LONDON (AP) – The head of a major British press organization resigned due to his response to Meghan and Harry’s television interview – the second senior UK media figure to leave amid a heated debate over the couple’s allegations racism and prejudice.
Ian Murray said he was stepping down as executive director of the Society of Publishers after making a statement that many thought he downplayed the problem of racism in the media. –
Murray said on Wednesday night that the statement, which accused Harry and Meghan of mounting an attack on the press, “could have been much clearer in their condemnation of prejudice and clearly caused disruption.”
“As an executive director, I lead the Society and, as such, I must take the blame and therefore decided that it is better for the board and members that I step aside so that the organization can begin to rebuild its reputation,” he said. .
In the interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan and Harry talked about the intense pressure of media scrutiny and suggested that there was a racist element in the coverage of the biracial duchess. Harry also said that the British royal family was “scared” of the tabloid press, which he said he exercised “control by fear”.
The Society of Editors, an umbrella group of almost 400 newspapers and other media, released a statement with strong words about the interview, saying that “the UK media is not prejudiced and will not be influenced by its vital role as hold the rich and powerful to account after the attack on the press by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. “
But some journalists disagreed. More than 160 reporters and editors signed a letter saying that the Publishers’ Society was “in denial” about racism. Katherine Viner, editor of The Guardian, said the media needed to become “much more representative and self-conscious”.
ITV News presenter Charlene White gave up on hosting the society’s annual Press Awards, saying the organization had asked her to get involved in order to improve its diversity, but failed to live up to its words.
“I only work with organizations that practice what they preach,” she said.
“Since the Black Lives Matter movement really consolidated in the UK last year, every institution in this country has finally had to look at its flaws and its position in terms of how it treats ethnic minorities inside and outside its walls. But for some unknown reason, you feel that the UK press is exempt from this discussion. “
Murray’s departure follows Piers Morgan’s departure from the TV show “Good Morning Britain” amid protests over his comments on Meghan.
Morgan, a former tabloid editor, resigned on Tuesday, the day after saying “I don’t believe a word she says” in reference to Meghan’s interview. The duchess told Winfrey that she had been so unhappy during her time as a hardworking member of the royal family that she had thoughts of suicide, and claimed that she had received no support from palace officials.
The UK media watchdog said it had received more than 41,000 complaints about Morgan’s comments.