Byford said that Neil would chair a review committee that also includes the former editor-in chief of ITN Richard Tait. Tait is the only independent member of the group.
The others on the committee are Radio 4 controller Helen Boaden; controller of factual television Glenwyn Benson; head of newsgathering Adrian Van Klaveren; and Stephen Whittle, the BBC controller of editorial policy.
The review's remit is to look at the editorial issues raised by Lord Hutton and identify any key lessons and make any recommendations. Hutton's conclusions sparked the worst crisis in the corporation's 81-year history and led to the departure of director-general Greg Dyke, chairman Gavyn Davies and Radio 4 'Today' programme reporter Andrew Gilligan, whose inaccurate weapons of mass destruction report led to the Hutton Inquiry.
A new era of journalistic caution is being ushered in at the BBC after Byford said the corporation should not be in the business of competing with newspapers to break exclusive stories. This has raised fears among some journalists that it will lead to a more submissive era.
Speaking recently on a special edition of Radio 4's 'Feedback', Byford said the job of the BBC was "first and foremost to report news in a reliable, accurate and impartial manner".
The BBC has already barred journalists from writing controversial articles for newspapers and magazines and it has also tightened up rules regarding live reports as well as the use of single anonymous sources after Gilligan's fateful report on the 'Today' programme.
In addition, the BBC is conducting an internal inquiry into the conduct of some of its most senior executives such as Richard Sambrook, head of news, and Kevin Marsh, editor of the 'Today' programme.
Byford will oversee the committee and expects to be able to take forward key recommendations to the BBC executive committee sand then the board of governors in June.
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party has refused to sit on the panel overseeing the appointment of a new BBC chairman because of its "narrow remit" and said no one actively involved in politics over the past 10 years should be considered for the post.
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