What a choice to be presented with by our national broadcaster! Or any broadcaster, indeed, whether you fund them through gritted teeth or not. Helen Szamuely raises the question through her vivid first hand account of trying to get a eurosceptical word in edgewise.
(ps. at the moment I seem to be channelling the EURef blog in my posts here, which is probably because Helen and Richard have turned a portion of their considerable knowledge and forensic abilities towards such a juicy europhile turkey as Aunty Beeb. Long may they continue to do so.)
‘A conspiracy to keep an important subject under wraps or a completely shambolic inefficiency, unprofessionalism and ignorance?’
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OT
Happened to watch a DVD of some children’s “Balamory” programmes, produced by the BBC. Aimed at toddlers. There was one explicit PC message in all the bits I saw – Balamory is multi-culti. Lots of Asian and Caribbean faces.
Strange that. I don’t recall the real Balamory having a high proportion of immigrant families. Quite the opposite, in fact.
All part of the skewing of children’s TV, I suppose. Propaganda which we are paying for.
You can’t blame the Beeb for that, just pick up any school textbook and you’ll see the same:
“Aziz has two apples, Fidel borrows one”, etc, etc.
I also think the black girl in Balamory is very tasty.
theghostofredken What’s the Story with that?
P.S. Channel 5 has the best female Childrens presenter eye-candy!
JiL: “There was one explicit PC message in all the bits I saw – Balamory is multi-culti. Lots of Asian and Caribbean faces”
That would be Greg Dyke’s “hideously white” BBC in action then…
redken
Good of you to accept that the BBC is ourageously skewing things aimed at the youngest viewers. The only real news I had heard about immigrants in Scotland was about that Asian gang murder in Glasgow. Somehow the BBC overlooked that story. I wonder why ?
As Rob Read says – “What’s the Story?” (As for Channel 5 and eye candy – I am too old for all that !)
“The only real news I had heard about immigrants in Scotland was about that Asian gang murder in Glasgow.”
Those tinted glasses are great at blocking out the sun aren’t they?
“Good of you to accept that the BBC is ourageously skewing things aimed at the youngest viewers.”
Is Balamory a supposed to be a realistic portrayal of rural Scottish life? I don’t think so! The castle that the weird bloke lives in is bright pink (I think) or is that just another example of the BBC’s pro-gay leftie commie agenda? Actually I think I already know your answer to that.
For what it is worth, I seem to recall that the last time i was there the McLeod castle on Skye was a rather pleasant shade of pink.
Duart Castle, ancestral home of the McLeod clan, on Skye, is a sort of off white stone colour, as I recall it from a visit in 1998.
The pink castle in Balamory (Archie’s house), is actually near North Berwick, on Scotland’s east coast, rather than in Tobermory on Mull, where the other locations are – so those Balamory characters certainly flit about the place from one scene to another…
I note also how friendly and approachable PC Plum appears – in real life he would surely be too busy persecuting easy to detect crime ‘targets’ (e.g. motorists and other otherwise respectable citizens) instead of helping people find lost belongings…
TGORK:”Those tinted glasses are great at blocking out the sun aren’t they?”
Indeed. Looks like you could do with a pair. That sun is blinding you.
“Is Balamory a supposed to be a realistic portrayal of rural Scottish life?”
Of course not. But the same post-modern reality is all there is at the BBC.
Dyke is right BBC is “hideously white”….should be taken over by Zee TV or Al-Jazeera and stop the licence fee……why not outsource the whole thing to India and have them near the banks and insurance companies ?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/aboutbbcnews/hi/profiles/default.stm
The worst thing about the beeb is its institutional bias.
Is anyone in control at the BBC?
They have two stories about Iraq on the web just now. Both about Iraq – Post Saddam. One says things are going to hell in a handbasket. The other says the exact opposite! I kid you not.
The bad
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/post_saddam_iraq/html/1.stm
The good
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4205321.stm
Unbelieveable!
My take here:
http://ussneverdock.blogspot.com/2005/01/bbc-is-anyone-in-control.html
Check this out – report on BBC bias is just out and it looks like a 4-1 victory to the antis! Important for the referendum…
http://www.new-frontiers.org
This is lovely
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4213089.stm
“BBC ‘must improve coverage of EU’ ”
The reporter reports that the inquiry criticized the BBC for “oversimplifying” and for “ignorance.” And down the bottom we discover that :
“The (sic) eurosceptic viewpoint was represented by Rodney Leach, who chairs Business for Sterling and Nigel Smith, head of the No-euro campaign.”
