Talk:BBC sexual abuse cases

The way forward

What is the way forward for this article? Well, at least some of it can be merged into the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal article, while the part concerning the appalling treatment of Lord McAlpine by Newsnight may be better at something line 2012 Newsnight controversy. Any thoughts? Paul MacDermott (talk) 21:51, 23 December 2012 (UTC)

It seems to me that what may be needed - but can't be written yet - is an article covering the culture in the BBC in the 1950s-80s (say) that permitted the abuse to take place. It can't really be written until the Dame Janet Smith inquiry reports.[1] Otherwise, the Savile material in this article should be merged back into the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal article, and details of any criminal prosecutions that arise should be in the Operation Yewtree article. The claims against individuals like Derek McCulloch and Stuart Hall, who worked at the BBC, are not at all directly related to Savile, and should be covered in their own biographical articles - unless and until it becomes obvious that they were part of a wider culture, when they should also be linked from a new Smith inquiry article.
The McAlpine / Newsnight case is different as it doesn't relate in any way to abuse by BBC employees, but rather to the BBC's journalistic standards and management. It's covered at various articles at present, including the articles on McAlpine, Newsnight, and the North Wales child abuse scandal which (rather than the Savile scandal) is where the story began. It's also covered at Criticism of the BBC and BBC controversies. There's a case for that whole affair to be in a separate new article (2012 BBC ''Newsnight'' controversy) - but, in the meantime, I think it is best tackled at the "Criticism of the BBC" article - which should focus on criticism of the BBC as an organisation, rather than on specific broadcasts. Ghmyrtle (talk) 09:34, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

We certainly have this subject dealt with in too many articles. Whatever happened was not directly the fault of the BBC or its senior management.

1. Savile was a low-level employee. We clearly need an article on what he did.
2. At the next level, we need an article that also covers other allegations, with a "main" link to the Savile article. This should only contain a summary of the above.
3. Above that comes (again with a "main" link) the BBC controversies article, again with no more than a summary of the above.

I would suggest that the McAlpine controversy does not belong in any of these except the last. It is a case of very poor journalism, not (as far as BBC is concerned) a case of sexual abuse at all. There was a victim of sexual abuse, but by a person who remains unknown. It is a question of who the policeman who referred to a Tory treasurer meant. I suspect that every branch has a treasurer. It is possible that a policeman thought it not worth his while investigating an allegation by a boy in a children's home against an apparently prominent member of society with influence, but that is merely my opinion.

I would suggest that the Criticisms article should not refer to the matter at all, save possibly by a link to the Controversies article.

It will nodoubt be necessary, after amendment, to defend the articles against officious people, who will object to these changes and want to put excessive detail back in. Peterkingiron (talk) 18:26, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

imprisoned so far

so far seven people from the bbc have been imprisioned Stuart Hall, Chris Denning, Michael Souter, Peter Rowell, A bbc engineer Darren Shearer and the bbc chauffeur David Smith killed himself. I think this article should be updated to show not only people's opinions on the bbc in the media but also the actual people who have been convicted and imprisioned who have worked there. and how can you say savile was a 'low-level-employee'??? he ammased millions of pounds in money from his job with the bbc...doh...and there are still court cases going on at the moment with 'former employees'. jakthelad — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.182.73.33 (talk) 11:54, 23 May 2014 (UTC)

I've added a link to Operation Yewtree and the Stuart Hall case - but, essentially, these stories are better and more fully addressed in other articles, not this one. Ghmyrtle (talk) 12:13, 23 May 2014 (UTC)