By Iain Eames-
Britain’s public broadcaster, the BBC is soon to be scrutinised by regulator Ofcom like every other media channel in the country, Culture Secretary Karen Bradley confirmed today, after publishing the Beeb’s new draft charter.
The radical shake-up constitutes reforms by former Culture Secretary John Whittingdale’s, aimed at overhauling the corporation. Inclusive in the plans is a new board consisting of nine new members to be recruited by the BBC. Another five will be public appointments.
The move will threaten the independence of the BBC, potentially restricting its ability to challenge the government on critical issues. However, this will be a matter for the BBC to decide, for they would still retain the right to freely criticise and analyse any organisation, including the government.
The Labour frontbencher, Hopkins has accused the government of threatening the quality of the BBC’s programing by introducing five-year reviews of the BBC’s Charter.
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Hopkins believes the measure would “put pressure on the BBC to look over its shoulder and seek to avoid upsetting governments of the day.”
Other changes embodied in Bradley’s new draft charter include plans to make public the salaries of BBC stars and employees earning more than £150,000 per year.
The culture secretary believed the policy would help make the BBC as “open and transparent as possible.”
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But BBC Trust chair Rona Fairhead slapped down the move, arguing it could discourage major stars from working with BBC channels.“We don’t agree with the government on everything and are disappointed with the decision on the disclosure of presenters’ pay,” said the outgoing executive.
“We don’t believe this is in the long-term interests of licence fee payers.”
It is unclear why the government feel the need to make public the salaries of BBC stars, as this would appear to be a private matter. Unless there is a hidden suggestion that there are concerns of embezzlement or tax dodging, it seems odd that the private income of BBC staff be made public as a mandatory requirement. One certainty is that the regulation will ensure more accountability , but may also run the risk of influencing the co-operation to serve the interest of the government far more than it serves the interest of the public, though time will tell.
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