A BBC reporter has been found to have broken impartiality rules after referring to 'genocide' in Gaza, the broadcaster announced. Katty Kay, the BBC's US special correspondent, made the comment during an episode of the podcast "The Rest Is Politics: US," which she co-presents.
The BBC stated that Kay's remark "did not meet our editorial standards." The broadcaster explained that while Kay intended to attribute the characterization of events in Gaza to "certain Democrats" who believed Israel had committed genocide, she "failed to do so clearly." The BBC added that the wording used made it appear as though she was endorsing the description herself and that she did not provide appropriate context.
Kay, who has anchored BBC coverage of the 2016 and 2020 US presidential elections, made the comment in an episode recorded last month. The podcast is produced by Goalhanger, a company owned by former soccer player Gary Lineker. The BBC expects its staff to uphold editorial values even when appearing on non-BBC programs.
Ms. Kay expressed regret for not being clear enough in her statement and indicated it would be a learning opportunity. She is employed by BBC Studios and contributes occasionally to BBC News platforms.
This incident follows other impartiality controversies involving the BBC. Gary Lineker himself was previously found to have breached BBC impartiality rules over social media comments. Additionally, the BBC faced criticism regarding a Panorama documentary and the undisclosed relationship of a documentary narrator to a Hamas official. The broadcaster's new director-general, Matt Brittin, has pledged to address impartiality issues within the organization. An internal BBC memo had previously warned of "systemic issues" with its coverage of the war in Gaza and a tendency to "believe the worst about Israel."