BBC resignations: This is what the people of Sheffield thought about Tim Davie’s departure
The people of Sheffield have responded after the CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness and BBC director general Tim Davie resigned. The senior figures at the corporation resigned after accusations of ‘serious and systemic’ bias in coverage of issues including Donald Trump, Gaza and trans rights.
BBC News released a statement saying, "It is not institutionally biased” and the journalists are not “corrupt”' after many viewers were questioning what else could have been changed across the broadcasts. The search is now on to fill two of the biggest roles in our media.
We asked the people of Sheffield what they thought of the statement.
Only a few of our readers stood up for the BBC including Steve Thomas, who said: ‘They have a very neutral and balanced agenda so both right and left will always complain about them. They are far more accurate than the other media news agencies.’
Christine Chadwick added: ‘To be honest and to go against the grain, I and my husband before he passed away, prefer BBC News to any of the others. We are entitled to watch whichever news we prefer and BBC is my preference.’
Glen Paul Sturges didn’t think they did anything wrong: ‘To be fair they only cut and pasted 2 things Trump actually said and it still meant the same thing. It was also the BBC that highlighted it themselves.’
David Brooks and Christine Makings both had the same idea of scrapping the TV Licence: “We should hold a referendum on scrapping the TV licence, Or people who want to watch it can pay a subscription to do so.’
Most of our readers were not happy with the BBC and the allegations that they doctored footage that lead to the resignations.
Pete Cain said: “I hope President Trump takes out a private prosecution against Davie, Turness & others who are involved in this scandal. I don’t see why taxpayers should bail them out when Davie & Turness will most probably get a fantastic severance package, pensions & bonuses, hit them financially. It is time the BBC was restructured as a pay to view channel, for those who still want to watch this corrupt & biased organisation.”
Rachel Elizabeth Nightingale added: “When an organisation has to publicly announce it isn’t biased or corrupt, that’s usually the confirmation it is. It’s like a burglar saying, “Don’t worry, I’m just checking the locks.””
Ernie Plucknett wondered: “If they were not biassed, why did they feel the need to change and edit Trump's speech then? It absolutely amazes me, at what point in someone's head at the BBC think. We will definitely get away with editing the president of America's speech? I mean, who in the world will ever suspect? Absolutely amazing and quite funny really.”
Martin Wood commented: ‘They certainly are bias in the way the question time panel was manned, Farage was there every other week, Fiona Bruce actually saying on air one night that the vast majority of the audience had voted for Brexit. Even now, Reform are given more air time than the Liberal Democrats, despite them having more seats in parliament.”
Other readers explained it was hard to accept the BBC apologising for the footage when they said their coverage was true in the first place.
Peter East said: ‘Indeed The BBC would say what they said above wouldn't they?’
Julie Gilfoyle added: ‘Are we supposed to believe just because they've said it?’
Ged Gilmore was suspicious when they commented: ‘If the BBC broke the news that the sky is blue and the grass is green I would go outside to verify their statements.’
Whatever the outcome The resignations were a huge moment for the BBC, as it now heads into critical talks with the government over its future and funding.