Monthly Archives: January 2008

Please use this thread for comments about the BBC’s current programming and activities. This post will remain at or near the top of the blog – scroll down for new topic-specific posts. N.B. this is not an invitation for general off-topic comments, rants or chit-chat. Thoughtful comments are encouraged. Comments may be moderated.

The BBC coverage of Israel comes under scrutiny here.

When I saw this article about Spanish organ donation I thought that it was a bit odd, coming out of the blue. What event brought that into focus? What’s the news value?

Well, now I think I know. Gordon Brown wants to add organ snatching to his list of accomplishments.

I should say I am not against organ donation, but the State’s active involvement is what makes me queasy, and I am uncomfortable with the Burke and Harean possibilities it conjures.

That’s by the by. What’s wrong is the BBC’s publication of an article, which, en passant, might influence public opinion in favour of Government policy. Don’t tell me they are unaware of the Government’s moves as they portray how “The Spanish organ donor system is a remarkable story of human generosity in the face of grief.”

Not that the Spanish system is an example of what Brown is trying to do here- not so simple. Merely that they have (clearly) a proactive policy and this may be seen as emblematic of what the Govt here would like to do.

Another thing which makes me uncomfortable is that the BBC is clearly carrying water here for Euroland Lisbon agenda types who insist we must all learn best practise social and economic welfare from our Euro neighbours. It is one more example of integrationist journalism.

Update: 15.00 GMT. The Beeb really want this reform badly. See here and here among others. This is quite clearly a coordinated assault on public opinion, which stems from No. 10’s initiative. As Bodo puts it in the comments:

“The Govt and the Beeb have obviously been cooperating for a few days [at least] on what would be in today’s news.”

Managing the news, of course. No room for mention of the Alder Hey scandal, either.

Extra: as Pounce points out in the comments, our children are not to be excused the BBC/Government information drive. Never too young to follow Govt policy y’know.

Please use this thread for comments about the BBC’s current programming and activities. This post will remain at or near the top of the blog – scroll down for new topic-specific posts. N.B. this is not an invitation for general off-topic comments, rants or chit-chat. Thoughtful comments are encouraged. Comments may be moderated.

According to David Vance, the BBC ran a documentary last night about the Protestant exodus from Londonderry (some 18,000 people over 30 years leaving about 300 Protestants in a city of 54,000). His claims are interesting, as the BBC is, among other things, an apologist for the Tony Blair era Good Friday agreement. A whitewash of sectarian history could then be expected, and according to Vance was given as the BBC used talking heads to imply the exodus was some strange psychological phenomenon where inadequate Protestant hysterics lost their nerve, upped, and went.

But,

“Here’s what my wife experienced – not felt.

Her school bus was stoned on a regular basis as it travelled through the city centre. She and her friends had to lie on the floor to avoid being cut by glass. The “youths” who conducted this stoning came down from the Bogside, each day. Her mother was almost killed when an IRA bomb exploded in Shipquay street, without warning. Her swimming instructor, Norman Duddy, who was an RUC Inspector, was brutally shot dead, in front of his sons outside his place of worship. Who would stay in such a hell-hole?”

After viewing a clip of the programme, I concluded that though there are incidents of violence mentioned, the overall argument is that a few incidents created a psychological effect resulting in the exodus. Vance’s account- and others- suggests rather that pressure was directly applied and quite possibly systematically applied through violence and intimidation. Where were the British army at that time? Well, I suspect that’s really a central issue in this case- the willpower of one community backed by violence that wasn’t matched by the other. And that, perhaps, is the untold story the BBC won’t tell. And if the BBC, the British state organ, won’t tell a story that the Unionists need to be told, who will? And if they don’t tell it who can blame eager Irish Nationalists from assuming once again- as always- their untainted victim status?

Please use this thread for comments about the BBC’s current programming and activities. This post will remain at or near the top of the blog – scroll down for new topic-specific posts. N.B. this is not an invitation for general off-topic comments, rants or chit-chat. Thoughtful comments are encouraged. Comments may be moderated.

This one is a bit special. Would it, I ask, be usual to offer the opinions on an fatal incident of the mother of a murder suspect?

Not saying it’s not possibly the truth, but since when is “he would never have “harmed Tash”, Mr Speight’s mother Jacqueline said.” the proper basis for a story?

Oh, wait a minute, there’s a detail I’m omitting here- the suspect in question works for the BBC.

Of course I wouldn’t usually speculate on things like this, and analysis of cause of death is not child’s play, but since the BBC is, why not?

Dave T. in the comments also noticed this, I note.

Update: welcome to Iain Dale readers and thanks to him for the link.

The BBC is always carrying water for the interfering nanny state in Britain, and today is no exception, with an article where they manage to reinforce stereotypes of Britons and Americans as prime fatties:

UK and US ‘keenest on fast food’

Trivial it isn’t, when you consider that “lifestyle change” is socialism’s new frontier.

The annoying part is that it’s probably not even true, if the experience of that greatest of fast food providers Macdonald’s is anything to go by: “the market where McDonald’s is weakest in Europe is… Britain”

The market where it’s strongest? Go on, have a guess. (Info here)

Yep, that’s right, France. Now why might be an interesting story, and with what effect, but alas don’t suppose we’ll hear about it from the 3bn per year Beeb.