The Hutton Report...

[themidnightgirl]

Something very strange here...

Apparently, there was nothing wrong with the method that the MOD used to leak, sorry, inform journalists of David Kelly's name.

That would be the "Hong Kong Phooey" method of identification.

Is it Steve?
Nooo

Is it Brian?
Nooo

Is it Doctor David Kelly?
Could be!!!!

There's also a really curious blurring going on here. Contrast these two statements...
BBC : "A senior intelligence officer claims that Alistair Campbell "sexed up" the Iraq dossier."
Government : "The BBC should abandon its claims that Alistair Campbell "sexed up" the Iraq dossier."

Gah. I dislike inaccuracy. I'd rather people were accused of crimes they'd actually committed than ones that sound a bit better. (For example : If, as seems probable, Andrew Gilligan did not report Kelly accurately, then he deserves a slap and so does the BBC for not stomping him earlier).

Comments

[bringeroflight.livejournal.com]

The Guardian today noted that Gilligan's fuck up was done at just after 6 AM in the morning in a live report done over the phone from his home.

It was unscripted.

"Person says something inaccurate at six in the morning when working from home without their notes shocker"

Re:

[beingjdc.livejournal.com]

Yes, the key problem was that when it was pointed out that it was inaccurate, the hierarchy, and eventually the governors, went "stop trying to confuse us by using facts and logic, it's compromsing our independence", rather than "oops well, sorry and all, but it was six in the morning and unscripted".

The BBC Governors are responsible for regulating it internally, and defending it externally, at the same time - really that's an impossible position to be in.

Re:

[borusa.livejournal.com]

I'd concur to a large degree. One point that I think has been missed is that Gilligan's folly wasn't really a momentary aberration. He was pursuing an agenda, and he fell into hearing what he wanted to hear, not what was actually said.

It's OK for the BBC to have journalists with a point of view and an agenda. To be balanced, they should try to have a mix of opinions and allow the other side to have their say as well. (Journalists with no opinion at all tend to be very dull).

However, when someone who has a strong agenda turns up with what appears to be their holy grail...it's worth check that Joseph of Arimathea's fingerprints are on it, not those of Joe from Dodgy Antiques Limited.