The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has announced the resignation of its director general, Tim Davie, and head of news, Deborah Turness, amidst controversy surrounding a documentary about the 2021 US Capitol riots. The broadcaster has been accused of misleading the public by splicing together different segments of a speech delivered by US President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021.

The White House has criticized the BBC, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt branding the broadcaster a “Leftist propaganda machine” and accusing it of being “purposefully dishonest.” The BBC has faced allegations of institutional bias and has been accused of pursuing a political agenda.

The controversy surrounds a BBC Panorama episode that contained a clip of Trump’s remarks made about 54 minutes apart, giving the impression that he had directly incited protesters to march towards the Capitol. However, it has been reported that the protesters shown in the clip were actually filmed before Trump started addressing his supporters.

The BBC has acknowledged that the controversy has caused damage to the broadcaster’s reputation and has maintained that it seeks to “pursue the truth with no agenda.” Turness stated that the broadcaster is committed to accuracy and fairness, despite accusations of bias.

This is not the first time the BBC has faced criticism for its journalistic practices. Last month, the UK communications watchdog, Ofcom, ruled that the BBC had breached its code in another documentary, failing to disclose that the narrator was the son of a Hamas official. The documentary was found to be “materially misleading.”

The BBC is funded through an annual license fee and receives direct funding from the British government for its World Service. The broadcaster’s commitment to impartiality and accuracy has been called into question, and the resignations of its top officials may be seen as an attempt to restore public trust.

The controversy highlights the importance of accurate and unbiased reporting, particularly in the context of high-profile events such as the 2021 US Capitol riots. As a publicly funded broadcaster, the BBC has a responsibility to maintain the highest standards of journalism and to provide accurate and trustworthy information to its audience.