It’s almost as if the journalist was “oversimplifying” • suggesting that there’s just the one Eurosceptic viewpoint, represented by Messrs Leach and Smith. Could the journalist really be “ignorant” of the fact that these two are both in favour of Britain’s membership of the EU, and that there’s a whole lot of other people who aren’t ? In fact, it’s almost as if the Governors, in selecting five pro EU people out of five to sit on their inquiry into BBC pro-EU bias, were “ignorant” of this too.
Lee – you are ignorant. Read the report – it is very bad news for the BBC as anybody who understands professional communications will see for a moment.
N Smith has comprehensively outplayed S Wall and this report is extremely good news that will force major change at the BBC. IObviously it doesnt say the BBC is totally biased and run by lefties – but it recommends guidelines for the referendum that wd strongly help a No campaign. It will be a typical eurosceptic farce if yet again we miss what is happening because of uninformed prejudice
Check this out from an organisation that has people who have been campaigning against the euro/EU for years…
http://www.new-frontiers.org
The BBC’s take on the report Anon mentions above is here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4213089.stm
Quotes:
The BBC must make its coverage of Europe “more demonstrably impartial”, an independent inquiry has said.
– The report, commissioned by the BBC governors, found no evidence of deliberate bias in BBC reporting.
Ha!
– But it said there was a “widespread perception” of “certain forms of cultural and unintentional bias” which had to be corrected.
– Among its 10 recommendations, the report says there “needs to be a better and more impartial coverage of the EU to explain major issues to a wider audience”.
It’s a shame that the report couldn’t just state that the BBC’s ‘cultural bias’ (whatever that means) results in bias towards the pro-EU position but it’s a start. I wouldn’t bet my mortgage that things will change much though.
“Lee – you are ignorant.”
Thank you for your kind words, Anon.
“Read the report – it is very bad news for the BBC as anybody who understands professional communications will see for a moment.”
I haven’t said anything about the inquiry report. Merely that the BBC report on the report shows exactly the faults highlighted , specifically oversimlification an ignorance.
The inquiry report may be a belter. But do you disagree with my suggestion that selecting 5 out of 5 pro EU people for it hints at a certain tunnel vision at the Beeb ?
The people who run the BBC are highly intelligent people. You wouldn’t expect them to appoint a panel which was truly independent would you?
What they have done firstly is choose people who are associated with the No Euro campaign which isn’t quite the same as people with a principled objection to the EU as a not so quasi-state on the anti-EU side. Then they have balanced these people with proEU-ites. The outcome a report which contains criticisms from both sides and which simply serves to confirm the Marr thesis enshrined on the home page to this site.
The EU report will not address structural bias. Here are some suggestions on what would:
1. First time appointments to the BBC should be made by panels of journalists drawn from across the newspaper industry, including regional papers. They in turn should be appointed by a Royal Commission and not the BBC.
2. There should be rotation of papers used for advertising jobs.
3. Candidates should be assessed for their views on major policy issues against national opinion poll surveys so as to ensure that broad public opinion on such issues on
the EU, immigration, abortion, and so on are reflected in a general way in appointments e.g. so that not all candidates are pro EU or pro immigration.
David Field,
OR Scrap the license fee, sell off the analog air space, buy everyone a digital decoder + card, and go subscription.
Sunday’s vote in Iraq approaches – it will be interesting to see how the BBC spins it. A momentous occasion for the Iraqis, a sign of real freedom for the Shiite and Kurdish majority who have been oppressed for decades, genuine willingness of the Shiites to share power and to have a secular society rather than a mullocracy. Even in Sunni areas where the terrorists are the greatest threat, some Sunni candidates will stand, and probably many Sunnis will defy the terror and try to vote. An election with flaws, certainly – but a brave step towards full democracy. Does the BBC actually support democracy for Iraq ?
Leftist movements always try to exploit and reprogramme the young, and at the earliest age possible. It’s where they get their adherents, knowing full well that people abandon their world-view with a bit of life experience, maturity, knowledge, and the wisdom that comes with having real responsibilities for children and parents.
Why would the Beeb be any different?
