Radical impartiality for young minds.

You may recall that this post discussed the pandering to conspiracy theorists in a linked series of Childrens’ BBC “guides” to the attacks of September 11 2001. They were brought to our attention by commenter “Holiday in Hamastan”. The guides talked as if it were only the US who believed that Al Qaeda was behind the attacks. Both this CBBC article and others in the series have now been significantly … Continue reading

“Are you in Iraq ? Have you seen any troop movements ?”

We all know the BBC’s corporate view of the Great Satan America, but I think this is going beyond rhetoric. “Politicians reacted in disbelief to the revelation that for over two hours yesterday, the BBC News website carried a request for people in Iraq to report on troop movements. The request was removed from the website after it sparked furious protests that the corporation was endangering the lives of British … Continue reading

Roundup

– several links about BBC coverage of terrorism and related issues. Dr William McIlhagga writes, Not exactly bias, but pretty funny. John Simpson today (18th) has an article about Afghanistan headlined “Resurgent Taleban. John Simpson asks if the war with the Taleban can be won.” (link.) If you do asearch for “resurgent taliban” on the bbc website, you’ll find a preview of Newsnight, 20th July 2006, in which John Simpson … Continue reading

The blogging equivalent of a slow full-toss outside leg stump …

Times – “Bias at the Beeb – Official“ There are some things you do not need an official report to tell you – that John Prescott thinks he is a babe magnet, that President Mugabe is not entirely in favour of white farmers and that Al-Qaeda takes a pretty dim view of the West. The report commissioned by the BBC into itself concluded with something equally blindingly obvious. It said … Continue reading

The murder of Banaz Mahmod.

Ritter comments: Something missing here? ‘Honour killing’ relatives guilty [BBC story on the murder of Banaz Mahmod] Context maybe? What was the killer(s) motive? The BBC know, but are unable to tell us. Anyway, what’s missing? Oh, here it is: Father guilty of daughter’s “honour killing” [Reuters story on the same murder] “Her family decided to kill her because they believed the relationship had brought the dishonour as Suleimani was … Continue reading

Open thread – for comments of general Biased BBC interest:

Please use this thread for off-topic, but preferably BBC related, comments. Please keep comments on other threads to the topic at hand. N.B. this is not an invitation for general off-topic comments – our aim is to maintain order and clarity on the topic-specific threads. This post will remain at or near the top of the blog. Please scroll down to find new topic-specific posts. Impersonation. Some commenters are signing … Continue reading

Move the chair a little to the left, darling. I’m sure the lifeboat will be along shortly.

You know that BBC story that described Ahmadinejad as a “trenchant critic” of Israel? It now says… “outspoken critic.” Hat tip: Biodegradable (and the ever-wonderful News Sniffer.) Biodegradable provided a list of others described as outspoken critics by the BBC. And Byran pointed out that, “they were picking so delicately over the phrase that they didn’t notice it should be an outspoken critic.” What’s your favourite word? Click through to … Continue reading

An odd one about the Festival Hall.

An anonymous reader emailed me this link and added simply, “Read the question at the bottom.” Huh? I mean huh? Where did that come from? UPDATE: The question at the bottom has now disappeared. (Hat tip: Nick Reynolds of the BBC. Even he thought it was “remarkably silly”.) If you have come late to this party and want to know what the question was, Bishop Hill recorded it for posterity: … Continue reading

Fair do’s

– Dr Who was ace. Perhaps the best ever. Apart from that, this is an open thread – for comments of general Biased BBC interest: Please use this thread for off-topic, but preferably BBC related, comments. Please keep comments on other threads to the topic at hand. N.B. this is not an invitation for general off-topic comments – our aim is to maintain order and clarity on the topic-specific threads. … Continue reading