BBC World Service funding announcement described as ‘massive U-turn’ in Foreign Office headline gaffe
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office mistakenly headlined an announcement that the BBC World Service was to receive £2.2million ‘Massive U-turn on BBC World Service funding’.
This led to the words BBC World Service being trended on Twitter by Whitehall watchers before the headline was changed to ‘BBC World Service Funding Review’.
A spokeswoman for the department said the headline did not reflect the views of the Government, and disciplinary action was being taken against the staff member involved.
The announcement had explained that £2.2million in funding had been provided to help maintain the level of investment in the BBC Arabic service.
The BBC has welcomed the announcement.