BBC report to stay confidential The report looked at the BBC’s news coverage of the Middle EastA bid to force publication of a review by the BBC of its Middle East coverage has been rejected in the High Court.London lawyer Steven Sugar wanted the Balen report, which was drawn up in 2004, to be revealed under the Freedom of Information Act.But Mr Justice Irwin ruled that, as the material was … Continue reading
Here’s a new open thread, before the old one disappears out of sight. Click through to read and contribute comments on this post.
One video in exchange for the release of several Palestinian prisoners? The knowledge that Shalit is alive, unlike the two kidnapped soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser whose corpses were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners not so very long ago. How good a deal is that? How proportionate?A resounding silence from the usual bunch who screech ‘disproportionate’ every time the numbers don’t tally. A bit quiet now though aren’t they. It’s … Continue reading
Big on the BBC website headlines today was this about 62 year old US talk show host David Letterman A man has been charged over an alleged plot to blackmail chat show host David Letterman over sexual relationships he had with female staff members. CBS employee Robert “Joe” Halderman, was arrested after an undercover sting operation, New York authorities said. Letterman confessed during a recording of his show, broadcast by … Continue reading
Tweets from BBC Sports News Correspondent James Pearce today. (H/T David Preiser in the comments). First…“Both Obamas were brilliant. In some ways Michelle upstaged her husband. She spoke with real passion” Then…“My analysis of Chicago presentation: Michelle Obama absolutely fantastic. President Obama very good. Rest average” And then…“Just been speaking to Lord Coe. He reckons IOC members loved Michelle Obama” Finally, heartache:“Wow. Vow. Vow. Vow! We always knew first round … Continue reading
The most viewed story on the BBC Americas site on Tuesday was “US probes Obama ‘death’ web poll” about a sick Facebook page asking if Obama should be killed. The story was given prominence on the main pages of the BBC’s News, World and Americas sections. Sky News also covered the story online, albeit with added alarmist undertones about racist protesters which the BBC, to its credit, avoided. However, unlike … Continue reading
It’s Friday, time to start chilling down, and what better way to start than to read this article by Johann Hari in the soon to be extinct Independent. Johann is very concerned that the much loved BBC is going to be broken up by the evil Tories. Now read on…. Let’s start with the good news. The BBC works. For just £2.60 a week, the British get a package of … Continue reading
Peter Sissons has had another excellent pop at the BBC. Peter Sissons, the retired BBC news presenter, last night attacked the corporation for paying huge executive salaries while allowing BBC newsrooms to become “factories” run by “poor kids”. The presenter, who left the BBC during the summer, also said that there was far too much opinion on BBC news programmes, and not enough straight reporting of facts. Sissons, 67, who … Continue reading
Bias is a curious beast. I don’t watch Eastenders but I believe that London Mayor Boris Johnson made a cameo appearance in “The Vic”. Big deal, eh? Well, it bothers the BBC who ran an item on it this morning pointing out that a/ Their hero Red Ken never got on despite seeking appearances, b/ That Boris was “a national joke” and c/ Is this how we are going to … Continue reading
Bias can take many forms. One the most basic is the use of language; consistently misrepresenting a subject can render coverage totally one-sided. In the case of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, which is taking place today, the BBC decided some time ago that the treaty itself was about “simplifying the EU”. Liz McKean on Newsnight last night deployed the phrase at the beginning of her report; and … Continue reading
