Author Archives: David Vance

General BBC-related comment thread

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. 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 also be moderated. Any suggestions for stories that you might like covered would be appreciated! It’s your space, use it wisely!

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THOSE SMEAR MAILS – WHO IS TO BLAME?

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Anyone else caught this interview with Armando Iannucci on Today this morning? It allegedly concerned parallels between story lines in his TV programme “In the Thick of it” and the current McPoison Gate. I noted that Armando was able to get the sly line in that David Cameron also has spin doctors around him and so the culture of spin and spite evident in the current case was likely to continue under the Conservatives. BBC subtext; they are all the same, Save gordon.


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SHIVER ME TIMBERS!

Happened to catch BBC News at One O’Clock on R4. I see they are now pushing the line that the decisive actions by the French and Americans off the Somali coast may actually increase the risk to the lives of mariners! Those pesky pirates may stop being so co-operative next time round. Can’t stand up for falling down, eh?

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IMPLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY…

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Anyone else catch Postie Johnson being interviewed by Naughtie this morning on the topic of those Downing Street smears? For me, the crux of this interview – which sums up the BBC approach – is that Johnson was blatantly allowed to get away with suggesting that Gordon Brown could not be held responsible for everything that people who surround him get up to. Naughtie eventually DID bring up the substantive point that McBride was not exactly some anonymous low-ranking individual but rather a senior and trusted Brown strategist but even then, he let Johnson walk away from the clear infererence. Gordon Brown has taken the well know Trumanism and inverted it “The Buck never stops here” and the BBC plays along with this ludicrous charade. Can you imagine the difference in tenacity and tone from the BBC had we a Conservative Prime Minister presiding over such a sleaze culture?

Thank you

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LESSONS IN PROPAGANDA

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BBC can always be relied upon to give the appropriately entitled NUT conference favourable coverage. The Keffiyeh adorned hordes that turn up for this annual circus are now complaining that the government plan to extend “free” nursery care are actually reducing the care children get. How? Well, it seems that some teachers work loads are being increased as a consequence of this policy. Oh dear – that would never do, would it? Perhaps another strike looms – with attendant favourable Beeb coverage?

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ALWAYS ON THE BUTTON…

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So, with the UK PM mired in sleaze, as Global economies go into meltdown, and with the mad Mullahs in Iran going nuclear, what better time for the BBC to update us on…….the new puppy that Obama has chosen. (It’s a Portuguese water dog – given by Ted Kennedy. Yip – you couldn’t make it up!). Obama has a water dog and the BBC is a poodle.

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GOSSIP AND RIGHT WING.

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Interesting to see how BBC Radio 4 covered the Damian McBride resignation this morning. The line being peddled was that this sort of political “gossip” handles all the time and that the blogosphere which broke the story (Congrats to Guido, of course) is dominated by right wing blogs! There was also a total acceptance of the fabrication that no one else in No. 10 knew anything about McBride’s scheming. Even when Brown’s cabal has caught out, as in this instance, the BBC can be relied upon to do what it can to preserve those in the bunker.

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