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Open thread – for comments of general Biased BBC interest:
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DUmbJon | 03.11.06 – 12:40 pm
There is an important difference. Melanie Phillips, Charles Clarke, Amanda Plattell – whoever – are invited on the BBC to give their own opinions……effectively to say whatever they like.
James Naughtie, Kirsty Wark, the 5-Live team et al are expressly FORBIDDEN to do that.
They have to operate within strict editorial guidelines. They have a duty to be impartial.
They shouldn’t let their own ideological petticoats show.
Sometimes – very rarely – one may slip up. They’ll get a bollocking from their editor (or someone even higher-up for being unprofessional.
If you can find an instance of blatant ,consistent unprofessionalism/bias – point it out. Complain.
Post it here.
You never seem to find anything substantive. Just imagined conspiracies and supposed ‘omissions’.
Jeremy Clarkson presents a motoring magazine, not a political show. Melanie Phillips is one of 4 regulars on the Moral Maze, two (of which Melanie is one) from the right, two from the left. No problems with the balance on this programme, never read any criticism of it on this site either.
As you well know Boris is an eccentric person who likes to play the fool who has already been sacked from the front bench of the Conservatives (that’s Conservatives, Mr Reith, NOT Tories). Your celebritising (is that a word?) of him does nothing to promote the party’s electability. You and the Beeb are well aware of that. He is put on telly to get laughed at on Have i Got News For You, but I struggle to think of a single occasion that he has actually been asked for his political views on the news or such like.
As for people of extreme views; maybe you could give us some stats as to how often George Galloway and Nick Griffin have respectively appeared on QT, or the Today programme, or Newsnight? After doing that, how about Alibhai-Brown, or Tony Benn compared to Kilroy-Silk or Norman Tebbit? or John Pilger vs Mark Steyn? I do not disagree that you do cover most points of view; it is the fact that on most occasions the left is given more exposure than the right; on most occasions the right view is grilled and probed and challenged before they can even finish the sentence, whereas the left can expect to put their view across virtually unchallenged. This site has multiple examples of this going back several years.
Your point on trustworthiness is disingenuous. None of the Mail, Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, Sun, Express and Mirror purport to be trustworthy or impartial – the BBC does. None of the above force you to pay for their content, the BBC does. Of course the BBC would score higher. Unfortunately not everyone is as fastidious as Natalie and Pounce in scratching beneath the surface to discover the web of propaganda, omission, half-stories and bias that lies at the heart of the BBC.
My last post was addressed primarily to you Mr Reith. AS a footnote I must say I agree wholeheartedly with your views on the State Within.
To Pounce, Natalie and other regular contributors. Question Time last night had an undoubtedly right-leaning panel in general. Both the guests were right of centre. In my opinion it was the best QT for a long time, but that’s not the point.
This came fast on the heels of a very balanced Newsnight on climate change, which was also excellent, and expertly chaired by Paxman.
Do you believe that these (very unusual) instances were a reaction to the barrage of criticism the BBC has had to take, including its Impartiality Summit? I believe it is – for example, when Frostrup dropped out, why replace her with Hitchens rather than one of the numerous lefties?
And secondly, although this is to be welcomed, do you think this is the sign of things to come; or do you think that once this storm has blown over, the BBC will revert to type, and the next programme on climate change will yet again have George Monbiot as its “independent” voice of reason?
BBC get’s caught red handed ‘removing’ (D)HYS posts…
Sniffing out edits – update
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2006/11/sniffing_out_edits_update.html
“…..we NOW think we’ve got a bug on our side which causes some comments not to show up – we’re looking into this.”
Yeah, the ‘bug’ is bias and censorship as practiced by the (D)HYS moderators. We’ve been stating for some time that “some comments don’t show up” (or are just blatantly ‘removed’) on (D)HYS. News sniffer spots when posts ‘mysteriously’ disappear. News Sniffer is now recording all the ‘removed’ posts…..
News Sniffer Reveals Disappearing BBC Blog Posts
http://newssniffer.newworldodour.co.uk/blog/2006/10/31/bbc-editors-blog-about-news-sniffer/
As for people of extreme views; maybe you could give us some stats as to how often George Galloway and Nick Griffin have respectively appeared on QT, or the Today programme, or Newsnight?
thats a good question.
.
“The Pentagon has stepped up planning for attacks against North Korea’s nuclear program and is bolstering nuclear forces in Asia, said defense officials familiar with the highly secret process”.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20061103-122702-4895r.htm
.
“will you be performing the Hajj”?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/6088370.stm
err. no. like 98% of Britons i’ll be staying right here, awaiting the results of the annual stampede, where they throw stones at the devil , and the score usually ends up with Devil 250 – Humans 0.
