The BBC Board on Friday published reviews of the Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee (EGSC) and a memo from Michael Prescott that was leaked last month.
BBC Reviews Editorial Guidelines and Prescott Memo
The review of the EGSC was commissioned by BBC Chair, Samir Shah, and conducted by Caroline Thomson with support from Richard Sambrook. The findings were unanimously accepted by the BBC Board and approved for publication on Thursday, December 18.
Following the EGSC review, the BBC will refocus the Committee’s remit to better manage editorial risk, adopt a new approach to handling editorial queries promptly, reset the composition of the Committee to broaden representation, and clarify the role of external editorial advisers, with recruitment for two new advisers to begin.
A separate, more detailed review examining the issues raised in Michael Prescott’s memo was also published. This review was undertaken by the BBC’s Director of Editorial Complaints and Reviews, Peter Johnston.
Johnston initially reviewed the Prescott document in October 2025, but at the Board’s request, he conducted a more comprehensive review of all issues raised and actions taken. He found that more actions had been taken than acknowledged by Prescott, and that some remaining issues had already been addressed since the memo became public. He also outlined any further actions required.
BBC Chair Samir Shah stated, “These are important reviews, and I am grateful to the authors for the speed and care they have taken in producing them.”
Shah added, “Along with the BBC Board, I am now ensuring immediate changes are made to the EGSC to ensure swift, appropriate and transparent action is taken to address editorial issues as effectively as possible, whenever they occur.”
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