25 MAY 2002, Page 30

Desmond and the BBC

From Mr Mark Damazer Sir: Stephen Glover's relentless campaign against the BBC led him to say (Media studies, 18 May) that BBC television news had 'almost entirely ignored' news of Richard Desmond's donation to the Labour party. He cites as evidence the lack of any mention on the Monday after the story broke.

He seems not to have watched the television bulletins on BBC1 on Saturday or Sunday, which featured the story strongly.

Mr Glover perhaps did not watch much that weekend. This is his prerogative — but just because he did not watch a programme does not mean that the story was not properly treated.

Mark Damazer

Deputy Director. BBC News, Television Centre. London W12