All BBC staff have received an email from director general Tim Davie this morning following the dramatic weekend that resulted from Gary Lineker’s effective suspension from Match of the Day on account of his tweets.
The email, which followed an earlier statement announcing the BBC would launch a new review into its social media guidelines with a particular focus on non-news freelancers like Lineker, has been published in part on the BBC’s website.
In it, Davie said: “I want to acknowledge how challenging the last few days have been and to say how grateful I am for all your work during this weekend’s disruption.”
He goes on to tell staff that it was a “difficult balancing act to get right where people are subject to different contracts and on-air positions, and with different audience and social media profiles.”
But says he recognises that “there are grey areas which has caused potential confusion,” so a review on the BBC’s social media guidance will go ahead with a focus on how it applies to freelancers outside news and current affairs.
“Gary is in favour of such a review and I’m pleased that he will be back on air this coming weekend.”
“We’ve had a difficult weekend. But it’s right that we listen and that we ask ourselves questions to ensure that we continue to fight for a BBC that delivers world-class, impartial output for all audiences.”
Initial reactions weren’t exactly effusive. The BBC’s own media correspondent, David Sillito, told the BBC News channel that the two parties have effectively “kicked the can down the road,” but noted that “there is an agreement at the moment that some of the heat has been taken out of this for the time being.”
Speaking to the same outlet Sir Craig Oliver, David Cameron’s former director of communications and former controller of English news output for BBC Global News, put it more succinctly: “Gary Linker 1-0 BBC Credibility.”
