Post by Teddy Bear on May 16, 2013 19:14:20 GMT
Consider the main parts of this story:
The corporation admitted that the Newsnight coverage, which accused the charity of wasting millions of pounds of donations, was 'misleading' and 'unfair'. The BBC's editorial complaints unit said there was no evidence to suggest any shortcomings on the charity's part.
The BBC also admitted today that interviews with two people on the programme were edited in such a way as to 'misrepresent' their views.
In the apology to be broadcast tonight, the BBC said: 'Following an investigation by its Editorial Complaints Unit, the BBC now accepts that its coverage was misleading and unfair to Help for Heroes.
We have already documented how BBC coverage of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflict actually put the lives of our armed forces into further risk. At one point the Navy switched to Sky news because the BBC was so pro-Islamic and anti the values of our society, until the hierarchy forced them to switch back.
So now the BBC actually vilify a charity that is working to better the lives of servicemen fighting to uphold our values, including those who have been injured or maimed.
Since the Newsnight team knew that they had purposefully distorted the views given by the Charity representatives, why did they need an investigation to admit their wrong doing?
Why is the BBC still allowed to continue? What needs to happen for the public to create such an outcry that the government will have to do something?
The corporation admitted that the Newsnight coverage, which accused the charity of wasting millions of pounds of donations, was 'misleading' and 'unfair'. The BBC's editorial complaints unit said there was no evidence to suggest any shortcomings on the charity's part.
The BBC also admitted today that interviews with two people on the programme were edited in such a way as to 'misrepresent' their views.
In the apology to be broadcast tonight, the BBC said: 'Following an investigation by its Editorial Complaints Unit, the BBC now accepts that its coverage was misleading and unfair to Help for Heroes.
We have already documented how BBC coverage of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflict actually put the lives of our armed forces into further risk. At one point the Navy switched to Sky news because the BBC was so pro-Islamic and anti the values of our society, until the hierarchy forced them to switch back.
So now the BBC actually vilify a charity that is working to better the lives of servicemen fighting to uphold our values, including those who have been injured or maimed.
Since the Newsnight team knew that they had purposefully distorted the views given by the Charity representatives, why did they need an investigation to admit their wrong doing?
Why is the BBC still allowed to continue? What needs to happen for the public to create such an outcry that the government will have to do something?
BBC forced to apologise for Newsnight claims that veterans' charity Help for Heroes misspent donated cash
By Becky Evans
The BBC has been forced to make an apology across its network today for another bungled Newsnight report, which mistakenly accused charity Help for Heroes of misspending cash.
In a further embarrassment for the BBC's flagship current affairs programme, the apology will be broadcast on tonight's show and on BBC Radio 1 and 2.
The corporation admitted that the coverage, which accused the charity of wasting millions of pounds of donations, was 'misleading' and 'unfair'.
The BBC's editorial complaints unit said there was no evidence to suggest any shortcomings on the charity's part.
The report by Angus Stickler is believed to have cost Help for Heroes up to £100,000 in withdrawn donations.
The BBC also admitted today that interviews with two people on the programme were edited in such a way as to 'misrepresent' their views.
The charity said today that the interviews were edited to make supporters look as if they 'were in fact critical of our work'.
It is believed to be one of the biggest apologies the BBC has made in recent years.
BBC2’s Newsnight has already been under fire for dropping a report into disgraced DJ Jimmy Savile’s years of sex crimes.
This was compounded, at a time when the corporation was already in crisis, by the mistaken suggestion that Lord McAlpine had been linked to a sex abuse probe.
That slur led to legal action and the BBC paid out £185,000 in damages to the peer.
The broadcast about Help for Heroes, presented by Eddie Mair, was screened on August 9, last year.
It involved the services of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism which was also behind the Lord McAlpine report.
It featured a report on allegations that the charity had misspent funds and did not properly support veterans.
Charity co-founder Bryn Parry took part in a studio discussion but the BBC has also admitted that the response of Help for Heroes to the criticisms 'wasn't properly reflected'.
The charity, which supports serving and veteran Armed service personnel, today welcomed the BBC's apology.
Help for Heroes said that the report 'gave the completely false impression that we do not support veterans and the equally inaccurate claim that we are failing to provide the very best care to those wounded while serving our country.'
In a statement, Mr Parry and his wife Emma, who founded the charity in October, 2007, said: 'Help for Heroes was born of a simple desire to help the wounded. Along with our supporters, staff and the incredibly generous British public, we do our very best to make their lives better.
'The Newsnight report was a complete shock to us, but an even bigger shock to the men and women we’re helping to recover.
'On the day the programme went out we were inundated with offers of support from the wounded themselves who were keen to set the record straight.
'The BIJ should now apologise to each of them, their families and to all those who give up their time to volunteer and fundraise in support of our work.
'We are grateful the BBC has admitted it got the story completely wrong and has finally apologised.
'We are pleased the BBC has taken this matter seriously, and issued what we believe to be one of their biggest apologies in the last four years. We now consider the matter closed and look forward to working with the BBC in the future.'
The editor of Newsnight at the time of the broadcast, Peter Rippon, has already stepped down as a result of the other problems.
A report by media executive Nick Pollard has already looked into the BBC’s failings over the Savile and Lord McAlpine problems.
In the apology to be broadcast tonight, the BBC said: 'Following an investigation by its Editorial Complaints Unit, the BBC now accepts that its coverage was misleading and unfair to Help for Heroes.
