Two executives resigned after admitting their antisemitic and anti-Trump stances
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BBC Director General Tim Davie and News Chief Executive Deborah Turness have submitted their resignations after weeks of intense criticism over alleged bias in the British public broadcaster's news coverage.
The accusations include manipulation in the editing of a speech by former U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as a lack of objectivity in the coverage of the war between Israel and Hamas.
According to the Daily Telegraph, an internal report prepared by a former BBC ethics adviser detailed several serious errors in the editing of an episode of the 'Panorama' program.
In that report, different parts of Trump's January 6, 2021 speech—the day of the Capitol assault—were joined in such a way that the former president appeared to encourage violence. In reality, Trump had asked his supporters to march "peacefully" to "cheer on brave members of Congress."
Former BBC Director General, Tim Davie
The scandal adds to a series of controversies that have eroded the credibility of the public corporation. In recent years, the BBC has been accused of adopting ideological stances instead of maintaining the journalistic neutrality that has historically characterized it.
The coverage of the conflict in Gaza, the systematic omission of the term "terrorist organization" when referring to Hamas, and the broadcast of content with openly anti-Israeli messages have caused deep outrage within the British Jewish community.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews welcomed the resignations of Davie and Turness, although it emphasized that "they must be the beginning, not the end, of a process of renewal within the BBC."
In a statement, the organization denounced "years of structural bias" and recalled that "the BBC's persistent refusal to call Hamas what it is—a terrorist organization—has severely damaged its credibility".
The corporation was also criticized for having withdrawn a documentary about Gaza for including the son of a Hamas leader and for broadcasting musical performances with anti-Israeli slogans during the Glastonbury Festival.
Davie's departure marks the end of a turbulent year for the state broadcaster, which faces growing scrutiny over its independence, its editorial line, and its role in an increasingly polarized British society.
For many, the challenge now will be to regain public trust and rebuild a reputation that, for decades, was synonymous with rigor, objectivity, and respect for the truth.
