Liverpool FC complain to BBC about Kelvin Mackenzie coverage

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Liverpool Echo IconNewsLiverpool NewsLiverpool FCReds bosses said to be furious with inclusion of former S*n editor in piece discussing journalistic standardsLiverpool Football Club has complained to the BBC over its choice to feature former S*n editor Kelvin Mackenzie in its coverage about journalistic standards amid the crisis engulfing the corporation.Earlier today, the ECHO reported on the anger across Merseyside and beyond that Mackenzie, who oversaw the S*n's shameful coverage of the Hillsborough Disaster which blamed Reds fans for the tragedy, had been featured by the BBC in its coverage of the resignations of its director general and head of news, which were confirmed on Sunday evening.Tim Davie and Deborah Turness have departed from the corporation amid criticism after it was claimed that a BBC Panorama programme broadcast before the last US Presidential election misled viewers by editing a speech from President Donald Trump to make it look like he was explicitly urging people to attack the US Capitol building on January 6, 2021.BBC News featured an interview with Mackenzie on Sunday evening, with clips of the interview repeated several times during its flagship Breakfast programme this morning (Monday).According to The Athletic, bosses at Liverpool FC are furious with the decision to feature Mackenzie after the years of hurt caused by The S*n's Hillsborough coverage that he approved.The sports publication said the club has now complained to the corporation.As editor of The S*n, Mackenzie oversaw and approved the infamous front page story, headlined 'The Truth', which included shameful smears against Reds fans, claiming supporters caused the crush at the stadium and that drunk Liverpool fans had pickpocketed victims and urinated on police officers.These baseless lies were officially debunked when then fresh inquests confirmed the fans were blameless and that those who died were killed unlawfully after emergency service failings on the day of the match.Speaking about the inclusion of Mackenzie in a piece about journalistic ethics, Liverpool West Derby MP and Hillsborough survivor Ian Byrne posted on X: "You couldn’t make it up. The urgent need for reform of the British media has just been perfectly exemplified by BBC Breakfast bringing on Kelvin MacKenzie to talk about integrity in journalism.“This is the individual who published truly horrific – and now completely discredited – lies and smears about Hillsborough victims and survivors in the S*n after the tragedy."Lies that continue to cause so much harm to so many even today.

Shame on BBC Breakfast.”Others agreed. Jay McKenna, regional secretary for the TUC and a prominent Liverpool fan added: "When talking about a story covering journalistic and news standards, integrity and honesty, why have BBC Breakfast used Kelvin MacKenzie?"Former deputy editor of The Guardian Paul Johnson agreed, sharing a picture of The S*n's infamous Hillsborough front page and adding: "And so the editor responsible for this front page is on tv now lecturing BBC on journalistic ethics.

Weird."The ECHO contacted the BBC to ask for a response to this criticism. A spokesperson for the corporation offered no such response.The spokesperson only pointed out that Mackenzie had not been a live guest on the BBC and that the footage of him had initially been broadcast on Sunday evening.