The Board of Deputies welcomes today’s BBC announcement that Community Security Trust and Antisemitism Policy Trust have provided the material for a new compulsory training course for all staff, to be rolled out over the next six months.
This announcement follows months of engagement from the Board and partner organisations with the BBC, and a meeting the Board held on Tuesday with BBC Chair Samir Shah, outgoing Director General Tim Davie and other BBC executives, which addressed antisemitism training, concerns relating to BBC Arabic, and wider Middle East coverage.
Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg said:
“Over the last 18 months, the Board of Deputies’ engagement with the BBC has focused on the urgent need for change in both culture and content at the Corporation. We have always said that a key component of the cultural change required is a proper understanding of contemporary antisemitism, provided by credible organisations. Our aspiration is that, in time, the training and additional safeguarding and compliance will also be provided to suppliers and contractors as well as staff”.
On BBC Arabic, the Board raised a litany of past problems, which have been widely publicised. The BBC ran through changes to structure, content and oversight that they have made to the Arabic service. They also indicated that it was hoped that the long-promised thematic review of Middle East coverage would be launched early in the New Year.
Board Vice President Andrew Gilbert said: “These changes to BBC Arabic will have to be measured in terms of impact. We urge the BBC to expedite a full, independent thematic review on its coverage of the Middle East since 7 October 2023, which has been of profound concern. We continue to encourage our community to use the BBC’s complaints service, and we will continue to escalate issues of concern.”
On a positive note, the Board also discussed with the BBC leadership its plans for a new Jewish Culture Month in 2026, and ways that the BBC can support this initiative.
Phil Rosenberg added: “The BBC finds itself in a moment of challenge and opportunity. It can continue in the same vein, with the same problems, or it can make changes that restore trust and pride in the central place of our national broadcaster in an ever-more fraught and fractious media and societal landscape. We hope that today’s announcement on antisemitism training to all staff is the start of a more positive journey.”