New moonlighting row rocks BBC as star hosts oil event
THE BBC is to review its rules on ‘moonlighting’ staff after it emerged that Today presenter Mishal Husain was paid to appear at oil industry events.
Anger was sparked over Corporation stars ‘cashing in’ on their profiles for personal gain after The Mail on Sunday revealed that Kamal Ahmed, the BBC’s editorial director, was paid £12,000 to address hedge fund managers just days after telling 450 of his colleagues that they face the sack. Following our report, he waived the fee.
That row has now intensified amid reports that Husain, who also sometimes presents BBC1 news bulletins, was a moderator at last week’s Oslo Energy Forum, a three-day invitationonly event for oil and gas executives.
The 47-year-old, who was paid £255,000 by the BBC last year, has also hosted the event in Norway on at least five previous occasions and makes regular appearances at a conference staged every year by Equinor, the country’s state-run oil firm.
Husain, one of the BBC’s most respected journalists, did seek prior approval for the work, in keeping with Corporation guidelines. It is not known how much she was paid.
A clampdown on the BBC’s moonlighting culture is now seen as inevitable because of the sheer number of news and current affairs staff topping up their salaries with private work.
One BBC presenter, who asked not to be named, said: ‘Everybody does it but I don’t think anyone is going to give you a list of everything they do because it’s a private contractual arrangement.
‘There is a lot of work out there, ranging from literary festivals to charity events, which people don’t charge for, to quite well-paid corporate events. The crucial thing is to get permission. A lot of people were surprised that Jon Sopel [the BBC’s North American Editor] was given permission to be a speaker for tobacco firm Philip Morris. That seemed crazy.’
Husain’s willingness to accept fees from an industry facing scrutiny over its environmental record leaves her vulnerable to accusations of a conflict of interest. A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion said: ‘This is yet another uncomfortable example of the insidious relationship between fossil fuel companies and the media.’
But another BBC insider, who asked not to be named, said: ‘At least Mishal has done everything by the book. There are a lot of people in the BBC doing a lot more outside work than her.’
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen last night said BBC staff in news and current affairs should have to register their outside interests just like MPs.
A BBC spokesman said: ‘Editorial guidelines allow BBC journalists to carry out external speaking, or chairing engagements as long as they maintain objectivity and impartiality.’
Husain was unavailable for comment last night.