It’s my view that the BBC plays an active role in the “greening” of Northern Ireland and I have commented here before on stories that run on the Northern Ireland portal which have NOTHING to do with Northern Ireland. This evening the LEAD story on BBC NI concerns a house fire in the Republic of Ireland. On what basis has such an event ANY relevance to Northern Ireland? None. But the BBC is determined to use the Northern Ireland site on a 32 county basis and that, my friends, is a clear political bias.
UPDATE: The BBC has now moved on from the above story and is instead running a story about an industrial dispute – in the Repubic of Ireland. Hibernianisation.
Otherwise known as the usual BBC policy of surrender, appeasement and pathetic desire for this country to be shafted. What truly pathetic losers.
But the BBC is determined to use the Northern Ireland site on a 32 county basis.
And why not? Who cares except you!
I’m sorry that you have lost your one party, apartheid state but “c’est la vie.”
Get over it!
David,
I have long enjoyed your ATW site, and your recent contributions here.
However, this entry is going too far, and I think you need to wise up.
This unfolding story looks like a horrible tragedy (and it happened not far from my home). Shame on you for using it to demonstrate what may be a valid point.
The same goes for Nearly Oxfordian.
Why didn’t you instead comment on the crap Dateline program which I saw on N24 early today, which typfies the BBC’s crap approach to balanced coverage on the Middle East.
joc,
The tragedy is not the point as you should well know. It is the fact that is NOTHING to do with Northern Ireland. Shame on the BBC in NI for using it for THEIR agenda.
Matt,
Ever hear that it is best to keep your mouth closed and risk people thinking you are an idiot rather than opening it and leaving them in no doubt? “Apartheid state” – lol!
God rest those who died, and the loss of life is always a tragedy. David why don’t you complain to the bbc whilst you are there on Thursday evening going on air. If I felt as strongly as you do or say you do on this, then in principle I’d have to raise it with them while there.
You speak of another house fire elsewhere re the three young Quinn brothers, children murdered whilst they slept to demonstrate another point like this one? How could you treat death in such a callous manner?
God rest the dead a family of four.
David > The tragedy is not the point as you should well know. It is the fact that is NOTHING to do with Northern Ireland.
Given the free passage of people across the land border for employment, marriage, holiday etc, do you not think there is likely to be interest in the story from people watching the news in Northern Ireland with a knowledge of the area around the fire?
The BBC believe the people of N. Ireland just MUST be interested in such an event. It’s both presumption and bias, however tragic the case in question.
David > The tragedy is not the point as you should well know. It is the fact that is NOTHING to do with Northern Ireland.
Excuse me – it is very much the point.
And given that I am a Wexfordman living (very happily) in Northern Ireland I am very glad that they give this coverage. And in this (one) case, I am quite offended that you try and score what looks like a very cheap political point.
Politics doesn’t come into this – I may be from the South – I quite accept NI’s position in the UK.
David Vance I am truly shocked, and sincerely saddened.
Ed,
Yes – there are a lot of southerners living up here.
If you watch RTE, you will have seen the same coverage given to the recent similar house fire tragedy in Co. Tyrone.
Joc
thing is,its irrelevant that you are a wexford man – NI is part of the UK – im sure RTE doesnt put any brit house fires on its main bulletin does it?
Your place of birth does not give the argument validity – its as valid as a polski opinion – its irrelevant cos the BBC is funded by us for us allegedley. ps – your welcome to it though if you wanna pay for it – PLEASE !!
Two children died in that fire.
‘The bodies of Dermot Flood, 40, his wife Lorraine, 38, and their two children, seven-year-old Mark and Julie, five, were found in the house.’
‘its irrelevant cos the BBC is funded by us for us allegedley.’
And if joc lives in NI he pays his licence like me.
Typhoo- would you stop emotionalising the whole thing? It’s sad, but the BBC are a big tough organisation who routinely deal with sad stuff while staying within limits- except where they choose to transgress them.
How many other lethal house fires happened today elsewhere in the UK? Given the free movement of people throughout the UK, why does BBC NI not post these as its lead story? I’ll tell you why – because the BBC NI chooses to operate on a 32 county basis, and THAT is bias regardless of who likes it or not.
The human tragedy is very real, Joc, but there are many human tragedies that have happened today and yet NNC NI select one that happens in a foreign country to run with.
It is clear evidence of a politicised agenda, and one that as a license payer I object to funding.
Typhoo- would you stop emotionalising the whole thing?
