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The burning embers from the wildfire BBC sex abuse scandal yesterday landed inside the New York Times.
In a piercing blog post, the Times’ public editor questioned whether Mark Thompson, the former head of the UK media giant — and incoming CEO of the Times company — was really oblivious to the scandal or if he played a part in killing an investigative segment about the person at the center of the disgusting drama.
“How likely is it that he knew nothing?” wrote Margaret Sullivan, the recently appointed public editor.
The sex-abuse scandal is currently rocking London media circles.
A longtime BBC talk show host, Jimmy Savile, who died in 2011, is alleged to have molested potentially hundreds of underage teen girls over decades.
When the BBC program “Newsnight” started to probe the issue, the segment was mysteriously killed.
Thompson has denied knowing anything about the scandal or the possible cover-up, but Sullivan appeared to question that denial.
“Because of the intentional separation between editorial and business-side operations, [directors general] usually don’t know about editorial decisions — unless they are very big ones, fraught with legal implications,” she wrote.
London’s police department recently opened up a probe of the matter.
Sullivan added: “How likely is it that the Times Company will continue with its plan to bring Mr. Thompson on as chief executive?”
“His integrity and decision-making are bound to affect The Times and its journalism — profoundly,” she wrote. “It’s worth considering now whether he is the right person for the job, given this turn of events.”
Thompson stepped down from the top BBC job in September.
“[Times Publisher Arthur “Pinch” Sulzberger] will have to address the issue on the call,” said Douglas Arthur, an analyst with Evercore, referring to the Times Co.’s quarterly results and conference call scheduled for tomorrow.
“One possible outcome — Thompson delays his start until the dust clears,” predicted Arthur. “The company seems to have operated just fine without a CEO for the last 11 months.”
Thompson is set to become CEO on Nov. 12. Janet Robinson, the previous chief executive, was bounced last December.
Scotland Yard is investigating potentially hundreds of incidents of child abuse connected to Savile, and the issue seems to show no sign of abating in Britain.
Thompson’s successor, George Entwistle, was grilled before a Parliamentary committee for two hours yesterday about what he may have known and when.
“Mr. Entwistle, though, was not the [director general] of the BBC when all this was going on,” Sullivan wrote. “That was Mark Thompson.”
Thompson offered to make himself available for questioning by the Parliamentary committee as well.
A Times spokeswoman said that the New York Times has covered the scandal and would continue to do so.
A spokesman for Thompson said he has not been asked to delay or alter his arrival as CEO next month by the Times.
Said Sullivan, “As the BBC has found out in the most painful way, for the Times to pull its punches will not be a wise way to go.”