In defence of the BBC, they are particularly sensitive to this atm. It is not unusual for journalists in the UK to be asked to remove batteries from phones, particularly when discussing certain international matters that may interest certain people. The concept of a smartphone being turned into a listening device isn't unheard of in the UK. For whatever reason, US/Canadian journalists are more trusting. I trace this to the aftermath of the london riots and RIM revelations. So I am not surprised to see the BBC publish something in this area more readily than others.
Unless the phone isn't simply recording, but is harvesting the mac address (or other identifier) of nearby phones in order to expose who the reporter is meeting with. Then the microphone is irrelevant.
