BBC Ends Alagiah's Charity Patronage

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A BBC spokeswoman said: 'The BBC has guidelines to ensure our reputation for impartiality is protected. That is paramount.'

So what do the BBC intend doing when they say something like this? Will they end the cronyism that has been going on, or do they intend to redress the rampant bias that is endemic to this crooked corporation and 'go straight'?

No such luck, instead they look to end something that could not benefit them in any way, even if it benefits others, the patronage of their newsreader George Alagiah for the charity Fairtrade. Never mind that it might actually improve the perceptions that the public has for the BBC by leaving him in that role.

How low will the BBC continue to sink? My guess is there is no depth to which they will not stoop.
What Scum Sucking Lowlives!

BBC orders newsreader George Alagiah to step down as charity patron
By Daily Mail Reporter
BBC newsreader George Alagiah told today of his frustration at corporation bosses who have ordered him to step down as patron of a leading charity.
Alagiah was forced to quit his unpaid position with the Fairtrade Foundation after seven years — even though the BBC never received 'a single complaint' about his charity work.
It is understood the BBC feared Alagiah’s role with the charity — which supports farmers and workers in the developing world — breached impartiality rules. The charity has never received a formal explanation for the decision.

Alagiah, presenter of the Six O’Clock news, told the London Evening Standard: 'I was not happy about having to relinquish the patronship because there had not been a single complaint in seven years.
'I tried hard to persuade my colleagues that what I had done for seven years had not brought the BBC into disrepute. I failed in that argument.'

The Fairtrade Foundation helps to promote Fairtrade products sold in Britain and has seen sales of ethically produced goods such as tea, coffee and bananas boom in recent years.

That in part has been due to behind-the-scenes efforts of Alagiah and his wife Frances, a senior fundraiser with the charity. Alagiah, speaking at his north London home, said today: 'I am passionate about Fairtrade. I am passionate about the farmers.'

The dispute is understood to have rumbled on for several months before the presenter finally resigned.

A Fairtrade cotton picker sources material for ethical clotheswear
He said today he was particularly surprised as he went through all the correct procedures when he first took up the position.

He said: 'I did what I had to do. I told the BBC authorities and they signed it off. (Now) the reason being given is Fairtrade is somehow controversial and represents a conflict of interests. I don’t think the BBC is against me being a supporter in my private life.'
Supporters of the Fairtrade Foundation were told of the decision in an open letter written by Alagiah and published in the charity’s magazine.

'In the many years that I have been your patron there has not been a single complaint (that I am aware of) to the BBC so you can imagine how taken aback I was by the decision.'

The move has angered Fairtrade supporters including Sainsbury’s — the first supermarket to stock Fairtrade produce. Its chief executive Justin King said: 'I was perplexed to hear that the BBC has required George Alagiah to step down from his role as patron of the Fairtrade Foundation.” He called on the BBC to reconsider its decision.
Eileen Maybin, the Fairtrade Foundation’s spokeswoman, said: 'George will be very difficult to replace. He has been amazingly helpful.'
A BBC spokeswoman said: 'The BBC has guidelines to ensure our reputation for impartiality is protected. That is paramount.'
A corporation source suggested the decision was influenced by a BBC2 series about food which Alagiah is due to present.
The move comes amid a row over an alleged conflict of interest engulfing controller of BBC1 Jay Hunt. Ms Hunt is company secretary of a firm run by her husband, which earns substantial sums training BBC staff.

The Fairtrade Foundation will now look for a new patron. High-profile supporters of Fairtrade include comedian Harry Hill, Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave and presenter Gail Porter.

Emma Watson, star of the Harry Potter films, is also a fan and wants to design ethical clothing.

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Peter Sissons - ex broadcaster of the BBC voices his dismay at the BBC decision. Only wish those still employed by them would sound their outrage, but they're happy to collect their cheques - no matter where it comes from.

