How does the BBC report on big stories about itself?

Whenever large news stories involving nan BBC travel along, journalists astatine BBC News and BBC Sport are required to study connected nan corp conscionable arsenic they would pinch immoderate different accusation that is successful nan nationalist interest.

BBC News and BBC Sport are soul divisions of nan BBC, meaning journalists moving present are not ever privy to large decisions taken by those astatine nan apical of nan corporation.

That intends unit grip news involving their employer pinch nan aforesaid attack and standards they would immoderate different communicative - by attempting to verify information, contacting nan property office, and requesting remark and interviews from those progressive successful nan story.

They past purpose to pass nan news to nan nationalist successful nan astir impartial, timely and transparent measurement possible.

Journalists moving for BBC News and BBC Sport sometimes moreover 'doorstep' their bosses - approaching elder figures for unplanned interviews astatine home, successful corridors aliases connected nan thoroughfare to talk important, newsworthy matters.

Sometimes stories involving nan BBC mightiness beryllium reported elsewhere first, for various reasons. Other media outlets whitethorn person been fixed accusation by a root that has not yet reached BBC journalists, aliases mightiness person a different attack to nan measurement they people news stories.

BBC Sport has a argumentation of 'double-sourcing' nan news it reports - verifying accusation pinch astatine slightest 2 abstracted entities earlier publishing to guarantee that our news reporting is accurate.

The news Gary Lineker will time off nan BBC is 1 illustration of BBC journalists having to study connected a large communicative involving their employer.

So, really has nan BBC informed its assemblage astir nan story?

In November 2024, it was announced that Lineker would time off Match of nan Day astatine nan extremity of nan season, but would proceed to big BBC Sport's sum of nan 2026 World Cup and adjacent season's FA Cup.

That news was first reported by different media outlets, pinch BBC News journalists confirming its accuracy astir 50 minutes later,

On Sunday, reports suggested Lineker was group to time off nan BBC earlier than planned - and nary longer big nan World Cup aliases FA Cup.

The BBC said an announcement was expected connected Monday, pinch its civilization and media editor Katie Razzall reporting BBC bosses considered Lineker's position untenable aft he had to apologise for sharing a societal media station astir Zionism.

The BBC's societal media rules opportunity presenters of flagship programmes person "a peculiar work to respect nan BBC's impartiality".

The charismatic announcement was made astatine midday connected Monday.

BBC director-general Tim Davie said: "Gary has acknowledged nan correction he made. Accordingly, we person agreed he will measurement backmost from further presenting aft this season.

"Gary has been a defining sound successful shot sum for nan BBC for complete 2 decades. His passion and knowledge person shaped our sports publicity and earned him nan respect of sports fans crossed nan UK and beyond. We want to convey him for nan publication he has made."

In a statement, Lineker recognised nan "error and upset caused", and reiterated his apologies.

"I attraction profoundly astir nan game, and astir nan activity I've done pinch nan BBC complete galore years. As I've said, I would ne'er consciously repost thing antisemitic – it goes against everything I guidelines for."

Shortly aft nan news broke, BBC unit received an email from head of athletics Alex Kay-Jelski.

"I admit nan past week has been difficult and affectional for galore of you," he said.

"Thank you for each nan messages and conversations, moreover if immoderate of them weren't easy to have. And I dream you understand that I had to hold until now to show you nan news.

"It is sad to beryllium saying goodbye to specified a superb broadcaster and I besides want to convey Gary for his years of service."

This article is nan latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

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