The Whitewash
James' solicitors contacted GMR and secured from the BBC a statement which read, "There was never any suggestion that Mr. Reeve holds or supports racist views. Mr. Reeve has performed a valuable service for the BBC and we wish him well in the future."
They were not prepared to offer any apology or acknowledge any mishandling of the affair. They were, of course, not in full possession of the facts. The statement was accepted, but not in full and final settlement of the matter.
Martin Brooks refused to meet James or representatives of the National Union of Journalists to discuss the matter.
James then sought a meeting with Andy Griffee, the Controller of English Regions. This was at first refused, but when the full details were forwarded to his office, a meeting "without prejudice" was granted, although only with Mr. Griffee's representatives.
Meanwhile, James's MP had raised the matter with Sir John Birt's office. Their enquiries resulted in their being given the same, incomplete account as the BBC lawyers.
The meeting with senior BBC management eventually took place, some fifteen months after the original incident. At the meeting James was told that his account had been read only moments earlier. He then repeated the story for the benefit of the two BBC managers. Their stance was not of impartial investigators presented with an account of incompetence and dishonesty, but of BBC employees whose purpose was to defend or justify the actions of their colleagues. They frequently cited the statement from the BBC referred to above.
Some three weeks later, James received a letter from Roy Roberts (pictured), Head
of Regional and Local Programmes (West Midlands) [a position equivalent to that of Martin Brooks] which did not explain what investigations had been conducted but stated that they considered the matter closed. This letter contained a new allegation that James had used the word "nigger" despite being told not to do so by his producer. This had never been suggested during any of the previous discussions or correspondence. It is not clear at what point or by whom this new suggestion was made. Nor is it true that that happened.
It may reflect the diligence with which any enquiries may have been conducted that in Mr. Roberts's letter James' surname was spelt incorrectly and the date of the meeting was wrong.
Andy Griffee still refuses to have any contact with James.
The affair has been brought to the attention of Mr. Ranjit Sondhi, who is a BBC Governor, and Greg Dyke, the Director-General. Both were patrons of the Commission for Racial Equality's "Race in the Media Awards" for 2001, an event which was sponsored by BBC English Regions, the Department for which Andy Griffee is responsible.
Mr. Sondhi believes the affair to be "an employment matter". Mr. Dyke, who has not revealed the extent of his own enquiries, agrees with Mr. Roberts, whose findings he has read, and believes that James has been treated in a "fair and reasonable way".
