Was the BBC’s handling of the Gary Lineker case about the perception of impartiality or of independence? John Gould puts the broadcaster’s guidelines under the microscope
- The BBC’s error in its handling of the controversy surrounding Gary Lineker’s tweet criticising government rhetoric appears to have been that it abandoned rules and procedure, and instead became involved in a quasi-disciplinary process to try to produce an acceptable result for its stakeholders.
Every now and again, professional rules and guidelines become relevant to something which an ordinary person might care about. Fortunately this does not happen that often, but when it does, the plucky attempts of journalists to explain it all in less than 90 seconds or in a few column inches are rarely very successful. It is hard to simplify sub-clauses or gloss guidance. Clauses have no feelings to report; when they conflict, it isn’t at all the sort of conflict that makes good television.
What, I ask rhetorically, would someone care about if not Match of the Day and its long-term presenter (and winner of the Golden
