (@paulroyall) July 29, 2020