Peter Sissons blasts BBC for forcing George Alagiah to quit as Fairtrade patron
By Liz Thomas
Veteran broadcaster Peter Sissons has slammed the BBC having ‘one law for management and another for presenters’.
The newsreader spoke out against his former employers after they forced George Alagiah to quit as patron of a charity fearing a conflict of interest.

Mr Sissons said the BBC had double standards because they allowed BBC1 controller Jay Hunt to remain as secretary for her media training firm which is paid to coach corporation staff.

The 67 year-old said: ‘There seems to be one law for management and another for presenters.’

Mr Alagiah was told his role at the charity, which helps farmers in developing countries by encouraging businesses to buy their produce at fair prices, could cause problems of impartiality.

It is believed the BBC took the decision because the Six O'Clock News presenter scheduled to host a new series on food for BBC2.
The 53 year-old, whose wife Frances is a senior fundraiser with the Fairtrade Foundation, denied the series would discuss issues of trade.

Mr Alagiah admitted he was bewildered by the BBC’s thinking in particular because he has been patron for seven years with no problem.

He said: ‘My senior colleagues at the BBC have come to the conclusion that being the official patron of the Fairtrade Foundation is no longer compatible with being a high-profile journalist in BBC News.’

The ruling has caused concern that the corporation is being heavy handed in some areas, while failing to be stringent enough in others.
The broadcaster has resolutely refused to investigate or take any action over Miss Hunt, even though her media coaching firm makes money from training the broadcaster's staff.

Miss Hunt, who earns up to £280,000 a year, is company secretary of BrightsparkTV, owned by her husband Ian Blandford.

It reported pre-tax profits of £117,618 last year, up from £68,674 in the previous 12 months.

BrightsparkTV has a contract with the BBC to coach staff and uses the broadcaster's studios - but the corporation has insisted this is not a conflict of interest.

Tory MP Philip Davies, who sits on the influential media select committee, said: 'I think the corporation must accept that issues like that surrounding Miss Hunt and her husband's company are also of huge concern to the public.'

The Fairtrade Foundation the loss of such a high profile figure was a major blow.
As patron, Mr Alagiah would chair major events such as the launch of Fairtrade Fortnight and travel around the UK supporting local events such as business breakfasts and conferences.

Justin King, the chief executive of Sainsbury’s, the first major supermarket to stock Fairtrade produce, said he was perplexed by the BBC’s decision.

Stuart Etherington of the National Council of Voluntary Organisations said: ‘We would be very concerned if those in the public eye were not allowed to involve themselves in the valuable work of charities.’

A BBC spokesman insisted that Miss Hunt and Mr Alagiah’s cases were not comparable.
It is not the first time the BBC has come under fire for inconsistency in its impartiality rules.

Earlier this year more than 22,000 people complained after the broadcaster refused to air a campaign from the Disasters Emergency Committee raising money for the aid effort in Gaza.

Director general Mark Thompson said showing the advert, which detailed the extent of suffering and poverty caused by the conflict in the Middle East, could have compromised the broadcaster's impartiality.

The BBC was the only terrestrial broadcaster not to show the campaign.

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As the following story ]Today programme's Evan Davis on board of 'political' think-tank
shows, the BBC consider it okay for one of its presenters to continue to sit on a political think tank without risking 'impartiality', but not for Alagiah as patron of a charity.
When the BBC spokesman 'clarified' it, he said

The BBC has a duty to protect its reputation for impartiality. Our guidelines don’t set out a blanket ban on our presenters taking on outside commitments.
‘What they do is set out the framework under which we consider them. These decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Clearly many of these are fine judgments.’

So 'fine judgement' in this case means being involved with the government increases their influence, but charity work in 3rd world countries doesn't make the slightest bit of difference to them.
Real 'FINE'

Today programme's Evan Davis on board of 'political' think-tank
By Mail On Sunday Reporter

The BBC has allowed leading journalist Evan Davis to remain a key member of a policy think-tank while forcing newsreader George Alagiah to step down as patron of a charity over a ‘conflict of interest’.
Mr Davis, who presents Radio 4’s Today programme, sits on the policy advisory board of the Social Market Foundation, which sets out to influence the political agenda.
The revelation leaves the BBC open to charges of hypocrisy for ordering Mr Alagiah, presenter of BBC1’s Six O’Clock News, to step down from the Fairtrade Foundation. He has spent seven years in the unpaid post at the charity which helps farmers in the developing world.