“Heron | 03.11.06 – 1:14 pm |”
I think is more the growing anatagonism towards the BBC – such as the very angry backlash of comments on proposed Green Taxes/Stern report. this has been building up since their disgraceful reporting during the Israeli/Hezbollah conflict… something has got to give, otherwise they’ll lose all remaining traces of smallest bit of credibility (that would be reserved by Saint David Attenborough and His Holiness Michael Palin)
Labor Department figures for October showed that 4.4% of the US workforce were unemployed, as against 4.6% in the previous month.
However, it is the third month in a row that the politically-sensitive unemployment rate has shown a decrease.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6113978.stm
Is it “politically sensitive” because the media do their best to play down the success story of the US economy?
If a 4.4% unemployment rate is “politically sensitive” how many stories do we get from the BBC about the extreme sensitivity which must exist in such as France & Germany with unemployment rates more than twice as high?
“James Naughtie, Kirsty Wark, the 5-Live team et al are expressly FORBIDDEN to do that.
They have to operate within strict editorial guidelines. They have a duty to be impartial.
They shouldn’t let their own ideological petticoats show.”
oh really?
http://download.yousendit.com/50ECE3DD34997BBB
Jim Naughtie ranting – mp3 file.
“will | 03.11.06 – 2:30 pm | ”
our own real unemployment rate is just as bad as France or germany, since we hide the unemployed in “disability allowance” figures or other numerous schemes. i would trust the U.S. figures far more since they have far less of a welfare state – and thus far less opportunities to massage the figures.
Matthew Price, BBC journalist in Jerusalem on Beit Hanoun video via this link…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6112386.stm
“These are home made rockets they are made in a fairly flimsy way..You talk to the guys who are making these rockets and then subsequently firing them about why they are doing it….”
As you do!
archduke something has got to give, otherwise they’ll lose all remaining traces of smallest bit of credibility
Have some sympathy. What other entertainment medium has to replace ads for things like shiny, fast cars with a short film featuring a talking sofa threatening a fine should its resident potato fail to pay for a TV licence.
Just a short question. Has anyone tried to post a comment in the “Have your say” section on the BBC’s website? They are either fully or reactively moderated never left to there own devices just so you know. I only ask this because I have commented there a number of times and only been posted once. At first I thought nothing was being posted because my comments werent on topic. I checked my contributions. Then I got suspicious and read all the other postings made since the beginning of the topic. In short, I dont think that it would be unfair If I said the contributions to the “have your say section” were guided so as to re-affirm the BBC’s stance on a subject in the eyes of the public and to paint opposition as the playground of the extremist.
Am I wrong in this assumption?
archduke:
“will you be performing the Hajj”?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talki…int/ 6088370.stm
err. no. like 98% of Britons i’ll be staying right here, awaiting the results of the annual stampede, where they throw stones at the devil , and the score usually ends up with Devil 250 – Humans 0.
archduke | Homepage | 03.11.06 – 2:22 pm | #
ROFL!
sean. | 03.11.06 – 1:40 pm
George Galloway has been an MP for nearly 20 years having been elected five times by three constituencies. Nick Griffin would be pushed to get elected to a golf club. So why should he appear on Newsnight or the Today programme anything like so frequently?
But because the BBC is obliged to give all sorts a fair shout Griffin has been on Newsnight and Today a number of times. (I’ve never seen him on QT but there are all sorts of health and safety regulations about having feral creatures in too close proximity to a studio audience, which may be why you haven’t seen Abu Izzadeen or Old Hooky on QT either).
Griffin was on the Politics Show too earlier this summer. And on Today in May.
Can’t say I’ve ever seen the leader of the SWP on Newsnight or the Politics Show. In fact, I can’t say I know who the leader of the SWP is.
O/T
I see over on the ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ thread that B-BBC now has its very own Guy Goma. It seems that Michael Medved isn’t ‘that Michael Medved’ after all. A rite of passage of sorts.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4774429.stm
http://www.michaelmedved.com
I expect it will be a huge success.
John Reith | 03.11.06 – 12:36 pm |
well, at least reith seems to have a sense of humour…reasonably witty, too…
there – how’s that for balance?
Jr ” Nick Griffin would be pushed to get elected to a golf club.”
Times change. At one time his views would have been exactly what was expected from a member. Or is it a class thing?
no will, it’s a matter of what HR types nowadays call ‘interpersonal skills’.
John Reith
Would you care to comment on the following:-
Mark Thompson DG BBC 619,000
Mark Byford DDG BBC 456,000
John Smith COO BBC 444,000
Jana Bennett DofTV 353,000
Zarin Patel Fin Dir 324,000
Jenny Abramsky Dof R&M 322,000
Caroline Thompson DofS 317,000
Ashley Highfield Dof NM 311,000
Stephen Dando* 292,000
Tim Davie DofM 287,000
Grand Total 3,725,000
* I especially like this one’s title Head of BBC People. These people are the top earners in State employed Media People. Only the BBC as this is the Biased BBC site.
