Clive Myrie quits external events amid scandal over undeclared earnings

In the United Kingdom, BBC presenter Clive Myrie has publicly acknowledged his failure to declare significant earnings from external events, amounting to at least £145,000. This oversight has raised concerns regarding transparency and compliance with BBC's policies on external work. The broadcaster’s external events register was introduced in 2021, aimed at ensuring impartiality within the organization by mandating on-air journalism staff and senior leaders to declare any paid outside engagements. Myrie's lapses in reporting include high-profile events, such as chairing a debate at GreenTalks Live and speaking engagements for notable organizations, which were only recently disclosed due to administrative errors in filing necessary paperwork. He has committed to ceasing any paid external engagements moving forward, with the exception of a few pre-arranged commitments. The BBC has emphasized the importance of adhering to their guidelines and maintaining the integrity of their service. In light of this situation, they have reminded all staff about their responsibilities concerning the register and the potential disciplinary actions that could arise from non-compliance. As the British broadcasting landscape becomes increasingly scrutinized for conflicts of interest and transparency issues, Myrie's case serves as a critical reminder of the obligations that public figures must adhere to in their professional conduct, and it prompts the BBC to consider tightening its guidelines on such external engagements to avoid similar incidents in the future.