Mr Davis sits on the SMF’s board alongside Government Minister Liam Byrne, Tory frontbencher Alan Duncan, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne and Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable.
Last night, Liberal Democrat MP Adrian Sanders, a member of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said: ‘To maintain public support, the BBC must be consistent in their decisions.’
John Whittingdale, the Tory culture committee chairman, said: ‘If the BBC are going to be absolutely determined to avoid any criticism, many of the same arguments would apply to Evan Davis as apply to George Alagiah.’
The SMF has made a number of explosive recommendations, including calling for NHS patients to pay £20 to see their GP.

The think-tank, which describes itself as politically independent, is chaired by Labour peer Lord Lipsey and its director is former Treasury economic adviser Ian Mulheirn.
Under the slogan ‘Marrying markets with social justice’, it runs seminars and debates at Westminster and organises events at the three main party conferences.
In 2003, Gordon Brown used the organisation as a public forum to deliver a major speech setting out the Government’s long-term policy aims.

The SMF enjoys charitable status and is funded by a combination of contributions from members and income from investments.
A spokesman said: ‘Evan Davis regularly attends our meetings, which take place every couple of months.’
Writing in the Fairtrade Foundation’s magazine, Mr Alagiah says: ‘In the many years that I have been your patron there has not been a single complaint (that I am aware of) to the BBC, so you can imagine how taken aback I was by the decision.’
Veteran broadcaster Peter Sissons last week accused the BBC of having ‘one law for management and another for presenters’ because it allowed BBC1 Controller Jay Hunt to remain as secretary of her husband’s media training firm while forcing Mr Alagiah to step down from the charitable post.
The Fairtrade Foundation said it was ‘extremely disappointed’ by its patron’s enforced departure.
A BBC spokesman said last night: ‘The BBC has a duty to protect its reputation for impartiality. Our guidelines don’t set out a blanket ban on our presenters taking on outside commitments.
‘What they do is set out the framework under which we consider them. These decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Clearly many of these are fine judgments.’

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My reason for putting in this mealy-mouthed letter to the Times by BBC Director of News Helen Boaden is to show the BBC really do understand how they are supposed to behave. So when she writes that :Our job is to represent all sides in an argument accurately and fairly, and test them as rigorously as we can to allow our audiences to reach their own judgments. she must be aware of how poorly they even give a semblance of attaining that goal. Otherwise blogs like this one or the original Biased BBCwould have nothing to write about.
I don't for a moment think that Boaden really believes the BBC is performing this way, but like most of her colleagues are content to lie and cheat to achieve their aims and will say anything to continue perpetrating their mindset.

What makes me sick is that the public allow this charade to continue.

BBC must be impartial
The reason why the BBC asked George Alagiah to step down from his role as patron at the Fairtrade Foundation

Sir, The charities that ask that George Alagiah be reinstated as patron of the Fairtrade Foundation neatly articulate the reason why we asked George to step down from this role in the first place. Their letter (Aug 8) says that the Fairtrade Foundation seeks to “transform trading in favour of the poor and disadvantaged”. Such an ambition is the prerogative of the charities. Many may find it admirable, though others may take a different view of global economic priorities.
Our job is to represent all sides in an argument accurately and fairly, and test them as rigorously as we can to allow our audiences to reach their own judgments.

It is not the business of BBC journalism to take a view on this or to be perceived to take a view. We are committed to due impartiality, which means we do not take sides on issues of controversy including the fairness of the global trade system.
And it is not enough for our journalism to be impartial. We must also be seen to be impartial. That is why it is inappropriate for a BBC journalist to take a high-profile, public role representing an organisation which, as the charities’ letter makes clear, takes a very particular view of the controversial issue of global trade.

Helen Boaden

BBC Director of News