BBC Trust

The BBC Trust is an independent body of the British Broadcasting Corporation BBC, which has existed since 1 January 2007. It is similar to the broadcasting councils of public service broadcasters in Germany.

History

The BBC Trust was established due to the BBC's Royal Charter, which entered into force on 1 January 2007. The Trust, together with the newly formed simultaneously Executive Board, the successor organization to the BBC Board of Governors, which had existed since the founding of the BBC in 1927 and was dissolved on 31 December 2006.

Background of this administrative reform was a major restructuring of the BBC during the third term of the Labour government of Tony Blair. On one hand, remained controversial for political reasons fee financing of the station received. On the other hand, several thousand jobs were deleted, production orders for shipments were awarded increasingly to the private sector and the marketing of BBC content and products has been strengthened. However, the oversight of the BBC remained in his own home and was not the regulator Ofcom received.

Task

The BBC Trust is an internal oversight body of the BBC. Its mission is to establish and to control the Executive Board, which conducts current affairs, general guidelines for the development of the BBC.

The Trust operates in the public interest, including the interests of license fee payers.

The chairman of the BBC Trust is also the chairman of the BBC.

The Trust shall appoint the Chairman of the Executive Board, who is also managing director ( director general) and editor in chief of the transmitter.

Members

The BBC Trust has twelve members, each named trustee: a chairman, a deputy chairman, four members for each of the independent states of the United Kingdom, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and six other members. They come from different areas and therefore bring very different experiences in their activities.

All members are appointed on the proposal of the government to an application procedure of the British Queen.

The first chairman Michael Grade should be, who had also chaired the BBC Board of Governors, which was interpreted as a sign of continuity originally. Grade changed but in the short term for private television ITV

The current members are:

  • Lord Patten of Barnes, Chairman
  • Diane Coyle OBE, Deputy Chairman
  • Richard Ayre
  • Anthony Fry
  • Alison Hastings, Trustee for England
  • Rotha Johnston CBE, Trustee for Northern Ireland
  • David Liddiment
  • Bill Matthews, Trustee for Scotland
  • Mehmuda Mian
  • Elan Closs Stephens CBE, Trustee for Wales
  • Suzanna Taverne
  • Lord Williams

Members are more than five years working for the committee, after which they may be appointed for five years again.

Audience Councils

The BBC Trust is supported by four " viewer advisory boards " ( audience councils ), which may present the opinions of the four member countries of the United Kingdom.

Board of Governors of the BBC
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