The BBC's treatment of a journalist behind its original Jimmy Savile expose has been described as "truly shocking", "shameful" and "disgraceful".
Meirion Jones, Newsnight's former head of investigations, told Press Gazette in an interview – published this week – that he felt "everyone involved on the right side of the Savile argument has been forced out of the BBC".
His assertion was backed by reporter Liz MacKean (pictured with Jones, above), who told Press Gazette: “I didn’t feel encouraged to stay. I felt I would do better to work outside the BBC.
“There were still so many people who have been shown to be on the wrong side of the story who have stayed."
Newsnight's investigation into Savile was suppressed in the winter of 2011, shortly after his death.
In October 2012, an ITV documentary – presented by Mark Williams-Thomas, who had worked on the Newsnight investigation – revealed that Savile was a serial sex offender.
The article, which was followed up in The Guardian, Times and Mail Online, has been shared on social media more than 2,000 times and the corporation has been widely condemned for its treatment on Jones.
In response to the interview, a BBC spokesperson said: "Meirion Jones has made his views known before and we have always been clear that nobody was forced out of the BBC for exposing the Savile scandal.
“The Pollard Report concluded, following a detailed investigation, that the decision to drop the initial investigation into Jimmy Savile was taken in good faith and not for any improper reason.”
Channel 4 News political correspondent Michael Crick, who worked at BBC's Newsnight for 19 years before leaving in 2011, described Jones' story as "truly shocking"
Truly shocking account from Meirion Jones of how the BBC forced out everyone in BBC who got the Savile scandal right https://t.co/Y3SFrkytz4
— Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) July 29, 2015
And, Meirion Jones points out, most of those in BBC who got the Savile scandal horribly wrong, kept their BBC jobs https://t.co/Y3SFrkytz4
— Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) July 29, 2015
Former BBC employment correspondent Martin Shankleman, meanwhile, described the treatment of BBC reporters behind the Savile investigation as "shameful".
And Colleen Murrell, a former BBC foreign duty editor, said the allegations mark a "sad state of affairs".
How the BBC treated their journalists who'd uncovered the Savile scandal: shameful. https://t.co/MLa5tDW4x6
— Martin Shankleman (@MartShankleman) July 29, 2015
A sad state of affairs Allegations that #BBC branded Jimmy Savile whistleblowers traitors and 'squeezed them out' https://t.co/H6WVDEXUZU
— Colleen Murrell (@ivorytowerjourn) July 30, 2015
Elsewhere, Mark Watts, the editor of the investigative news agency Exaro, said the article was "damning".
Media professor Tim Crook described the situation as "worrying".
And Heather Brooke, who was part of the Telegraph team which exposed the MPs' expenses scandal, said: "We should all be worried."
This is very very worrying for @bbctrust and what a loss for BBC of @lizmackean and @MeirionTweets #Savile https://t.co/hshvFqacwq
— Peter Jukes (@peterjukes) July 29, 2015
Fascinating interview, claim of "deep-rooted culture of caution" and "presenteeism" at BBC means fewer scoops https://t.co/CLnE8udz4a
— Andrew Picken (@andrewpicken1) July 29, 2015
Outrageous – and when you realise this in effect forced out a reporter of quality and track record of Liz Mackean! https://t.co/qtgjAz5FNa
— Roderick Cooper (@TheRodCooper) July 29, 2015
Damning @pressgazette: “Everyone involved on the right side of the Savile argument has been forced out of the BBC.” https://t.co/nmUf76SwCW
— Mark Watts (@MarkWatts_1) July 29, 2015
BBC producer on Newsnight’s ill-fated investigation into Jimmy Savile warns whistleblowers: do NOT go to the BBC. https://t.co/nmUf76SwCW
— Mark Watts (@MarkWatts_1) July 29, 2015
Fascinating @pressgazette story about Savile, the BBC, whistle-blowing, reporter movements and all sorts else https://t.co/HLxsoACEWr
— Alex Hudson (@alexhuds) July 29, 2015
Proper journalism and important story from @press gazette and @Domponsford https://t.co/HLuOQwQkLc
— Neil Thackray (@neilthackray) July 29, 2015
@RichardWellings @annispice UK Press Gazette reveals how BBC fools lost Meirion Jones and Liz Mackean..
— Roderick Cooper (@TheRodCooper) July 29, 2015
Worrying interview-PG: 'Meirion Jones: 'Everyone on right side of the Savile argument has been forced out of the BBC' https://t.co/IFWhRLxinw
— Tim Crook (@libertarianspir) July 29, 2015
Worrying clearout of top journos at BBC. Meiron Jones sounds the alarm. We should all be worried. https://t.co/MFbVqwPA7j
— Heather Brooke (@newsbrooke) July 29, 2015
@MarkWatts_1 @stop1984 @pressgazette Quite how this sits when the Dame Janet Smith inquiry finally publishes could be interesting
— paul connew (@paulconnew1) July 30, 2015
Disgraceful treatment of these principled staff. https://t.co/LsMsTwqczQ
— Lynn Sheridan (@LynnMSheridan) July 30, 2015
Isn’t it great when our public broadcaster acts in its own interest rather than the public interest? https://t.co/Ibzonk3ilH
— Michael O'C Davidson (@mikeocd) July 29, 2015
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