BBC Probes Clive Myrie's Unreported External Earnings Amid Transparency Concerns
The BBC is investigating undisclosed payments to presenter Clive Myrie, highlighting issues with its external earnings register. Myrie, a top earner, is also speculated as a potential permanent News at Ten anchor.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has initiated an investigation into unreported external payments made to prominent presenter Clive Myrie. This inquiry comes amid concerns over transparency and administrative oversights in the corporation's external earnings register.
Clive Myrie, a veteran journalist who joined the BBC in 1987, has become a leading figure in the organization's news coverage. With a salary ranging between £310,000 and £314,999, he is among the highest-paid presenters at the BBC. Myrie's prominence has grown significantly, particularly in his role anchoring the BBC News at Ten, which first aired on October 16, 1967.
The investigation centers on undisclosed payments for external engagements, including a reported £5,000 to £10,000 fee for hosting an Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association event in March 2024. This omission from the BBC's regular log of external payments has raised questions about the accuracy and completeness of the corporation's records.
In response to these concerns, a BBC spokesperson stated: "There appears to have been some administrative errors in relation to entries on the register. These will be reviewed and, where necessary, the register will be updated."
The BBC, founded in 1922 and recognized as the world's oldest national broadcasting organization, has long maintained a practice of allowing its presenters to earn additional income through corporate speaking engagements. However, this practice has come under scrutiny in recent years, particularly as the corporation faces ongoing debates about its funding model and impartiality.
A recent study by the Press Gazette revealed that Myrie ranks at the top of BBC staff in terms of outside earnings, reportedly earning around £66,000 in the 12 months leading up to June 2024. This places him ahead of other high-profile presenters such as Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson.
The BBC's commitment to transparency is underscored by its motto, "Nation Shall Speak Peace Unto Nation." With a global weekly audience of approximately 492 million people and broadcasts in over 40 languages through the BBC World Service, the corporation's influence and responsibility to maintain public trust are significant.
As the BBC approaches its next Royal Charter renewal in 2027, issues of financial transparency and accountability are likely to remain at the forefront of discussions. The corporation, which reported an annual income of £5.4 billion for 2022/2023, with £3.74 billion derived from the license fee, continues to navigate the challenges of maintaining its position as a trusted public service broadcaster in an evolving media landscape.
"There appears to have been some administrative errors in relation to entries on the register. These will be reviewed and, where necessary, the register will be updated."
The investigation into Myrie's unreported earnings comes at a time when the presenter is being considered as a potential permanent replacement for Huw Edwards on the BBC News at Ten. Following Edwards' departure, the presenting role has been shared on rotation by Reeta Chakrabarti, Sophie Raworth, and Myrie.
As the BBC continues its investigation and review of the external earnings register, the incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by public broadcasters in maintaining transparency and public trust in an era of increased scrutiny and changing media consumption habits.
