Category: World Service
Date: 15.12.2005
Printable version
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ welcomes the conclusions of the Carter report. This represents a positive vision of the value of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service and affirms the critical role of the World Service's editorial independence.
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We are pleased that this major contribution to the reputation of the UK around the world has been acknowledged in Lord Carter's report.
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Lord Carter also proposes greater accountability for public money. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Governors and management welcome this as entirely in line with their drive towards greater accountability of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ as a whole.
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The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's International Governor, Sir Andrew Burns, has written to Lord Carter on behalf of the Board of Governors outlining the Board's support for the proposals that will enhance the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's accountability for the public funding it receives, whilst safeguarding the critical requirement of editorial independence that is paramount to the effectiveness of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service.
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Copy of letter from Sir Andrew Burns, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ International Governor, to Lord Carter of Coles re Review of Public Diplomacy.
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Lord Carter of Coles
Public Diplomacy Review
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles St
London
SW1A 2AH
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24 November 2005
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REVIEW OF PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
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Further to my letter yesterday and our conversation, I presented the outcome of our discussions to the Board of Governors earlier today. I am pleased to report that the Governors were able to agree to the text as proposed, subject to my setting out of our understanding of public diplomacy for the record as we agreed.
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My colleagues were pleased that you felt able to reflect our concern that nothing in your conclusions should undermine the editorial independence of the World Service. Its effectiveness over the past 70 years had been founded in its reputation for impartiality and editorial independence, and I know you recognise that is why we have been so concerned to ensure that we do nothing to endanger that situation. That is why we believe that Observer status is the correct outcome for the World Service in relation to the new Public Diplomacy Board. Whilst of course the World Service will bring its experience to the table and be accountable for its performance against agreements with the FCO, it would not be in anyone's best interests for the World Service to be making decisions about the Government's wider public policy aims. Indeed, Governors welcomed moves towards greater accountability for public money as being fully consistent with their own agenda in relation to accountability to licence fee payers for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ as a whole.
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Similarly, we continue to believe that the perception of genuine editorial independence is underpinned by medium term financial certainty. Of course, we fully recognise that changes in funding and issues such as ring fencing remain within the gift of Ministers as you have outlined, and that they may wish to look for more radical options in the future. For our part, the Governors continue to believe financial certainty is an essential factor in the ultimate effectiveness of the World Service. However, in the short term, the key point I should make is that we are committed as a board to working with the new public diplomacy arrangements in order to make them a success.
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We have spoken at length about your proposed definition of public diplomacy. We view this definition in the light of your report's stance on the World Service's editorial independence as essentially being about the where and the how of broadcasting rather than the what. The latter of course remains a matter of editorial judgement. Proper accountability for the objectives agreed between the FCO and World Service as provided for in your Report would be wholly consistent with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's current mission as set out in the Charter and Agreement that the World Service shall, act "in accordance with the objectives, priorities and targets which may from time to time be agreed with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office". Thus as the World Service does now, we will of course work closely with the FCO about the locations where the World Service broadcasts and the means by which it does so. We will be accountable against robust and effective measures for the spending of public money in line with those objectives, priorities and targets.
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SIR ANDREW BURNS
International Governor
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DW
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