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BBC got back-slapped
From http://media.guardian.co.uk/huttoni...1133172,00.html
"Lord Hutton today delivered the worst possible verdict for the BBC, describing its editorial systems as "defective" and declaring that the board of governors led by chairman Gavyn Davies had failed in its duty to act as an independent regulator.
The judge lambasted BBC management for allowing the Radio 4 Today reporter Andrew Gilligan to broadcast "unfounded", "grave" and "false allegations of fact impugning the integrity of others".
In a wide-ranging and unequivocal attack on the corporation that also took in the board of governors and BBC journalism, Lord Hutton said editorial systems had failed, leaving the futures of director general Greg Dyke, chairman Gavyn Davies and head of news Richard Sambrook hanging precariously in the balance.
The BBC is making a statement within the hour and there have already been reports that Mr Davies is considering his position.
Hutton report: full coverage
Hutton delivers damning verdict on BBC
Owen Gibson and Ciar Byrne
Wednesday January 28, 2004
Hutton report: worst possible verdict for BBC
Lord Hutton today delivered the worst possible verdict for the BBC, describing its editorial systems as "defective" and declaring that the board of governors led by chairman Gavyn Davies had failed in its duty to act as an independent regulator.
The judge lambasted BBC management for allowing the Radio 4 Today reporter Andrew Gilligan to broadcast "unfounded", "grave" and "false allegations of fact impugning the integrity of others".
In a wide-ranging and unequivocal attack on the corporation that also took in the board of governors and BBC journalism, Lord Hutton said editorial systems had failed, leaving the futures of director general Greg Dyke, chairman Gavyn Davies and head of news Richard Sambrook hanging precariously in the balance.
The BBC is making a statement within the hour and there have already been reports that Mr Davies is considering his position.
Gilligan made 'unfounded' allegations
Lord Hutton criticised Gilligan for making "unfounded" and "grave" allegations that the government probably knew that the 45-minute claim was wrong or that it was not inserted in the first draft of the dossier because it only came from one source.
"The allegations that Mr Gilligan was intending to broadcast in respect of the government and the preparation of the dossier were very grave allegations in relation to a subject of great importance.
"And I consider that the editorial system which the BBC permitted was defective in that Mr Gilligan was allowed to broadcast his report at 6.07am without editors having seen a script of what he was going to say and having considered whether it should be approved," ruled Lord Hutton."
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and there is plenty more of pie in the face for the BBC in the full story. A virulently anti-American Western newsmedia that got their a** handed to them in the report from an individual who was described by both sides when the inquiry began as a man of strong character, integrity and impartial. Of course I am not surprised at the BBC's sorry behavior in this entire event, they have a way like a lot of British press of taking a story and running wild with it no matter how incredulous it may be. Nice to see that they will be put in their place, whether they want to or not changes are coming from the top on down. They should start by firing that fat, rotund, "investigative" and I use the term lightly, journalist Andrew Gilligan, what a disgrace he represents for running amock with a superficial story at best, pure veneer.
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Trance = Heart, Mind, Body and Soul all in 1
   
Current fav. Global Experience = Madras
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My IE opens up to a news page. Washington Post to be exact. Just one less button to push. 