The death of a family of four is not emotional?
Go to bed Typhoo- you’re clearly not up to it this evening.
It is clear evidence of a politicised agenda, and one that as a license payer I object to funding.
And you David Vance are only one licence payer, joc and I and Alan in Belfast are three others so why should your one payment equal more than all the rest?
What you have done here is prove what they are saying about you here
http://sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/a-unionist-irish-language-act/
has legitimacy.
Typhoo,
No one is saying that this event is not a tragedy. But it is a tragedy that has happened outside the UK and yet the UK State Broadcaster runs it as the LEAD story. That is the substantive point here and I am stating that I think this belies a prejudice which the BBC indulges that contradicts its charter.
Guys – I’m leaving here.
Wont be back to ATW – which I have followed since its inception.
Of all stories that you picked – again shame on you David.
Why didn’t you pick on for example, why the Beeb constantly rolls out teachers that support that disastrous excuse of a minister of education we have.
Joc,
Shame – but your call. You have completely missed the point here which is disappointing but not my problem.
Typhoo,
Personal abuse about me on other sites infested by republican trolls means less than zero to me. Stick to the topic here please.
‘But it is a tragedy that has happened outside the UK and yet the UK State Broadcaster runs it as the LEAD story. ‘
Please listen to me David. Tragedies run as lead stories usually no matter where, especially a tragedy of this magnitude. You know something ever since you told of your mother with alzeimers I say a little prayer for her each day, because I understand the illness. Please try to understand this -empthase- anything- this was the wrong story to pick to make a point. Two children died. You have two kids-what the hell did it matter if it was the lead story?? You ought to have waited on another.
I’m truly shocked.
Typhoo- do you think the BBC care about the latest fatal fire someplace? They simply don’t have time to, but this is the kind of thing they actually do use to build their moist little consensus. NI MUST care for the South. If it’s so important, why not put it top of UK news, as we’re equally neighbours as NI?
The BBC provide a 24/7 service of news, the fact that you’ve been touched by this one in particular is just your little emotional moment, your particular loyalties and ties. And you’re using it to undermine DV, which you’ve form for.
In world news they have one Palestinian girl’s death as sub-headline. Even death is politically charged, as every journo knows. It isn’t nice but it’s so.
Typhoo,
I will not be emotionally bullied on this.
Ed makes the essential point that the BBC is a tough organisation who routinely deal with sad stuff while staying within limits- except where they choose to transgress them. They transgress them and it will be picked up – if only here.
Neither of you get it.
How many tragedies elsewhere happen and are reported as the lead story. Going on both your logic if a tragedy happens anywhere in the world it ought not to be the lead story. that is nonsense, it happens all the time.
Thus a small event in London should lead the news on BBC rather than a tsunami where lots of people die? Is that your logic?
Typhoo, the fact that one has a logic in one’s thinking doesn’t give an opponent of logic the right to a reductio absurdum, especially when they’re so avowedly emotional over a tragic event.
‘your little emotional moment, your particular loyalties and ties’
NO. Although we all have those. It has only touched me due to its irreverant treatment here. DV has his emotional moments too. How would he feel if this had been many of the outrages he so often notes in NI?
Many ppl in NI like joc will be affected by this, as BBC NI well know.
I’m done commenting on it David. I never thought I’d see you post something like this in such a manner, I am sincerely shocked. Sincerely.
Typhoo, most sincerely, lady, you are quite unreasonable.
“Why didn’t you instead comment on the crap Dateline program which I saw on N24 early today, which typfies the BBC’s crap approach to balanced coverage on the Middle East” –
If you were able to read, which I doubt, you’d know that I lambast the BBC constantly about their crap approach to balanced coverage on the Middle East.
And where you were born is of no interest to anyone, and is of zero relevance.
Matt – your comment about ‘apartheid’ state is beyond stupid.
Typhoo, you’ve lost it big time. Does the BBC report on house fires in Poland, never mind as lead stories?
Ireland is a foreign country, end of.
Ed, like joc above David has lost more over this than won.
Good evening.
Typhoo,
We are dealing with a professional broadcaster here which knows exactly what it is doing when it leads with a non-Northern Ireland story. It IS hibernianisation and that remains my point. The emotionalisation of the story does not deal with the substance of my post and that is why I stand over it. I repeat – how many other house-fires in the UK today and how many covered by BBC NI?
