Sir Michael Lyons looks back on 'memorable cock-ups' at the BBC
Speaking at the LSE, the BBC Trust chairman told of a 'tempestuous' last four years with the broadcaster
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The last four years of the BBC have been "tempestuous" and "turbulent", outgoing chairman of the BBC Trust Sir Michael Lyons said this week, with some "memorable cock-ups" along the way.
Speaking at the London School of Economics last night, Lyons, who steps down as Trust chairman next month added that overall it had been one of the BBC's "strong periods", but admitted that some events have made it particularly tempestuous, such as those which led to the Hutton report.
"It tested the standards of BBC journalism", he said. "It demonstrated that it is never enough to be onto a great story. You have to have robust, professional practices at all levels if you are to land your story successfully."
Lyons also cited the general election and recession as two particularly challenging events which have placed the BBC under pressure in recent years.
But he praised BBC News output for its coverage of these challenges, particularly the reporting of the global financial crisis, the election and formation of a coalition government, and the more recent coverage of the Arab uprisings.
Awaiting his successor "at or near the top of the Trust in-tray", he added, is to ensure the "authority, impartiality and accuracy of the BBC's journalism". Last week it was announced that Lord Patten had been confirmed as the government's "preferred candidate" to replace Lyons as chairman of the BBC Trust.
"Strong leadership, investment in specialist editors, strengthened cross-platform working and the School of Journalism have all served to enrich the public offering," Lyons added in his speech to LSE.
"But this is still work in progress and there is always more to be done to meet the BBC's own aspirations and especially the aspirations of our best journalists."
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Sarah Marshall is VP Audience Strategy at Condé Nast. She leads distribution and channel strategy globally. She is also the former technology editor for Journalism.co.uk (prior to it becoming JournalismUK)
