I’m also failing to see the issue with this, though admittedly I haven’t seen the programme. Did the edit meaningfully alter what was actually said?
If we’re hopping aboard no editing being allowed then the news every night will be 15 hours long.
Not particularly. To give this some context the speech was on 6th January 2021, there isn't really much dispute apart from some hardcore MAGA supporters that the speech was inflammatory and contributed to the capital riots on 7th January 2021 . While there are some MAGA supporters who dispute that there are others that praise him for encouraging what occurred and his actions since in praising those who took part and pardoning them.
Lifted this from a fact checking site:
Donald Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech is widely linked to the Capitol breach: investigators, many defendants, and several analyses conclude the speech contributed to the events by repeating false election claims and urging action that many attendees interpreted as permission to march on the Capitol. Defenders cite lines urging peaceful protest and dispute claims of direct incitement, while legal scholars and prosecutors point to the crowd’s reaction and subsequent acts as critical context for assessing criminal liability.
The program in question was broadcast on 28th October 2024 so its taken a year, and a leaked memo, for anyone to even mention the edit. You would expect with the speech in its entirety being readily available if there was a big issue it would have come to light quickly.
The reason it has come to light now is due to a leaked memo. Since Michael Prescott has no longer been in his advisory role at the BBC there have been several leaks, all the Telegraph, of memos he has authored. Given that we are all very keen to ensure there is no bias it is probably worth pointing out that Prescott is a Conservative lobbyist in a senior role at Hanover Communications. That is of course a company setup by Major's former director of communications and works closely with the Conservatives.
You can't have people wanting politics boiled down to 3 word slogans while at the same time complaining if anything is edited. The key is whether the edit changes context. Prescott's argument in the memo was that unless Trump was convicted of inciting the riot of 7th January it should not be discussed. I'm not sure current affairs programming has ever worked like that.
