The BBC director general and head of news have both resigned after sustained criticism about biased coverage, amid claims the public broadcaster is subject to a campaign by its political enemies. As an RMIT expert explains, public broadcasters may not be immune from mistakes but still deserve independence from government interference.
Alexandra Wake, School of Media and Communication
"With the loss of trust in media and the rise of AI-generated content, the original mission of public broadcasters like the BBC, ABC and SBS is needed more than ever. They must be even more vigilant, fair, and accountable to maintain relevance and public confidence.
"Media organisations are fallible, but public broadcasters face unique scrutiny, disproportionate public and political outrage because they are funded by taxpayers.
"Public broadcasters have long faced attacks from conservative politicians and commercial media rivals, groups which often act in their own interests, not the public's.
"These types of attacks can weaken public trust and undermine the ability of public broadcasters to fulfill their core mission of impartiality and public service.
"Independence from government interference is essential for publicly funded broadcasters, but their continued trust depends on transparency and accountability to their audience.
