The British Broadcasting Corporation offered an apology for using and defending a racist term in its reporting, calling it “a mistake.”
Director-General Tony Hall apologized for using the n-word during a report on a vicious attack in Bristol. The use drew more than 18,600 complaints, including complaints from politicians and BBC staff.
London, United Kingdom – People outside the main entrance to the BBC Broadcasting House building in central London.
BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ Sideman left the station on the issue.
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“The action and the defense of the action feels like a slap in the face to our community,” DJ Sideman, real name David Whitely, said in a statement.
The BBC initially defended the use of the word, saying the organization felt it was necessary to “not only explain and report the injuries, but, given their supposedly extreme nature, the words being uttered were used “during an attack on an NHS worker.
Larry Madowo, American correspondent for the BBC’s World Service, said he had not previously been allowed to use the term in an article quoting an African-American, but mocked the fact that the BBC was defending the action, in order to it was “editorially fair.”
However, the organization later accepted that use of the word was offensive.
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Hall acknowledged that the use of the racist term “distress” was causing a stir among her viewers and promised that the BBC would strengthen “guidance” on offensive language.
“This is important journalism that the BBC needs to report on and we will continue to do so,” Hall said. “Yet, despite these good intentions, I recognize that we are creating need among many people.”
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“The BBC now accepts that we should have taken a different approach at the time of the broadcast and we regret that. We will now strengthen our offensive language guidance on our output.”
