BBC: A Journalistic Disaster Waiting to Happen

Christopher Patten, chairman of the BBC Trust, claims he will be able to find a new director-general for the beleaguered broadcaster within weeks instead of months. (Reuters Photo).

 

Jonathan Eyal - Straits Times | November 15, 2012

London. Christopher Patten, the chairman of the BBC, Britain's state-funded broadcaster, claims he will need "weeks rather than months" to find a replacement for the corporation's director-general, who resigned after one of its TV programs falsely accused a retired top British politician of child abuse.

But the BBC will need more than just a few swift personnel appointments before it recovers its poise, for the organization is facing the worst crisis in its 90-year's existence. Its biggest problem is journalistic quality, precisely the attribute for which the BBC used to be universally admired.

Reporter's log: Thoughts on welcome questions from abroad

By Han Lei (China Daily)

My initial disappointment at not being given the chance to ask a question at a news conference on the sidelines of the 18th Party Congress on Sunday was soon forgotten.
It was good to see five of the eight opportunities to do so going to overseas journalists, which, as I see it, is a sign that Chinese officials are becoming more confident and comfortable in dealing with them.

Han Lei

Among the five was Andrea Yu from Australia, who has become something of a celebrity among her peers at the congress and in cyberspace, earning herself the nickname "sister of questions". Yu had the chance to ask questions at two out of four news conferences planned for the congress, displaying excellent bilingual skills on both occasions - first raising the questions in Chinese and then in English.