O/T
I’m sure many readers of this blog will enjoy Torin Douglas’ take on the anniversary of the Hutton report publication. It includes this gem:
“Despite Lord Hutton’s criticisms, the BBC’s reputation for impartiality stands as high – if not higher – than at the time of his report.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4214015.stm
On the plus side though, it does seem that if Barbara Plett takes out her kleenex the next time a terrorist is taken for medical treatment she won’t be defended by the Beeb.
“Scrap the license fee, sell off the analog air space, buy everyone a digital decoder + card, and go subscription.”
Great idea, I’m sure people will be queuing up to buy defunct analogue air space.
Actually Ken yes they will. It’s the space on the EM Spectrum that’s for sale, the format of broadcasts that use it is another matter altogether. There will be great demand for the analog air space, believe me.
“Candidates should be assessed for their views on major policy issues against national opinion poll surveys so as to ensure that broad public opinion on such issues on the EU, immigration, abortion, and so on are reflected in a general way in appointments e.g. so that not all candidates are pro EU or pro immigration.”
I can’t even begin to list the various employment laws that would contravene David.
And isn’t that technically positive discrimination? A bit of a ‘lefty’ idea for a forum like this one.
OT
From the BBC website Top Story
”Extra security measures are being introduced in Iraq ahead of Sunday’s election – the first since the invasion.”
The FIRST ever that should read unless of course the Beeb count Saddams elections as the same.
Redken
The BBC is charged with providing balance. No employment laws would be broken if there were some explicit attempts to recruit a balanced intake of journalists.
It is the absence of counter-point views that makes the BBC prone to egregrious errors.
Incidentally, diplomadic.blogspot.com has a classic entry today on the lies from the UN claiming crewdit for everyone else’s work on tsunami relief. All the makings of a good story – but nil chance of the BBC taking it up.
“It’s the space on the EM Spectrum that’s for sale, the format of broadcasts that use it is another matter altogether. There will be great demand for the analog air space, believe me.”
For radio possibly, not for TV. But I didn’t think there was enough space at low frequency to have any significant increase in Radio broadcasts, I could be wrong though.
Hello Ghost
If that were true, then surely the BBC would be in violation of Employment Law. Seeing as they seem only capable of one view, they must be recruiting from a selective pool of ‘talent’.
Headline from the Beebs news website
”Extra security measures are being introduced in Iraq ahead of Sunday’s election – the first since the invasion.”
That should read the first EVER unless of course the beeb count those elections under Saddam’s rule as free and fair
“Seeing as they seem only capable of one view, they must be recruiting from a selective pool of ‘talent’.”
The media perhaps? It doesn’t say anywhere on any Beeb application form ‘how did you vote in the last election?’ or ‘how do you feel about Tory party plans for immigration?’ You can check if you don’t believe me.
Do you think people who work for The Sun stay awake at night worrying about the prospect of a single Europe currency? Do you think they all think Murdoch is great bloke and SKY TV is great? I’ve got news for you, 90% of your average hacks will write what they’re paid to write.
“I’ve got news for you, 90% of your average hacks will write what they’re paid to write.”
It’s a commonplace of the left that conservative journalists only write what they’re instructed to write – usually by an evil foreign tycoon. Obviously this must be true – they couldn’t sincerely hold those views could they? No-one would be that stupid.
For what it’s worth I do believe that Trevor Kavanagh at The Sun does worry about the single currency – he seems quite sincere to me. Murdoch may not be a great bloke but I would certainly rate Sky News’s coverage above that of the BBC – their coverage of the Iraqi elections has been quite exemplary without the mean-mindedness that you find on the BBC.
”Extra security measures are being introduced in Iraq ahead of Sunday’s election – the first since the invasion.’
That should read the first EVER unless of course the beeb count those elections under Saddam’s rule as free and fair”
Or they’re not counting Saddam’s rigged affairs as ‘elections’. It could read both ways but I guess if you look hard enough you’ll find any bias you want to see.
redken
Your continual suggestion that the BBC does not have a corporate mindset that colours the way it selects, presents and comments on the news is exploded by the Wilson report on BBC failings in coverage of EU news.
And the report criticises the BBC for frequent INCOMPETENCE. And we are forced to pay for this abject quality of service ?
