91Èȱ¬

Press Releases Wyatt report findings and recommendations published

Category: 91Èȱ¬
Date: 05.10.2007
Printable version

A report from an inquiry by Will Wyatt CBE is published by the 91Èȱ¬ today (5 October).

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The inquiry was commissioned by Mark Thompson, 91Èȱ¬ Director-General, in July 2007 following the publication by the 91Èȱ¬ at a press launch for the 91Èȱ¬ One Autumn season of misleading footage relating to Her Majesty the Queen.

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The report has been shared with the Chairman of the Trust and the Chairman of the Trust's Editorial Standards Committee and they have been briefed on the actions which the Director-General is announcing today.

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Mark Thompson said: "I would like to thank Will Wyatt for a thorough investigation and report. I accept his findings and recommendations in full. It is important that the 91Èȱ¬ learns all the lessons from this matter and takes steps to ensure that nothing of this kind is repeated.

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"Although I take some comfort from Will Wyatt's conclusion that no-one consciously set out to defame or misrepresent the Queen in respect of the 91Èȱ¬'s preparation for the 91Èȱ¬ One launch, the fact is that serious mistakes were made which put misleading information about the Queen into the public domain. That is why we are determined to take all necessary steps to address the shortcomings set out in this report.

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"When this matter first came to light we unreservedly apologised to Her Majesty the Queen. I repeat that apology again today without hesitation."

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The 91Èȱ¬ is to take a range of further measures in response to the recent editorial standards issues which have arisen over the summer:

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• The Directors of the corporation's Vision, Audio & Music, Nations & Regions and Marketing, Communications & Audiences divisions are to appoint a senior executive with specific responsibility for leading on editorial standards and compliance across their output.
  
  
• The Director of Marketing, Communications & Audiences is to implement a comprehensive set of actions to address the weaknesses of communication and co-ordination with other divisions revealed by this incident.
  
  
• David Jordan, Controller, Editorial Policy, is redesignated Director of Editorial Policy and Standards with immediate effect and he is to join the 91Èȱ¬ Direction Group.
  
  
• The importance of the system of immediate upward referral of serious or potentially serious incidents will be reiterated and emphasised to the 91Èȱ¬'s editorial and managerial leaders.

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Each relevant division within the 91Èȱ¬ will in addition examine additional changes to procedures and practices within their area in response to the report.

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Notes to Editors

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Download report: Investigation into A Year With The Queen.

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91Èȱ¬ Press Office

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