The BBC can help tackle a “crisis of trust” in UK society, the broadcaster’s director general has said.
Tim Davie has set out measures he says will allow the broadcaster to play a leading role in reversing a breakdown in trust in information and institutions, as well as combating division and disconnection between people.
They include expanding fact-checking service BBC Verify, giving children lessons about disinformation, and doing more to scrutinise local politicians.
“The BBC is ready to play its full part – not simply defending tradition, but shaping the future,” he said in a speech on Wednesday.
“A future where trusted information strengthens democracy, where every child has a fair start, where creativity fuels growth and social capital, and where no-one is left behind in the digital age.”
Mr Davie added: “The future of our civilised, cohesive, democratic society is, for the first time in my life, at risk.”
The speech to civic and community leaders in Salford set out Mr Davie’s vision for the corporation’s future.
The BBC’s current royal charter, which sets out the terms and purposes of its existence, expires in 2027, and negotiations with the government about its renewal are ramping up.
“We believe that we must reform faster and get more support to avoid decline,” he said.
He said he was not asking for the “status quo” in funding, and said he would “keep an open mind” about the future of the licence fee or what could replace it.
“We want modernisation and reform,” he said. But any future method of funding must ensure the BBC remains a universal service, he stressed.
“All the funding models that have been floated in the debate have their merits and drawbacks. But some such as advertising or subscription don’t pass the test of building a universal trusted public service.
“Beyond that, we keep an open mind. And we continue to actively explore all options that can make our funding model fairer, more modern, and more sustainable.”
He also called for “more help” from the government to fund the World Service, calling it a “priceless national asset”, and saying “the government should invest for significant growth, not survival”.
However, there have been recent reports that ministers are drawing up plans for cuts to World Service funding.
Mr Davie argued that the BBC could play a key part in making the UK a “global leader in trusted information”, support democracy, boost education and economic growth, and improve digital access.
The BBC’s future would involve “doubling down on impartiality, championing free, fair reporting alongside landmark investigative journalism, investing in BBC Verify and InDepth as well as increasing transparency and holding our nerve amidst culture wars”, he said.
The BBC can “help turn the tide” and improve trust by “dramatically increasing” the amound of news coverage on platforms like YouTube and Tik Tok have a stronger presence amid the online noise.
It will combine AI agent technology with BBC journalism to create “a new gold standard fact checking tool”, he said, but without relinquishing editorial oversight.
“Our aim is to work globally with other public service broadcasters to ensure a healthy core of fact-based news.”
The BBC will also:
- Expand its expand Local Democracy Reporting Service from focusing on local councils to scrutinise health authorities, police and crime commissioners, and regional mayors
- Create specialist BBC Insight teams across the UK to do more investigative reporting, and expand local BBC Verify and InDepth work
- Launch new political debate radio shows for different areas, modelled on Radio 4’s Any Questions
- Give every child “proper training on disinformation” and potentially develop qualifications in disinformation studies
- Offer offer a new BBC family account for every parent of a young child, offering support at key milestones from birth to leaving school
- Move more executive roles outside London
The BBC says it is the most trusted news provider in the UK, with 45% of the population naming it as the source they trusted the most in 2024. That is down from 57% a decade ago.
Mr Davie also called for a national plan to switch off traditional broadcast transmissions in the 2030s, and ensure a “smooth” transition to internet-only delivery of programmes.
The BBC could launch its own device aimed at people who haven’t switched to streaming, based on the existing Freely online service, Mr Davie said.
“We want to double down on Freely as a universal free service to deliver live TV over broadband.
“And we want to consider developing and launching a streaming media device with Freely capabilities built in, with a radically simplified user interface specifically designed to help those yet to benefit from IP services.”
