Gaby Hinsliff writes in her excellent piece (The Huw Edwards feeding frenzy has been truly awful – but it could yet strengthen the BBC, 13 July) that the Sun now insists that it never alleged criminality in the Huw Edwards case, despite initially accusing him of paying a 17-year-old for sexual images and despite its headlines suggesting he could face “years in prison”. Lucy Frazer, the culture secretary, may well expect some tough questions about regulation of both the established press and social media platforms that failed to stop their users recklessly libelling various household names once the story broke.
But, as Gaby warns, “don’t hold your breath, this close to a general election, for anything to come of that.” I fear then that her final sentence: “There is no future, in the end, for a news organisation incapable of facing the truth” is just wishful thinking.
Michael Brown
Chichester
• Gaby Hinsliff’s piece covered the Huw Edwards story concisely and thoroughly. But what a can of worms has been opened: a rabidly rightwing populist newspaper gleefully piling into the politically neutral BBC, all neatly connected with the Conservative party’s desires to modify the BBC’s fairness in reporting on their performance.
It should not be a surprise to anyone. Did anyone detect a scintilla of concern in the Sun’s reporting for the welfare of the young person concerned? It was simply a chance to take a pot at a media rival, a chance avidly grabbed without a care for accuracy.
I agree with Gaby that the BBC has not been damaged by the Sun’s charade, but see a need to protect the BBC’s editorial independence in the future to assert its neutrality. The BBC must always be watchful to ensure that neutrality continues, and be prepared to defend itself publicly and noisily against political meddling.
Dave Pugh
Kerswell Green, Worcestershire
• Your article suggests BBC news reporters’ apparent freedom from corporate caution in their coverage of the broadcaster’s current crisis “may be lost on many viewers” (Huw Edwards: how BBC news arm is driving story about one of its own, 13 July). Well not this viewer; I take it as a welcome sign that the broadcaster’s journalists’ proactive independence of spirit is alive and well – thank goodness.
And if Huw Edwards is reported to have been “not overly impressed” with the BBC’s coverage, well, if he had been impressed then I would be very worried.
Peter Grimsdale
Former BBC executive, London
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