| The BBC now finds two
seats empty at its most senior managerial
level - those of its chairman
and its director general. Even though
the resignations resulted from a conflict between the government
and the corporation - it is now the government which will appoint
a new BBC chairman. And it is that new chairman who will help appoint
a new BBC director general. The Scottish National politician, Alex
Salmond, is among those who question the government's role in filling
the posts.
"Who on earth under the current
circumstances is going to trust the Prime Minister to appoint
a chairman of the board of governors, who'll then appoint the
next director general? Are we really to believe with the two top
men at the BBC fallen because basically they'd dared to criticise
the government on a sensitive issue, then this is going to be
an appointment that's going to inspire
public confidence?"
The BBC is funded by a fee paid by each household in the UK that
has a television. The government is just beginning a review of
that system - as it does once every ten years. The
charter review, as it's called. Some fear the BBC could
go too far in trying to please the government following the Kelly
affair, because it relies upon the renewal of the charter for
its funding.
Following its battle with the BBC, the government knows it must
avoid any perception that it's interfering with the corporation.
In accepting the corporation's apology on Thursday, the Prime
Minister, Tony Blair, made reference to the broadcaster's impartiality.
He said the BBC should probe and question the government in every
proper way. His Culture Minister, Tessa Jowell, who is overseeing
the review of the BBC's charter, says it's impossible for the
government to threaten the corporation's independence.
"The BBC is constitutionally independent
and will continue to be so, and what is important now is that,
in the wake of Gavin Davies's and Greg Dyke's resignations - honourable
resignations - that the BBC moves forward and does so because
it is the principal, most important, public
service broadcaster in the country. It is envied around
the world and it is cherished by the people of this country."
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most senior managerial level: the
highest stage in the hierarchy of an organisation
chairman: here, the person in charge
of the BBC's Board of Govenors
director general: here, the person
in charge of the executive side of the BBC
appoint: if you appoint someone
to do a job you formally choose them to do it
Who on earth: a forceful way of
asking a question
current circumstances: given what
is happening at the moment:
inspire public confidence: make
people feel they can trust it
charter review: the formal examination of the document
setting out how the BBC is organised and financed
constitutionally independent: according to the way in which
it is organised
public service broadcaster: a not-for-profit
organisation transmitting radio and TV programmes
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