IS the BBC in favour of unfair trade?

That’s the question after the Corporation forced newscaster George Alagiah to quit as patron of the Fairtrade Foundation, a registered charity.

Seems the Beeb thought there would be some conflict of interest because Alagiah, who is unpaid and who was approved as a Patron in 2002, is due to front a programme on food later this year.

The Fairtrade Foundation, of course, helps producers in developing countries to win a fair price for their work – rather than being routinely exploited by corporate conglomerates.

This is the Fairtrade Foundation’s mission:

Our vision is of a world in which justice and sustainable development are at the heart of trade structures and practices so that everyone, through their work, can maintain a decent and dignified livelihood and develop their full potential.

To achieve this vision, Fairtrade seeks to transform trading structures and practices in favour of the poor and disadvantaged. By facilitating trading partnerships based on equity and transparency, Fairtrade contributes to sustainable development for marginalised producers, workers and their communities. Through demonstration of alternatives to conventional trade and other forms of advocacy, the Fairtrade movement empowers citizens to campaign for an international trade system based on justice and fairness.

If the Beeb don’t think it reasonable for Alagiah to publicly endorse these ethical values, the implication is that they think there is something wrong with them.

We don’t share that view.

However, we do think that their is some justice to the charge of ‘hypocrisy’ levelled against the BBC, for refusing to take action against another potential conflict of interest, involving a senior manager.

And there is a financial gain in that particular case – unlike with Alagiah, who got nothing from his valuable work for the Fairtrade Foundation.

We hope the BBC’s unjust stance will not deter other Corporation journalists from holding true to their values – and putting them into practise.