AN INSTITUTION IN WHICH WE ALL BELIEVE
THE QUESTION OF WHAT HOLDS SOCIETIES TOGETHER SHOULD OCCUPY ALL INSTITUTIONS — BECAUSE THEY CAN ONLY CONTINUE TO EXIST WITH THE CONSENT OF THOSE THEY SERVE .
The question of what holds societies together should occupy all institutions — because they can only continue to exist with the consent of those they serve . That ’ s as true of the BBC as it is of Win Coll . We ’ ve been asking ourselves difficult questions about how to justify the BBC ’ s right to exist in a modern digital media economy . We ’ ve also acknowledged the special place the BBC has as the nation ’ s ‘ public square ’, a place where contested issues can be debated and examined from all sides , in a forum free for all . Similarly , as you will see throughout this year ’ s Journal , this school , an institution in which we all believe , has asked itself the question ‘ what would it take to ensure the long-term future of the school , and to strengthen the relationship with the community in which it lives ?’ I ’ ve really enjoyed exploring the answers with my interviewees , and I ’ ve had a great insight into the life of the school as it is now , rather than what I remember fondly from over 30 years ago . I hope you enjoy their insights as much as I did .
Words from unused preface to ‘ Animal Farm ’ which accompany a statue of George Orwell outside Broadcasting House , the headquarters of the BBC , in London
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