'The BBC gave the impression that Help for Heroes was responsible for shortcomings in the provision of support to wounded veterans. The Editorial Complaints Unit found no evidence to support this suggestion.
'Although it was legitimate to report the concerns of veterans, the BBC portrayed criticisms about overall support by a number of agencies as specific criticisms of Help for Heroes.
'This unfair impression was reinforced by our coverage of the story in other outlets.
'In addition, the Newsnight report contained interviews with two contributors which were edited in a way which misrepresented their views.
'Although a representative of Help for Heroes took part in a studio discussion which followed the Newsnight report, the response of Help for Heroes to the criticisms wasn’t properly reflected.
'This contributed further to the unfair impression of Help for Heroes, for which the BBC wishes to apologise.'
The charity added in a statement today: 'Broad and completely understandable concerns about the long-term care needs of the wounded were falsely and unfairly reported as criticisms of the charity.
'This was a total misrepresentation of the facts, given that Help for Heroes has raised and immediately spent or allocated well over £150million to looking after wounded servicemen, women, veterans and their families in the last six years.'
- BBC admitted the report on August 9, 2012, was 'unfair' and 'misleading'
- Conceded views of contributors were 'misrepresented'
- The charity had been accused of wasting millions of pounds, not supporting veterans or providing the best care
- Help for Heroes welcomed apology and said it was grateful BBC has admitted it got the story 'completely wrong'
- Newsnight heavily criticised for bungled Lord McAlpine report
By Becky Evans
The BBC has been forced to make an apology across its network today for another bungled Newsnight report, which mistakenly accused charity Help for Heroes of misspending cash.
In a further embarrassment for the BBC's flagship current affairs programme, the apology will be broadcast on tonight's show and on BBC Radio 1 and 2.
The corporation admitted that the coverage, which accused the charity of wasting millions of pounds of donations, was 'misleading' and 'unfair'.
The BBC's editorial complaints unit said there was no evidence to suggest any shortcomings on the charity's part.
The report by Angus Stickler is believed to have cost Help for Heroes up to £100,000 in withdrawn donations.
The BBC also admitted today that interviews with two people on the programme were edited in such a way as to 'misrepresent' their views.
The charity said today that the interviews were edited to make supporters look as if they 'were in fact critical of our work'.
It is believed to be one of the biggest apologies the BBC has made in recent years.
BBC2’s Newsnight has already been under fire for dropping a report into disgraced DJ Jimmy Savile’s years of sex crimes.
This was compounded, at a time when the corporation was already in crisis, by the mistaken suggestion that Lord McAlpine had been linked to a sex abuse probe.
That slur led to legal action and the BBC paid out £185,000 in damages to the peer.
The broadcast about Help for Heroes, presented by Eddie Mair, was screened on August 9, last year.
It involved the services of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism which was also behind the Lord McAlpine report.
It featured a report on allegations that the charity had misspent funds and did not properly support veterans.
Charity co-founder Bryn Parry took part in a studio discussion but the BBC has also admitted that the response of Help for Heroes to the criticisms 'wasn't properly reflected'.
The charity, which supports serving and veteran Armed service personnel, today welcomed the BBC's apology.
Help for Heroes said that the report 'gave the completely false impression that we do not support veterans and the equally inaccurate claim that we are failing to provide the very best care to those wounded while serving our country.'
In a statement, Mr Parry and his wife Emma, who founded the charity in October, 2007, said: 'Help for Heroes was born of a simple desire to help the wounded. Along with our supporters, staff and the incredibly generous British public, we do our very best to make their lives better.
'The Newsnight report was a complete shock to us, but an even bigger shock to the men and women we’re helping to recover.
'On the day the programme went out we were inundated with offers of support from the wounded themselves who were keen to set the record straight.
'The BIJ should now apologise to each of them, their families and to all those who give up their time to volunteer and fundraise in support of our work.
'We are grateful the BBC has admitted it got the story completely wrong and has finally apologised.
'We are pleased the BBC has taken this matter seriously, and issued what we believe to be one of their biggest apologies in the last four years. We now consider the matter closed and look forward to working with the BBC in the future.'
The editor of Newsnight at the time of the broadcast, Peter Rippon, has already stepped down as a result of the other problems.
A report by media executive Nick Pollard has already looked into the BBC’s failings over the Savile and Lord McAlpine problems.
In the apology to be broadcast tonight, the BBC said: 'Following an investigation by its Editorial Complaints Unit, the BBC now accepts that its coverage was misleading and unfair to Help for Heroes.
'The BBC gave the impression that Help for Heroes was responsible for shortcomings in the provision of support to wounded veterans. The Editorial Complaints Unit found no evidence to support this suggestion.
'Although it was legitimate to report the concerns of veterans, the BBC portrayed criticisms about overall support by a number of agencies as specific criticisms of Help for Heroes.
'This unfair impression was reinforced by our coverage of the story in other outlets.
'In addition, the Newsnight report contained interviews with two contributors which were edited in a way which misrepresented their views.
'Although a representative of Help for Heroes took part in a studio discussion which followed the Newsnight report, the response of Help for Heroes to the criticisms wasn’t properly reflected.
'This contributed further to the unfair impression of Help for Heroes, for which the BBC wishes to apologise.'
The charity added in a statement today: 'Broad and completely understandable concerns about the long-term care needs of the wounded were falsely and unfairly reported as criticisms of the charity.
'This was a total misrepresentation of the facts, given that Help for Heroes has raised and immediately spent or allocated well over £150million to looking after wounded servicemen, women, veterans and their families in the last six years.'