“David has lost more over this than won” – If telling the truth means you lose favour with people who can’t argue rationally, then I for one wouldn’t lose sleep over it.
‘We are dealing with a professional broadcaster here which knows exactly what it is doing when it leads with a non-Northern Ireland story.’
David you are as professional at this as they are. How long are you blogging now? You posted this to get just such a response, espeicially after the comments earlier. Obviously they got to you and they pushed you in this direction.
Good night David, to you and yours.
And we sure won’t miss you.
Hmmm… was a trolling comment just deleted? I’ve replied to it in vain? 🙁
Bored with it all,
You need not have bothered coming back based on that pathetic effort.
NO,
Too true, I sleep sound.
Typhoo,
The BBC has a statutory obligation to be professional and unbiased. That’s one reason why it takes BILLIONS from us. To compare me, a private citizen who does this for nothing with my modest resource, to the BBC is unreal.
re: bored with it all
It was a pretty boring-us-all comment to make, wasn’t it?
To compare me, a private citizen who does this for nothing with my modest resource, to the BBC is unreal.’
David until now with this post I always thought your blogging professional. Sure I don’t agree with a lot of it, thats to be expected. I’m sure joc would have said the same, but your professionalism was never in question. Sadly I think you knew what you were doing. My problem is with the story you chose, not the point you are making. Same with joc I believe.
Anyway goodnight.
But, Typhoo, we don’t choose the stories, the BBC do.
Not on biased bbc ed, that was David’s choice. Good night.
Typhoo,
So the BBC chooses the stories but we can’t choose to comment or challenge them? I see.
Ed, how can you argue with closed minds?
OK, one last attempt: DV does not have infinite time. He commented on a relevant story that exhibits classic BBC bias and tendentious arrogance. It is a fair comment on a topical and apposite issue. Live with it.
Hear hear David – I too, have noticed the increased frequency of the so-called ‘BBC Northern Ireland’ posting stories from the Republic over the past few years.
I note in addition that in today’s ‘Northern Ireland’s Big Picture’ we have:
‘Members of the Irish Defence Forces take part in a military exercise in the Glen of Imaal, County Wicklow’
Even more ridiculous!
It’s time that this policy of BBC Northern Ireland came to an end. It is unfortunate though that the nature of this particular story have gien the likes of ‘typhoo’ etc. to emotionally attack you. Please post every time BBC post an unrelated southern story occurs (which knowing ‘BBC Northern Ireland’) won’t be too long), thus allowing the main thrust of the point that you are trying to make to get through.
‘So the BBC chooses the stories but we can’t choose to comment or challenge them? I see.’
If we were in opposite roles David and I treated the Enniskillen tragedy as you have done this one you might just understand. How about Kingsmill? Would you be happy if that had been used to illustrate a point about bbc bias?
Like I said, it’s not the point you are making, it’s the story and your use of it. Reporting on it and how you treated it here is different.
You know another story would have come your way pretty quickly, joc even gave you an example. You lost a loyal voice this evening with joc. In reputable terms I think you lost a lot. I think joc, like myself, had regard for your blogging. Sadly you’ve lost more than you gained this evening. I think those trolls scored.
Anyway its late and I’ve an early service to attend in the morning. G’night.
Typhoo,
Enniskillen was an IRA attack in Northern Ireland. Kingsmill was an IRA attack in Northern Ireland. For BBC NI not to report these would be..erm..unusual. You fail to draw an analogy and I suspect that I win as many as I lose.
Go to bed, Typhoo. You are not impressing anyone with your whining. By calling me and others like me trolls you have shown yourself in your true colours, and it’s a very ugly picture.
David, what if some blogger had used it as you are doing. Different some annonimous poster saying something, and a ‘reputable’ blogger. Clearly the trolls on the othe site affected you – putting this up on atw shows that this hasn’t sat well with you. I suspect some on atw will support and some won’t, that doesn’t matter, in reputable terms and within your self you lost a lot this evening. And then there is what people will say and what they think in private. Like I said, good nite to you and yours.
‘Go to bed, Typhoo. You are not impressing anyone with your whining. By calling me and others like me trolls you have shown yourself in your true colours, and it’s a very ugly picture.’
I wasn’t refering to anyone on this site as trolls, David knows the trolls I am speaking off.
ps David as Ernest said, this was reported in GB also. But…
Typhoo,
A fatal house fire is always newsworthy, that’s fine. But it is NOT a lead story in Northern Ireland!
(PS Ernest went on to agree with me.)