There is no wonder that you JR carry on as you do, what would these wonderful people do for a living without the BBC.
All figures from The Taxpayers Alliance.
I forget to mention the figures are in pounds sterling
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/vote2006/locals/html/region_99999.stm
Not really true, Mr Reith. I hate both Galloway and Griffin but the fact remains that Griffin’s party has twice as many councillors as Gorgeous George’s lot. Maybe I could make your task a little easier. How about some numbers on how often Nick and Gorgeous have been invited onto QT, Today, Newsnight or BBC News since the May 2006 election results were known. In the interests of proper representation one would expect Nick’s appearances to at least equal George’s.
Another one for you. The odious BNP won more council seats than the Greens. Maybe you could give us some comparison between the airtime given to these two respective parties.
My own life would be much better if I never had to endure Griffin, Galloway or the Greens on the BBC ever again. I am no apologist for either. However, if the BBC is going to give airtime to one, the others, in interests of fairness and IMPARTIALITY, must also be given a fair crack of the whip. Surely you agree with that, Mr Reith? Maybe you could provide us with some stats to show you have been doing this. I know it’s a pain but you wouldn’t want the BBC wrongly accused of bias would you?
re herons question.
So why should he appear on Newsnight or the Today programme anything like so frequently?
………………………………..
because like it or not, the bnp now represent a large amount of people in the u.k,and a lot of them pay for a tele licence.
anyway thanks for the reply j.r
JR ” Nick Griffin would be pushed to get elected to a golf club.”
Is that your view or your view as a BBC employee or the BBC’s view?
The BNP received 26% of the vote in a council election in Rotherham several days ago.
They’d get my vote because they seem to be the only party who would withdraw from Iraq immediately. You may see Tony as a god and Nick as ‘ferral’ but how many people has Tony killed? Hundreds of soldiers, thousands of Iraqis, maybe the odd dissenter here and there (Kelly or was that the BBC?). Even the wishy washy lib dems don’t seem to know where they stand on Iraq.
You and the BBC may see someone as ‘evil’ for saying ‘Islam is evil’.
But guess what, the majority agree with him but people are made to feel scared to vote the way they want because of the tactics employed by the likes of the BBC. And as pointed out here, you (the BBC) are quite willing to coerce the CPS into prosecuting him for basically saying ‘show your disgust at the ballot box’ yet when it comes to a muslim defending honour killings, as on Crimewatch, you protect his identity. You really are bunch of mixed up hypocritical freaks.
A true journalist would defend free speech, the BBC doesn’t seem to, unless it fits in with their political agenda and the tricks you’ve used for years to subjugate people (cries of ‘racist’ at every opportunity) simply don’t work anymore so the BBC have reverted to their last option, non-reporting e.g. the riots across Europe which are happening at the moment and intensifying.
Come in John Reith, your time is nearly up.
Archie wrote;
“our own real unemployment rate is just as bad as France or germany, since we hide the unemployed in ‘disability allowance’ figures or other numerous schemes.”
Why have no political parties got after this one? The numbers of claimants of disability allowance have increased enormously and if these are taken at face value, then it means that one of the clearest indicators of the UK’s health shows that NuLab is causing deterioration in the nation’s well-being. Indeed, why are the UK’s figures not compared with those of France and Germany.
The only alternative is that NuLab is lying. Why won’t the BBC do some ‘investigative journalism’ on the matter?
Allan@Aberdeen | 03.11.06 – 5:48 pm
When this issue has been raised by the Conservatives both zanulab and the beeb are able to say that the system was instigated by the Conservatives and that’s the end of the discussion, never mind that the numbers have been climbing over the time that bliar has been PM.
Matt Frie rubbishes las Vegas, 40% drop in house prices, cars that do 6 mpg and a charity shop. New Orleans not good enough for him I guess, why not try Nottingham, Bradford or Leeds? Matt would make a good evangelist ” The end time is coming, America is doomed, they will pay for their sins, it is written in Revelations” – and the BBC script writers.
matt frie rubbishes las vegas – yes.
matt frie interviews london mayor ken livingdtone in havana cuba – no
This report dated 31 october
British Olympic Committee to Visit Cuba
http://www.plenglish.com/Article.asp?ID=%7B1973566E-8EF5-4A45-ABD4-18F3D6627D40%7D&language=EN
Havana, Oct 31 (Prensa Latina) British Olympic Committee President Colin Moynihan will arrive in Havana Wednesday to take part in the 11th World Congress Sports for Everyone, in session here since Wednesday.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone will accompany Moynihan.
