Murder he wrote (BBC is dead-Long Live the BBC). Review on BBC

A 700 page death sentence. Nothing new, death sentences are usually long drawn processes and thus the elaborate reasoning, especially in these times of human rights et al. These also have always evoked mixed sentiments amongst us. But how does one react when it is not a person/s but the most respected news entity in the world.

Lord Hutton has given his verdict, acquitting blair's government of all the alleged misdoing and blamed everybody else for the same, even the late Dr. Perry was not spared. But the biggest casuality of this huttonian enquiry was the BBC. The last time their was a Huttonian inquiry in early 19th century, it also shook the erstwhile prejudices and laid the foundation of modern day Study of Geology. Ain't no such luck this time.

It all started when the BBC's journalist Andrew Gilligan reported that the Blair government, probably knew that its claim that Iraq can launch WMD in 45 days (its reason for going to war) was false and they purposely misled British public. Most of our friends in MS would say, what's the big deal we already suspected that. But that report resulted in huge uproar in Britain especially after it was leaked that Gilligan's one and only source was Britain's premier weapons expert Dr. Kelly and even before this had sunk in he was found dead in his apartment, alleged suicide and thus Mr. Prime Minister had a very tough time both inside and outside the House of Lords. He finally had to commission a judicial inquiry into Dr. Kelly's death and at the helm of it was the most respected retired judge in Britain.

With each passing day so much was said and written on this issue that this became a ticking political time bomb for the longest serving Labour prime minister. It is safe to say that Mr. Blair political career was on the line. Also it would not have been very healthy for Mr. Bush's run for the second term if his premier ally was charged with making up false intelligence especially when he has also been on the receiving end of such attacks, albeit of a lower intensity.

With so much at stake, it was surprising especially for me that such a report will be out so soon (especially judging from the performances of judicial governments appointed by Indian governments over the years, remember Venkatswamy commission). But even Tony Blair couldn't have asked for better results even in his best dreams.

Coming back to the point, the BBC was deemed the main culprit. Lord Hutton blamed BBC for being unpatriotic, false reporting, faulty editorial control, inability of board to properly investigate this matter..(they say that these form half of the 700 page report). In short it was BBC's fault that this report was telecast and it was Dr. Kelly's fault that he met Andrew Gilligan. But wait a minute what about Kelly's death?? Oh that, it was a suicide out of shame. Till the time I wrote this two BBC executive including chairman of the board and Andrew Gilligan have resigned and I'm sure they will not be the only ones.

So why am I so worked up about this? For the uninitiated BBC is the only publicly funded but privately managed news organization. What this means is that even though government funds its running costs it cannot exercise any kind of editorial control(something that has plagued org. like Doordarshan), also as it does not have to worry too much about making money or being number one for the shareholders it doesn't have to resort to cheap tricks and ego satiation(a la Fox in America). To a certain extent it is an working example of the adage a White man's Burden.

Over the years this setup has helped BBC pursue journalistic excellence and it is without doubt that this has led BBC to become the premier news organization in the world, as far as credibility and respectability goes. No other Newspaper/Magazine/News Channel commands so much respect across the board. Its regional services like BBC Arabic, BBC Hindi (Radio) command enviable respect and BBC takes pride in that. In times like these when truth varies according to the ethnic/National affiliation of the channel you are watching it was a relief to have a voice like BBC which tries its best to look on the both sides of the coin.

But that may change coz now the point about govt. excersizing no editorial control might not be all that true. Now every time a story like this will come up, every one associated with it will think twice before playing it, who knows the next 700 pages might have his name on it. Even if by some miracle this does not happen then also, anybody will think twice before being an informer to BBC and last but not the least the audience will always have one thing in mind Is there something they are afraid to tell?? Its a vicious circle, it takes decades for you to gain respect and reputation and just one over ambitious politician to destroy it in one go.

There is no point arguing the report, though it has a right to question individuals, BBC has to respect the institutions that the taxpayers respect. It has a responsibility but doesn't the government?? Let us accept for a minute that BBC was at fault, so....., they are not gods, are they? If that forced Mr. Hutton to label BBC unpatriotic, then what does one can make out of the incumbent government and the judge who literally castigated it in almost every front with no consideration of the fact that it is an organisation every Brit. is proud of and it was just doing its job.

I'm sorry but I cannot help but see this report as a witch-hunt and a whit wash job for Blair government. But the damage has been done. While every Brit. publication worth its salt criticized the report, it would take much more then that to give BBC its due. The way things stand today, it's probably the end of BBC as we know it.

For some it will be just another news channel, for some this mistake will make it untrustworthy (or will be used as an excused), people like us would think about what we lost for a few days and then get used to the way things are and hoping someday better sense will prevail. The higher you are, the greater you fall.

One of the journalist of the print media said in one of the discussions in BBC that British citizen will never forgive Blair for hurting BBC so bad, coz what they lost was much more precious then what was gained. They say people don't realize what they have until they have lost it. 'In Beeb we trust' - I hope this is not the last time I'm saying it with conviction.

Njoy! (But What?)

P.S. This was supposed to be my 50th review. It took me 3 years and 34 days. No doubt the slowest 50 till date. And it shows. Even MS has got tired of me. Thanks to that my 49th review on Warriors of Heaven and Earth OST, which I wrote on mouthpad as the category was not there has been ignored alltogether. Though now the category has been added but my review is still not their. Considering they have added it under Indian film category, I think it is due to some other members request. Just a month back they had ignored my request to add ''Steven Spielberg prents Taken''. But I'm not going anywhere and may many more 50's come my way. AAMEEN.

P.P.S- I take this oppurtunity to welcome back Tribal_Chief. For the uninitiated, he is the best film reviewer in MS. Don't take my word for it, go and read urself.