Compare CNN’s front page and the BBC’s.
redken
The Wilson report :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/28/nbbc28.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/01/28/ixhome.html
“It’s a commonplace of the left that conservative journalists only write what they’re instructed to write – usually by an evil foreign tycoon.” Bol-and indeed-locks. Columnists are different species (hence I said ‘average hack’) and Kavangh probably does believe what he writes or else he wouldn’t have been given his own column in The Sun would he? And don’t kid yourself about journalistic integrity, being a journalist is the same as any other job, if your boss says ‘jump’ you say ‘how high?’
“Compare CNN’s front page and the BBC’s.”
Am I supposed to be compairing CNN:
“POLL FEVER
My pride, by first Iraqi to vote”
To BBC:
“Security stepped up for Iraq poll” ?
If so, it’s feature of US news in particular to take the ‘soft’ news angle and personalise the situation in terms of one person. I personally find that approach very interesting but the US networks tend to overuse it. Again from a personal point of view, if I was the editor of either website, I would lead on the security issue because it’s the more important aspect of Iraqi elections and therefore hold the more interest to the reader.
Just caught on Radio 4 immediately before the 5 o’clock news – File on 4 this coming Tuesday is looking at allegations that billions of $s have gone missing from Iraq’s oil revenues during the coalition’s occupation with much allegedly having been taken by Americans. I’ve no doubt that the Americans haven’t been without fault but they will be brought to account. For balance, the BBC should have run a comparison of the allegations and status of proof against the UN’s Oil-for-Food program, and those which the are being aired on Tuesday.
Since Trevor Kavanagh is a subject of discussion, I’ll add that I saw him on Question Time last night selected by the BBC for the role of token Euro-sceptic thus providing balance of opinion: not joking, the four other panellists and especially the ‘Conservative’ Ken Clarke are fervently pro-EU. TK performed very well as always and put his opinions in a quiet, thoughtful manner. Something of a paradox here given that he works for The Sun but then, so too is Rupert Murdoch
Rob Read –
Scrapping the licence fee won’t solve the problem of bias. Most people will want to pay for the BBC.
Scrapping analogue is a non-starter for probably the next twenty years I would guess. It’s a vote loser which no government will tackle for quite a while (whatever Blair’s lot say).
My digital box freezes at least twice a night. I have to switch it off and switch it back on. Frotunately I’m not 85 with arthritis. Also I was able to master the instruction booklet -which not everyone will find so easy.
Ken
Security concerns have been a central issue in Iraq for nearly 2 years.
The fact that security is increased in the run up to the election should not be considered newsworthy to anyone who hasn’t had their head up their arse for the last 2 years.
What is truly momentous and therefore newsworthy is that there are elections at all.
“Scrapping the licence fee won’t solve the problem of bias”
It will solve the problem of HAVING to pay for it though. Nothing can solve the problem of bias at the BBC.
“Scrapping analogue is … a vote loser”
Why? Everyone will get a FREE digibox. Good ones don’t lock up. The huge amount of money yo could raise from selling of the badly underutilised analog tv spectrum would easily pay for this.
Hello Ghost
I think we are ‘violently agreeing’. I agree that everybody is self- interested.
Whether left or right. As you point out the right wing media have to spin a line, so
do the left wing media (they also have mortgages and children to feed).
In this world, my own experience is that it is very difficult to be balanced.
But, by definition (i.e self interest rules), the Right are at least honest about it?
At least they recognise people as they are rather than they should be.
Perhaps it is time for you to step out of the closet?
I think that scrapping the licence fee and deregulating the TV media in the UK is the way we should go. Market forces would make it a dead-cert that some right-winger will see a gap in the market and start up a right-of-centre news service, perhaps a bit like Fox in the US. You only have to look at the numnber of centre-right newspaper readers in this country to realise that. I’d personally prefer having openly partisan TV media to a subtle anti-Jewish, anti-American, pro-EU and world government bias built in to a broadcasting service which glows with sickly sweet sanctimonious pride at it’s own reputation for independence and journalistic integrity. And anyway, if the BBC really is that great, surely a little competition wouldn’t do any harm….
No doubt the File on 4 programme will omit to mention that Paul Volcker who is conducting the internal UN enquiry has links to French firms alleged to have been party to the UN scam. I doubt if the French will be mentioned at all. Or the Russians. This File on 4 sounds to be a classic – all this talk about “our investigations have disclosed ….” when the BBC has largely ignored the firestorm raging around the UN.