The BBC, the U.K. public broadcaster, is doing well and remains trusted despite much debate and recent scandals. That was among the messages shared by BBC editorial director Rhodri Talfan Davies at the Enders TMT Leaders Live conference in London on Thursday.
The executive, who served as interim director-general of the BBC until former Google exec Matt Brittin took over recently.
He also discussed the “corporate noise” that tends to hit the BBC every now and then, “this is an organization that is winning” because audiences want “a bedrock” of trust, he argued.
He highlighted that the kind of news work on the level that the BBC provides is a “hell of a responsibility… and a huge honor.”
Brittin started his BBC role on May 18, taking over from Tim Davie, who resigned after editorial blunders,includinga particularly explosive Trump row, that caused headlines and discussions.
Among other recent criticism and scandals have been the criminal conviction ofex-BBC News anchor Huw Edwardson child sex abuse image charges, inappropriate behavior allegations against formerMasterChefstar Gregg Wallace, claims of bullying on the set ofhit seriesStrictly Come Dancing, the livestreaming of “death, death to the IDF” chantsfrom musical act Bob Vylan at Glastonbury, a BBC Gaza docfound to have ties to Hamasand theBAFTA Film Awards ceremony’s Tourette’s fiasco.
Brittin, a graduate of Cambridge, joined McKinsey as a consultant out of university before he became a commercial director at Trinity Mirror, owner ofThe Daily Mirror. In January 2007, Brittin joined the Google executive ranks.
Davies was asked how dealing with the various criticisms of the BBC has been, quipping: “It’s a walk in the park.” But he added: “Even when you have the tough days, you do remind yourself what a phenomenal organization it is. It’s still, despite all the competition, the number one U.K. media brand,” the most trusted news service, so “there’s a lot of good stuff to celebrate. But when you put yourself on the front line of U.K. politics and the front line of global politics, … [what] goes with that is a very significant burden.”
Earlier speakers at the Enders conference included Sky CEO Dana Strong.