The BBC's word to Tom Stephens

The BBC have behaved shamefully by breaking their word to Tom Stephens not to broadcast an interview he granted them for 'background' purposes only.

The BBC claim that they did this 'in the public interest'. As others have observed - but which the BBC has failed to appreciate - 'public interest' is not merely 'what may interest the public'. What is in fact in the public interest is for a fair trial (which could have been prejudiced) and for standards in journalism to be upheld. It seems that on this occasion the commercial concerns of the BBC have trumped ethical ones, for whom ratings are deemed more important than integrity.

The BBC - which should be leading the world in quality journalism - should review the ethical framework within which their journalists and editors operate. At the very least, they should apologise to Mr Stephens. Sadly, they seem to have no intention of doing either.