Post by Teddy Bear on Mar 29, 2009 23:16:51 GMT
Get this:
Yet when exposed that many BBC presenters are making £1000's on the after dinner speech circuit a BBC spokesman says
This pretty much sums up the SELF SERVING attitude of the BBC -IT IS NOT FOR THEM TO INTERPRET THE RULES SET FOR THEM BUT THE PUBLIC THAT SET THOSE GUIDELINES, but they imagine that anyway they choose to screw that public for ther own benefit is entirely their right.
Editorial guidelines for BBC staff state: 'It is unlikely to be acceptable for any BBC staff member or BBC correspondent to be included on an agency list of those for hire for public speeches.
'Under no circumstances should they sign up with an external agency for public speaking without the written permission of the relevant Head of Department.'
Under the guidelines, BBC reporters and presenters, including freelance staff, are forbidden from appearing in public to promote external commercial organisations.
Yet when exposed that many BBC presenters are making £1000's on the after dinner speech circuit a BBC spokesman says
A BBC spokesman said: 'It is for the BBC to be the interpreter of its own rules, and no evidence has been put forward to suggest any of the people mentioned have done anything which could compromise our impartiality.'
This pretty much sums up the SELF SERVING attitude of the BBC -IT IS NOT FOR THEM TO INTERPRET THE RULES SET FOR THEM BUT THE PUBLIC THAT SET THOSE GUIDELINES, but they imagine that anyway they choose to screw that public for ther own benefit is entirely their right.
BBC stars 'in breach of rules by earning thousands of pounds on the public-speaking circuit'
By Daily Mail Reporter
Dozens of BBC personalities face investigation after it emerged that they are earning thousands of pounds a time through public speaking engagements.
This is in spite of the corporation's attempts to restrict such activity.
Newsreaders Fiona Bruce and Huw Edwards, Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis and Today programme hosts John Humphreys, Evan Davis and Edward Stourton are among the stars on the books of JLA, Britain's largest after-dinner speaking agency.
Business editor Robert Peston, royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell, and newsreaders George Alagiah and Kate Silverton are also available for hire.
The agency classes Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman, who costs 'over £25,000 to hire', as 'double A'.
Mr Edwards, Andrew Marr and BBC world affair's editor John Simpson all cost between £10,000 and £25,000 and are in category A.
Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Don Foster told the Sunday Telegraph that he would refer the matter to the BBC Trust, and said it should be viewed 'as a matter of urgency'.
Editorial guidelines for BBC staff state: 'It is unlikely to be acceptable for any BBC staff member or BBC correspondent to be included on an agency list of those for hire for public speeches.
'Under no circumstances should they sign up with an external agency for public speaking without the written permission of the relevant Head of Department.'
Under the guidelines, BBC reporters and presenters, including freelance staff, are forbidden from appearing in public to promote external commercial organisations.
Those who express a controversial viewpoint on an issue can be banned from reporting on it.
The rules were tightened in 2003 after Rod Liddle, then-editor of the Today programme, hit out at pro-hunting protesters in an article.
Another scandal saw Andrew Gilligan, who also worked on the Today programme as defence correspondent, elaborate in a newspaper piece on his claims that the Government misled the public over the Iraq war.
Some personalities on the JLA website, including BBC Breakfast presenter Sian Williams, said they had been given permission by the BBC to undertake the engagements.
Other BBC stars on the books include sports editor Mihir Bose, BBC Breakfast host Bill Turnbull, technology correspondent Rory Cellan, security correspondent Frank Gardner, Panorama presenter Jeremy Vine, and Working Lunch host Declan Curry.
Their activities range from making speeches to hosting corporate events and chairing conferences.
Jeremy Hunt, the shadow culture secretary, told the Sunday Telegraph: 'This appears to be a clear breach of the BBC's guidelines.'
He said the presenters were benefiting from 'the platform provided to them by the licence fee.'
A BBC spokesman said: 'It is for the BBC to be the interpreter of its own rules, and no evidence has been put forward to suggest any of the people mentioned have done anything which could compromise our impartiality.'
JLA was unavailable for comment.
By Daily Mail Reporter
Dozens of BBC personalities face investigation after it emerged that they are earning thousands of pounds a time through public speaking engagements.
This is in spite of the corporation's attempts to restrict such activity.
Newsreaders Fiona Bruce and Huw Edwards, Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis and Today programme hosts John Humphreys, Evan Davis and Edward Stourton are among the stars on the books of JLA, Britain's largest after-dinner speaking agency.
Business editor Robert Peston, royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell, and newsreaders George Alagiah and Kate Silverton are also available for hire.
The agency classes Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman, who costs 'over £25,000 to hire', as 'double A'.
Mr Edwards, Andrew Marr and BBC world affair's editor John Simpson all cost between £10,000 and £25,000 and are in category A.
Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Don Foster told the Sunday Telegraph that he would refer the matter to the BBC Trust, and said it should be viewed 'as a matter of urgency'.
Editorial guidelines for BBC staff state: 'It is unlikely to be acceptable for any BBC staff member or BBC correspondent to be included on an agency list of those for hire for public speeches.
'Under no circumstances should they sign up with an external agency for public speaking without the written permission of the relevant Head of Department.'
Under the guidelines, BBC reporters and presenters, including freelance staff, are forbidden from appearing in public to promote external commercial organisations.
Those who express a controversial viewpoint on an issue can be banned from reporting on it.
The rules were tightened in 2003 after Rod Liddle, then-editor of the Today programme, hit out at pro-hunting protesters in an article.
Another scandal saw Andrew Gilligan, who also worked on the Today programme as defence correspondent, elaborate in a newspaper piece on his claims that the Government misled the public over the Iraq war.
Some personalities on the JLA website, including BBC Breakfast presenter Sian Williams, said they had been given permission by the BBC to undertake the engagements.
Other BBC stars on the books include sports editor Mihir Bose, BBC Breakfast host Bill Turnbull, technology correspondent Rory Cellan, security correspondent Frank Gardner, Panorama presenter Jeremy Vine, and Working Lunch host Declan Curry.
Their activities range from making speeches to hosting corporate events and chairing conferences.
Jeremy Hunt, the shadow culture secretary, told the Sunday Telegraph: 'This appears to be a clear breach of the BBC's guidelines.'
He said the presenters were benefiting from 'the platform provided to them by the licence fee.'
A BBC spokesman said: 'It is for the BBC to be the interpreter of its own rules, and no evidence has been put forward to suggest any of the people mentioned have done anything which could compromise our impartiality.'
JLA was unavailable for comment.