Why the BBC’s independence matters now more than ever

“We live in an age of complete information chaos at the moment… and by and large, despite everything, people still trust the BBC far more than any Fleet Street newspaper.”

-Alan Rusbridger, speaking at the RSA

The BBC is seen as one of Britain’s most trusted media institutions, yet public confidence regarding its editorial independence is being questioned.

On the 3rd of February, the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) hosted a panel on the future of the BBC, featuring former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger, Times Radio journalist and podcaster, Manveen Rana, author and cohost of The New Agents Lewis Goodall, and Hardeep Matharu, Editor-in-Chief of the Byline Times. The event was chaired by ITV News arts editor Nina Nannar.

The panel discussed how important the BBC is in today’s media landscape and how the organisation will navigate ongoing pressures regarding its future as a publication…