In fact, there is little danger of that: the BBC has a body called Editorial Policy, which has agreed with Packham already what he can say without compromising its impartiality.
In an introduction to the website, Boothroyd writes: "Unlike some other political sites, this site doesn't go in for minimising the information to 'major parties' only, using flashy graphics that distract from the content, compromising its impartiality by accepting sponsorship, or including irrelevant party propaganda.
Lady Prashar added that clarification of the role of special advisers in relation to the civil service was needed to avoid "grey areas" where civil servants were instructed by special advisers, potentially compromising their political impartiality.
While there was in this instance a public benefit in the form of potential environmental upgrading, the firm's strategy risks compromising the effectiveness and impartiality of marine governance organizations.
Judge Scheindlin "ran afoul" of the code of judicial conduct, the panel said, for compromising "the appearance of impartiality surrounding this litigation" in having improperly invited the plaintiffs to file the very case that she then decided against the city.
After two successful series in 1962 and 1963, TW3 did not return in 1964, an election year – so great were the BBC's fears over compromising the corporation's impartiality.
With these more focussed duties, the BBC Trust chairman could step into the fray and shield the DG from heat in a crisis, without that compromising the chairman's perceived impartiality as regulator (a constant tension under the existing system).
In 2009, the BBC received thousands of complaints after it decided not to air a DEC fundraising appeal for Gaza, saying it wanted to avoid compromising public confidence in its impartiality.
Two members of the BBC have been tasked with checking these relationships do not become too close, to prevent them compromising the corporation's commitment to impartiality.
A BBC spokesperson said: "The decision was made because of question marks about the delivery of aid in a volatile situation and also to avoid any risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC's impartiality in the context of [a] news story".
"The independence or impartiality of arbitrators may be compromised".
