The Aftermath
Later that night, James went over the events of the day, in particular the Presenters' Meeting about which the second accusation had been made.
He recalled that, while discussing with the other Presenters the meeting relating to the exhibitions in the shopping centres, he had made the observation that, despite the Station's commitment to ethnic minorities, he had not seen any great interest in the Station amongst black and Asian people. He suggested that Presenters might like to consider ways of improving matters.
He also said that, as far as he could see, the people who turned up at the centres tended to reflect the Station's known listener profile; white and working class. He lamented the fact that the Station's programmes intended for ethnic minorities seemed to achieve little more than to irritate white listeners who didn't see why they "should have to put up with these programmes for these darkies".
This remark was intended to be critical of intolerant white listeners. It was also a reference to an occasion when a previous Managing Editor had conducted a phone-in during which just such a listener had been allowed to complain, on-air, about the fact that BBC GMR broadcast programmes for "these coloureds".
It emerged that the second complaint was based on this remark of James's.
James was contacted by the Manchester Evening News, which had been told of the incident, and agreed to be interviewed. This article appeared on the front page on Thursday, September 24th, 1998:-
Click on the picture to read the article in full
The article refers only to the first of the complaints and not the second. Presumably for reasons of space, the story is abridged and does not explain that the complaints were from James's colleagues.
On the following day Ms Hannah and James had a phone conversation lasting almost two hours, during which she claimed that the meeting in her office did not constitute a disciplinary hearing, and that she had had no intention of "doing anything"; she accepted that the tone of the broadcast had been anti-racist; she claimed to be unable to recall using the words "defence" and "gratuitous"; she described the whole affair as regrettable mess, and agreed with James's description of it as a "balls-up".
James suggested a meeting with her and Martin Brooks, so that the situation could be resolved; he proposed that the BBC's Personnel Officer be present to act as mediator. Ms Hannah suggested instead an informal, preliminary meeting involving herself, James and Martin Brooks, at which an amicable agreement might be reached.
The meeting took place on October 10th, on neutral territory. The same ground was covered a number of times; James felt he had been unfairly accused in what had appeared to be a disciplinary hearing, while Ms Hannah and Mr. Brooks insisted that that was not the case and that they had had no intention of taking any action.
It emerged that Ms Hannah had not spoken to the other Presenters who had attended the meeting until two days after the confrontation in her office. Nor had she spoken to Mr. Ali, who had taken part in the on-air discussion.
When James asked if there had been any complaints from listeners (as opposed to those from colleagues) Ms Hannah replied, "Some." She was unable to say how many; James has never seen any evidence of such complaints.
James suggested a way of resolving the matter, involving a meeting with those of his colleagues who had complained, and pointed out that a public reconciliation would bring the Station further, favourable publicity in view of that generated by the original story.
It was agreed that all parties would retire to give the matter further thought.
Ten days later, Ms Hannah telephoned James and told him that she would not be asking him to return to the Station.
James pointed out that the meeting of October 10th was intended to be a preliminary meeting, and that the next step should be a formal one at which James could have the benefit of the representation to which he was entitled. Ms Hannah rejected the idea.
During this call, Ms Hannah insisted that Martin Brooks had left the decision up to her, and that it was based, in part, on her need to maintain her credibility as Station Manager.
Click on the radio to continue
