BBC board to review editorial policies after Dyson report on Diana interview
The BBC board will launch a review into the effectiveness of the broadcaster's editorial policies and governance following Lord Dyson's report into the 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.
The inquiry by the former master of the rolls concluded that journalist Martin Bashir had used "deceitful behaviour" to land the world exclusive and an internal BBC investigation a year later had covered it up.
In a statement, the BBC board admitted the failings set out in the 127-page document and said it hoped to ensure the "mistakes of the past" were not repeated.
It said: "We accepted Lord Dyson's findings in full and reiterate the apology we have offered to all those affected by the failings identified.
"We recognise the impact that the events it describes has had on so many people, not least those whose lives were personally affected by what happened.
"We also acknowledge that audiences had a right to expect better from the BBC."
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee also announced it will hold a session, expected to be in June, to examine questions raised by the report
Committee chair Julian Knight said: "We believe the BBC has further questions to answer following last week's report by Lord Dyson and further speculation in the media over the weekend, including views expressed by Martin Bashir himself.
"We want to speak to those
who were involved at the time and in the years that followed the screening of this programme, which continues to create headlines more than 25 years on.
"Scrutiny of the BBC has never come at a more critical time for the broadcaster and we will play our part in this in order to examine events and processes, crucial to retaining audiences' trust in the BBC."
The BBC board's review will be undertaken by a group of non-executive board directors, led by Sir Nick Serota, senior independent director of the BBC.
It will be supported by Ian Hargreaves and Sir Robbie Gibb, non-executive members of the corporation's editorial guidelinesandstandardscommittee, and will report to the BBC board in September.
The review will look at oversight of editorial practices and assess the robustness and independence of whistleblowing processes.
It will also identify "lessons to be learned" from Lord Dyson's review which may be relevant today.
The board added: "We have confidence that the processes and guidelines in today's BBC are much stronger than they were in 1995, but we know we must also do what we can to prevent such an incident happening again. As such, we think it is right that we review the effectiveness of the BBC'S editorial policies and governance in detail.
"In doing this, the board will hold the Executive to account to ensure there are strong dayto-day editorial processes and a clear route by which to handle any specific issues arising from Lord Dyson's report. "The board will look at the culture of the BBC as part of its remit to assess the effectiveness of policies and practice."
The BBC has taken steps since 1995 to improve the conduct of its employees, protect whistleblowers and overhaul its complaints process.