Beeb to double investment in journalism training to £10m

by Sam Matthews, Brand Republic 27-Jun-05, 11:00

LONDON –The BBC is doubling its investment in journalism training from £5m to £10m by 2008 after a report into its editorial systems supported the Hutton Report's claim that they were defective.

The Robert Neil report, chaired by former BBC director of news and current affairs Robert Neil, recommended the BBC double spend on journalism training following Lord Hutton's assertion that its editorial systems were defective after 'Today' reporter Andrew Gilligan's report on the Iraq weapons dossier.

It was this report that sparked the weapons of mass destruction inquiry and led to the resignation of BBC director-general Greg Dyke and chairman Gavyn Davies.

The BBC has said it will appoint a director of journalism training and develop a virtual College of Journalism providing interactive learning modules, workshops and seminars.

The training will be compulsory for journalists working for BBC News, Global News, Nations and Regions and other relevant areas.

BBC journalists will be given a minimum level of training every year and editors will be given advanced training in ethics, values and dilemmas.

So far, 10,000 members of staff have completed the corporation's Editorial Policy course and 8,000 staff have attended Neil workshops.

Mark Byford, BBC deputy director-general, said: "This is an exciting and ambitious training initiative which will, we hope, set a gold standard for broadcast journalism training in the UK."

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