BBC chief: Sex scandal a cultural problem
Source: Agencies |
October 24, 2012, Wednesday
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THE BBC has become the latest large institution to find itself accused of failing to stop sex abusers in its midst, with its chief acknowledging yesterday a "cultural problem" within the broadcaster had allowed the late TV host Jimmy Savile to molest children and teenagers for decades.
BBC director-general George Entwistle told British lawmakers it is too early to say whether sexual abuse had been endemic within Britain's publicly funded national broadcaster. But he acknowledged there had been "a problem of culture within the BBC ... a broader cultural problem" that allowed Savile's behavior to go unchecked.
"There is no question that what Jimmy Savile did and the way the BBC behaved ... will raise questions of trust for us and reputation for us," Entwistle said. "This is a gravely serious matter, and one cannot look back at it with anything other than horror."
Entwistle's testimony before the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport committee came a day after the BBC aired a powerful documentary about the corporation's role in the expanding sex abuse scandal involving Savile, who died a year ago at age 84.
Since Savile's death, scores of women and several men have come forward to say the entertainer - a longtime host of music and children's programs including "Top of the Pops" - abused them when they were children or teenagers. Police have identified more than 200 potential victims.
Entwistle said the BBC is looking into historical allegations of sexual abuse or harassment against "between eight and 10" past and present employees as it investigates whether Savile was at the heart of a wider pedophile ring within the corporation.
The BBC, one of the world's largest and most respected broadcasters, is under fire for failing to stop the abuse and for pulling an expose on Savile from TV schedules at the last minute in December. The sex allegations were later aired on the rival ITV network.
The head of the BBC's "Newsnight" program, Peter Rippon, has been suspended pending an investigation of his decision to scrap the Savile story.
Monday's documentary, which was watched by more than 5 million people, presented the unusual spectacle of BBC journalists grilling their own bosses about why the piece had been dropped.
In an attempt to find out more, the parliamentary committee spent two hours yesterday questioning Entwistle, who has been in the BBC's top job for a month, after years in senior news and current affairs roles.
The committee may also question his predecessor, Mark Thompson, who led the organization at the time the "Newsnight" report was yanked. Thompson was appointed chief executive of the New York Times Co in August and is due to take up the post next month.
BBC director-general George Entwistle told British lawmakers it is too early to say whether sexual abuse had been endemic within Britain's publicly funded national broadcaster. But he acknowledged there had been "a problem of culture within the BBC ... a broader cultural problem" that allowed Savile's behavior to go unchecked.
"There is no question that what Jimmy Savile did and the way the BBC behaved ... will raise questions of trust for us and reputation for us," Entwistle said. "This is a gravely serious matter, and one cannot look back at it with anything other than horror."
Entwistle's testimony before the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport committee came a day after the BBC aired a powerful documentary about the corporation's role in the expanding sex abuse scandal involving Savile, who died a year ago at age 84.
Since Savile's death, scores of women and several men have come forward to say the entertainer - a longtime host of music and children's programs including "Top of the Pops" - abused them when they were children or teenagers. Police have identified more than 200 potential victims.
Entwistle said the BBC is looking into historical allegations of sexual abuse or harassment against "between eight and 10" past and present employees as it investigates whether Savile was at the heart of a wider pedophile ring within the corporation.
The BBC, one of the world's largest and most respected broadcasters, is under fire for failing to stop the abuse and for pulling an expose on Savile from TV schedules at the last minute in December. The sex allegations were later aired on the rival ITV network.
The head of the BBC's "Newsnight" program, Peter Rippon, has been suspended pending an investigation of his decision to scrap the Savile story.
Monday's documentary, which was watched by more than 5 million people, presented the unusual spectacle of BBC journalists grilling their own bosses about why the piece had been dropped.
In an attempt to find out more, the parliamentary committee spent two hours yesterday questioning Entwistle, who has been in the BBC's top job for a month, after years in senior news and current affairs roles.
The committee may also question his predecessor, Mark Thompson, who led the organization at the time the "Newsnight" report was yanked. Thompson was appointed chief executive of the New York Times Co in August and is due to take up the post next month.
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