THE BBC will review whether it is delivering “impartiality” in its coverage of migration, it has been announced.
The broadcaster’s board will look at how it covers topics such as small boats crossing the English Channel, the admission of Ukrainian refugees and the “impact of migration on communities in the UK”.
Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University, and Samir Shah, chief executive of independent production company Juniper, will jointly chair and author the review.
A BBC statement said: “The review will assess coverage of topics such as ‘small boats’ crossing the English Channel; the admission of refugees fleeing Ukraine following the Russian invasion; the impact of migration on communities in the UK including the devolved nations and the English regions; the UK Government’s policy on sending some asylum seekers to Rwanda; and coverage of public announcements about migration.
“It will consider whether due impartiality is being delivered across BBC content and that a breadth of voices and viewpoints are being reflected.”
Outgoing BBC chairman Richard Sharp, forced out after his close links with former prime minister Boris Johnson were revealed, said: “Madeleine Sumption and Samir Shah are well-known for their expert understanding of the issues involved in delivering impartial coverage of migration, which is an important and often intensely contested subject.
“Their combination of evidence-based academic research and working knowledge of impartiality in broadcasting make them highly qualified to lead the thematic review into BBC migration output.
“Their findings will ensure the BBC continues to have the correct approach to producing coverage that audiences can trust.”
