Post by Teddy Bear on Jun 14, 2009 17:33:45 GMT
In response to the criticism concerning some BBC journalists accepting huge appearance fees to attend conferences hosted by organisations that the BBC are supposed to be scrutinising, giving rise to the question that rightly there might be a conflict of interest, a BBC spokesman says: ‘It is for the BBC to be the interpreter of its own rules
Doesn't it sound like the recent initial statement given by MP's in response to their milking expenses?
Doesn't it sound like the recent initial statement given by MP's in response to their milking expenses?
Conflict of interest row as BBC news stars charge £5,000 a day to speak at NHS events
By Miles Goslett
Some of the BBC’s highest-paid journalists have been accused of having a conflict of interest after accepting thousands of pounds to speak at conferences funded by the NHS.
Sarah Montague, a presenter on Radio 4’s Today programme, Radio 5 Live political reporter John Pienaar and Newsnight anchor Gavin Esler have received up to £5,000 to appear at the events for politicians, civil servants and NHS bosses.
But critics claim that the broadcasters risk compromising their impartiality by taking money from the very organisations they are supposed to scrutinise for the BBC.
The presenters, who are on the books of various after-dinner speaking agencies, may have broken BBC guidelines which state that it is ‘unlikely to be acceptable’ for staff to sign up with such firms.
They have accepted engagements to speak at several events run by organisations that rely on the NHS for their income.
Last week Miss Montague chaired the three-day NHS Confederation conference in Liverpool, where speakers included new Health Secretary Andy Burnham, Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and Tony Blair’s former Press Secretary Alastair Campbell.
The Confederation is funded by its members, which are almost entirely NHS organisations. The Confederation confirmed that it paid Miss Montague’s fee, which is thought to run into five figures.
Earlier this month, Mr Pienaar appeared at an event for NHS spin doctors in Cardiff staged by the Association of Healthcare Communicators. A member has confirmed that the organisation paid his fee.
Did staff compromise their impartiality?
In February, Mr Pienaar was also paid to attend the Healthcare Financial Management Association in Blackpool, a similar event for NHS finance managers.
And last November Mr Esler chaired the Communicate 08 conference in London for NHS communications managers. The Department of Health and the NHS confirmed they met his fee jointly.
All three presenters are listed on the website of Britain’s largest after-dinner speaking agency, JLA, which also represents other BBC presenters including newsreaders Fiona Bruce and Huw Edwards.
Miss Montague, a freelancer, and Mr Esler, a BBC staff member, are listed as category ‘C’ stars who charge between £2,500 and £5,000 a time. Mr Pienaar, also a staffer, is one rung below them, charging between £1,000 and £2,500.
BBC rules say: ‘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 with an external agency without the written permission of the relevant head of department.’
Lib Dem Culture spokesman Don Foster said: ‘If you are chairing a high-profile event for a Government department there is a potential conflict of interest. This should be looked at by the BBC Trust.’
The BBC refused to confirm whether any of the presenters sought permission to speak at the events. A 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.’
Nobody from the JLA agency returned calls.
By Miles Goslett
Some of the BBC’s highest-paid journalists have been accused of having a conflict of interest after accepting thousands of pounds to speak at conferences funded by the NHS.
Sarah Montague, a presenter on Radio 4’s Today programme, Radio 5 Live political reporter John Pienaar and Newsnight anchor Gavin Esler have received up to £5,000 to appear at the events for politicians, civil servants and NHS bosses.
But critics claim that the broadcasters risk compromising their impartiality by taking money from the very organisations they are supposed to scrutinise for the BBC.
The presenters, who are on the books of various after-dinner speaking agencies, may have broken BBC guidelines which state that it is ‘unlikely to be acceptable’ for staff to sign up with such firms.
They have accepted engagements to speak at several events run by organisations that rely on the NHS for their income.
Last week Miss Montague chaired the three-day NHS Confederation conference in Liverpool, where speakers included new Health Secretary Andy Burnham, Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and Tony Blair’s former Press Secretary Alastair Campbell.
The Confederation is funded by its members, which are almost entirely NHS organisations. The Confederation confirmed that it paid Miss Montague’s fee, which is thought to run into five figures.
Earlier this month, Mr Pienaar appeared at an event for NHS spin doctors in Cardiff staged by the Association of Healthcare Communicators. A member has confirmed that the organisation paid his fee.
Did staff compromise their impartiality?
In February, Mr Pienaar was also paid to attend the Healthcare Financial Management Association in Blackpool, a similar event for NHS finance managers.
And last November Mr Esler chaired the Communicate 08 conference in London for NHS communications managers. The Department of Health and the NHS confirmed they met his fee jointly.
All three presenters are listed on the website of Britain’s largest after-dinner speaking agency, JLA, which also represents other BBC presenters including newsreaders Fiona Bruce and Huw Edwards.
Miss Montague, a freelancer, and Mr Esler, a BBC staff member, are listed as category ‘C’ stars who charge between £2,500 and £5,000 a time. Mr Pienaar, also a staffer, is one rung below them, charging between £1,000 and £2,500.
BBC rules say: ‘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 with an external agency without the written permission of the relevant head of department.’
Lib Dem Culture spokesman Don Foster said: ‘If you are chairing a high-profile event for a Government department there is a potential conflict of interest. This should be looked at by the BBC Trust.’
The BBC refused to confirm whether any of the presenters sought permission to speak at the events. A 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.’
Nobody from the JLA agency returned calls.