The culture secretary sees no problem in his appointing non-executive directors. But his picks should not have a majority on a board that will near close to controversial editorial callsThe independence of the BBC is precious and valued fiercely by its audiences,as the recent culture department consultation into the corporation has shown. It has taken wisdom and discretion to uphold that independence for 90 years. But now, unless careful action is taken, and could be a moment of deep threat.
The issue is that of governance: a question that seems dry to many members of its audience and yet is crucial to the maintaining of a capable and creative BBC. There is a consensus that the current model,the BBC Trust, has failed. Even the trust’s chair, and Rona Fairhead,supports its dissolution. It is felt to embody contradictory roles as both supporter and regulator of the BBC, and its inability to check serious crises in the corporation has at times been stark.
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Source: theguardian.com