Yet the BBC says its a surprise!
03 November, 2006 – Published 15:44 GMT
London Mayor’s unexpected visit to Cuba Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has made an unannounced visit to Cuba. Mr Livingstone, who is scheduled to visit President Chavez in Venezuela next week, is expected to hold talks with Cuban officials on policies to tackle climate change. This report from Stephen Gibbs: Doh!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/2006/11/061103_cuba.shtml
Yoh BBC
Is the following accusation made against the BBC true?
“Somalia: BBC Somali service accused of abetting the Islamic Courts.”
http://www.ummahnewslinks.com/
(3 Nov.)
Apologies. Amended source for above
article:
http://ummahnewslinks.com
I noticed that QT got Tommy Sheridan onto the panel pronto after he won his legal battle against the News of the World. I wonder if they will do the same with Nick Griffin after he wins his legal battle next Thursday?
Perhaps the BBC will then summon up enough balls to address the subject of racist paedophile grooming in Lancashire? I wonder if they will broadcast a good old impassioned rant outside the courts like they did of Tommy Sheridan? Somehow I doubt it, because they know that the disgraceful role that the BBC drama documentary played in this case will be raised. Well there’s always Sky News! Hold on, I don’t have to pay for that!!
Well there’s always Sky News!
Wishful thinking that you would get any variation in the fare from any of our broadcast news.
Marc from Neverdock and how the Beeb can’t bring themselves to use the ‘M’ word:
http://ussneverdock.blogspot.com/2006/11/uk-muslim-called-for-beheadings.html
Heron | 03.11.06 – 4:26 pm
I don’t know what criteria QT use, but I doubt whether local councillors cut much ice.
MPs and Euro MPs are probably the gold standard. Except in Scotland/Wales and NI where members of national assemblies/parl would count.
Tommy Sheridan is an MSP. The Greens have a couple of Euro MPs. UKIP have been on….. so I’d bet my guess is right.
John Reith, you’re giving away amunition!
“George Galloway has been an MP for nearly 20 years having been elected five times by three constituencies. Nick Griffin would be pushed to get elected to a golf club”
Any you still don’t think that the BBC is biased? Both men have equally extreme views, both have shown evidence of violence in their personality. Both are extremely illiberal in their politics and their own lives.
Yet it’s the one who has committed treason and has openly supported viscious dictators, in one instance in return for bribes, who is electable. Why? Because he claims to be “left-wing”, without any evidence, so influential broadcaster the BBC gives him a far less critical platform.
You really did not see the irony in the statement you made trying to defend the BBC, when it quite obviously demonstrates their bias, did you? I assume you, lilke the BBC, have views you think so unassailabel you cannot see hte bias.
If what Heron says is true and “…Griffin’s party has twice as many councillors as Gorgeous George’s lot” then this is in the face of BBC’s openly biased opposition (they never hide the fact they hate the BNP) that Galloway does not get. Even the North Korean Communist party, which has killed millions and is openly racist (against relationships between Koreans and Chinese) gets better press than the BNP. Bizarre.
Quiet Mind 03.11.06 – 3:30 pm
“Am I wrong in this assumption?
I guess from your preamble and your question that you are new here (I wouldn’t know though as I’m an occasional visitor) but since no one else has answered your question I shall.
The answer is no; your assumption is correct.
Here’s a tip: think the worst of the BBC and you won’t go far wrong, if at all.
Even the North Korean Communist party, which has killed millions and is openly racist (against relationships between Koreans and Chinese) gets better press than the BNP. Bizarre.
Richard | 04.11.06 – 2:11 pm
Back in the 1940s my father’s unit fought the Nazis and the North Koreans. He thought they were both scum.
The BNP is a party founded by a man who used to dress up in Nazi uniforms to celebrate Hitler’s birthday.
Nick Griffin is his ideological son.
For many of my father’s generation it’s bad enough that the BBC has to have this man Griffin on at all….ever. I suspect Question Time would be a step too far for them.
If another crank started a party which modelled itself on the North Korean regime instead of the NSDAP, would you expect their leader to be on the box all the time?
But 25% at Rotherham last week can’t be ignored
http://www.radical-and-right.org/20061031.html
The media will ignore the result unless it can find a way to totally denigrate it, but the significance of the voting will not be lost on the ‘main’ Parties, or the Media Class and its Leftist street thugs, or the nation’s police chiefs, or the voters of Rotherham.
but the significance of the voting will not be lost on the ‘main’ Parties
Very true, the consistent level of support for the BHP in Labour seats must make Labour very nervous, it will make Labour vunerable to losing seats to Con/Libs.
Has John Reith lost his appetite for the Hamilton debate? or has the propaganda team gone on safari? I think we should be told!