Sunday, March 18, 2007

The BBC's Statements of Programme Policy 2007/2008 should be published fairly soon. I've written to Mark Thompson again in the past few days to suggest that it would be a good idea to make a small change to the current wording which was quoted in my blog dated 4 March 2007.

Here is the wording I suggested: The BBC's purpose – largely unchanged in 80 years – is to enrich the life of every person in the UK regardless of age, ability, income, sex, race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity with programmes that inform, educate and entertain.

I'm still not sure if Mr Thompson wants to make the change to the SoPP as I've not received a reply from him, possibly because he's against the suggested change and won't give his reasons, or alternatively it could be because thinks he's too important to reply in person. BBC Information has been working overtime on the Director-General's behalf though they haven't managed to shed any light on the answer to my enquiry.

Mr Thompson has been made aware of substantial evidence of deliberate anti-gay discrimination in the Corporation, including examples not written about in this blog. My suggested SoPP wording change sends out a clear message that any future discrimination would be against the BBC's ethos.

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Cyril Husbands has now left the BBC and moved to Berkshire Consultancy. Newsround blog send our best wishes to him for the future.

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