“Its journalists select and manipulate facts, as well as censor information that does not align with their partisan editorial stance.”
The corporation has come under fire after a leaked internal memo alleged bias in its coverage, which is supposed to remain impartial, of the U.S. president, the Middle East, and transgender issues. The U.S. president’s lawyers have given the corporation until Friday to “retract” any “false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements” about him.
Russia’s London outpost on Tuesday accused the BBC of “systemic flaws … where ideological dogma has replaced journalistic ethics” and claimed it had overseen years of “biased reporting” and “double standards” in editorial policy.
“The corporation has become a platform for Russophobia and extremism,” the Telegram post said.
British Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will give a statement on Tuesday afternoon about the controversy, as well as the corporation’s future funding model, a live question as it enters its ten-yearly charter renewal process, which sets the BBC’s remit.
In a call with BBC staff Tuesday, reported by the Guardian, outgoing BBC Director-General Tim Davie — who has acknowledged failings over the Panorama documentary — hit back at external critics of the organization.