Free From Political Interference?

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BBC faces new bias row over charity given millions by EU

The BBC is facing questions over the impartiality of its coverage of the European Union after its charity arm received millions of pounds to promote the EU’s political agenda.

 

BBC Media Action, which is part of the broadcaster’s Global News division, was paid £4.5 million from Brussels last year, mostly for work designed to ensure the progress of the enlargement of the EU.

Based at the BBC’s Broadcasting House headquarters in London, the charity received the bulk of the money for a project to train hundreds of journalists in countries which share potentially volatile borders with the EU.

MPs said the extent of the charity’s dependence on money from Brussels could undermine the credibility of the BBC’s coverage of controversial European issues, including EU enlargement.

 

 

A BBC spokesman said any suggestion that coverage of EU issues could be influenced by the charity’s funding arrangements was “completely unfounded and confused”.

“BBC Media Action is an independent charity which works to support free and fair journalism and reduce poverty around the world,” the spokesman said.

“The BBC’s editorial remit is to deliver fair, balanced and impartial coverage and we are satisfied that our coverage of the European Union does just that.”

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6 Responses to Free From Political Interference?

  1. Guest Who says:
    November 3, 2013 at 6:52 am

    Anyone get the feeling they are starting to look a bit silly with their cut and paste ‘it is because we say it is… no further questions’ non – answers based exclusively on BBC belief in itself…
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    “A BBC spokesman said any suggestion that coverage of EU issues could be influenced by the charity’s funding arrangements was “completely unfounded and confused”.
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    So… an another anonymous BBC drone says ‘Ner’. Can see a Paxo dropping any further challenge at such a response.
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    “BBC Media Action is an independent charity which works to support free and fair journalism and reduce poverty around the world,” the spokesman said.
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    This ‘spokesman’ would not be from the breeding group of BBC PR dogma intoners devoted to the wisdom of Mandy Rice Davies’ would he?
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    “The BBC’s editorial remit is to deliver fair, balanced and impartial coverage and we are satisfied that our coverage of the European Union does just that.”
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    The BBC’s self-satisfaction is noted.
    But goes to the core of the problem.
    The BBC saying it meets its remit, and that’s that, is hardly credible.

       29 likes

  2. Phil Ford says:
    November 3, 2013 at 8:20 am

    “…The BBC saying it meets its remit, and that’s that, is hardly credible.

    Careful, it sounds to me like you’re in need of some ‘re-education’. We have a room for that. Just down that corridor. Look for door no. 101.

       19 likes

  3. Beness says:
    November 3, 2013 at 8:49 am

    They probably think they have it just about right. it’s in their genes you know.

       19 likes

  4. Kenneth says:
    November 3, 2013 at 11:42 am

    I agree with the other comments here. It’s not good enough for the BBC to duck the substance of the allegations.

    The “we know best” response suggests both laziness and contempt.

       11 likes

  5. Rtd Colonel says:
    November 3, 2013 at 9:34 pm

    I’m sure they regard themselves as enlightened and wonderful employers bespite the large no. of allegations (accepted) of bullying, sexual harrassment that still go on today – But they are working hard to address it (Promoting the offenders – getting rid of all freelance and temp contract employees who complain) and are sure the figures will improve. Ohzabouthattthen!
    ps does anyone know why Hardeep Singh Kohli was put on ‘Gardening Leave’ for a while?

       3 likes