BBC says sorry over Newsnight report into child abuse

Newsnight is feeling the heat again after a report it aired last week.


The investigation, done in collaboration with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, featured stories about sexual abuse which took place a Welsh care home in the 1980s. Newsnight did not name the ‘senior Conservative figure’ but the programme alluded to who it was throughout the programme.
It was revealed yesterday that one of the victims, who Newsnight spoke to at length, has admitted that Lord McAlpine was not the man who abused him, and offered an apology. Lord McAlpine has stated that he will look at taking legal action against those who named him online and the BBC.
Last night, presenter Eddie Mair opened Newsnight with an apology before going on to discuss with guests where this leaves the programme and the reputation of the BBC.  The BBC Director-General, George Entwistle (pictured), has ordered Newsnight not to do anymore investigative stories until editorial ‘robustness and supervision’ has been assessed.
The Director-General spoke on BBC Radio 4 Today programme this morning (Saturday) in which he stated that he had not thought about shutting down Newsnight over the recent scandals.