Questions are growing over transparency at taxpayer-funded Manx Radio, after the broadcaster released the outcome of an “independent investigation”.
The issue surrounds a complaint made by former presenter at the station and now independent journalist, Paul Moulton. The broadcaster, however, has refused to disclose who carried out the inquiry or publish the report itself.
The station announced this week that Director of Programming Alex Brindley had been found to have acted in a “discourteous” manner during an incident involving Moulton at Broadcasting House in July, although the investigation rejected allegations that Brindley had been aggressive, threatening, furious or “incandescent with rage”.
Manx Radio Contacted Manx Radio For Comment
The findings were also published by Manx Radio’s own newsroom, which reported the conclusions of the inquiry and quoted Managing Director Chris Sully. The report stated that Manx Radio’s Newsroom had contacted Manx Radio for comment.
But despite describing the investigation as independent, neither the broadcaster nor its management have revealed who conducted it, how they were appointed, what evidence they considered or why Moulton himself was apparently never interviewed. Instead, the public has been asked to accept a summary of findings without being allowed to see the report behind them.
Moulton has now written back to Sully demanding answers.
In an email sent following publication of the findings, he questioned who sat on the investigation panel, who appointed them, what evidence they reviewed and why his own evidence was not sought directly.
He also asked whether the report would be published, whether he would receive a copy and if those responsible for conducting the inquiry would make themselves available for interview.
Moulton wrote: “It does seem the panel agrees, in a roundabout way, that I’m owed an apology.”
Discourteous
His response follows a letter from Sully which acknowledged that Brindley’s conduct had been discourteous and that the interaction “could have been handled more professionally”.
Yet despite those findings, no apology appears to have been offered. For Moulton, the central question remains unchanged. He says the issue was always whether it was appropriate for him to be ordered out of the building after being invited there by a Manx Radio presenter for an interview about his 50 years in broadcasting.
The incident took place on July 8 after Moulton appeared on Phil Gawne’s programme to discuss his career, much of which was spent at the Island’s national broadcaster.
At the time, Moulton alleged that shortly after recording the interview he was confronted by Brindley and told to leave the premises immediately.
The dispute quickly developed into a wider debate about management culture within the organisation and the level of oversight being exercised by those responsible for governing it.
Taxpayer Bankrolled Station
Manx Radio occupies a unique position within Isle of Man public life. While it operates as a limited company, it is owned by government and survives on substantial taxpayer support. Treasury hands out an annual government subsidy understood to exceed £1.4 million.
The difficulty for Manx Radio is that while it insists the investigation was independent, virtually every detail of that independence remains hidden from public scrutiny. Who conducted the inquiry remains unknown.
Moulton claims: The terms of reference have not been disclosed. The report has not been published. The evidence relied upon has not been released.
And he says he was never invited to present his own account directly to investigators.
Those unanswered questions are now at the core of concerns about how the taxpayer funded station is operating, whereas four months ago, the focus was on an exchange inside a corridor at Broadcasting House.
For now, Manx Radio says the matter has been investigated “seriously and impartially”. Paul Moulton is still waiting to find out by whom.
