, co-author of the wonderful Yes Minister series, has been spilling the beans recently on the bias and attitudes inherent in the culture of the BBC. His latest article was in yesterday’s Sunday Times. Here are some excerpts – the first sets the scene and lists the things that the BBC was, and still is, largely anti- to: The growing general agreement that the culture of the BBC (and not … Continue reading
: I don’t know how this is being covered on other networks, but the BBC are starting all their news bulletins about John Redwood’s Competitiveness Commission reports with the words… The Labour Party has today criticised… This has happened many times before. Instead of concentrating on the substance of a Tory policy announcement the BBC seem to revel in giving Labour Ministers the microphone to explain how whatever the policy … Continue reading
in a trailer for Any Qustions (quoted in its entirety): In Any Questions today: the stock markets have fallen. Should we rejoice if greed is bad for us? Dimblebore’s presumption of a correlation between stock market prices, greed and whatever is ‘bad’ (or good) for us is an awfully simplistic, ignorant view – the sort of view one might expect from someone who doesn’t need to worry about his pension … Continue reading
of climate change (global warming, when they can fit it in) reporting that has become virtually the BBC’s trademark is put in an interesting light by this saga of diligence on the part of bloggers (I presume scientists too, but maybe just enthusiasts). Today the BBC have regaled us with British scientists’ latest grandiose attempts to predict the weather ten years ahead. The BBC assert that “Currently, 1998 is the … Continue reading
Please use this thread for BBC-related comments and analysis. Please keep comments on other threads to the topic at hand. N.B. this is not (and never has been) an invitation for general off-topic comments, rants or use as a chat forum. This post will remain at or near the top of the blog. Please scroll down to find new topic-specific posts. Click through to read and contribute comments on this … Continue reading
from a cynical one: “I propose that the BBC is biased. No, no, hear me out. We all know the BBC is biased of course, but I propose specifically that it is biased in favour of the Democratic party of the USA. To test my theory, I will be keeping a count each day of how many stories it runs focussing on each of the two parties. If any third … Continue reading
The close relationship between the BBC and the Government can be seen in this instance which the BBC has seen fit to report, which Tim Worstall has a laugh over. Of course strictly I shouldn’t say between the BBC and “the Government”, but between the BBC and government generally. That the BBC was even running an online service “in support of the national curriculum” is something I would see problems … Continue reading
It was interesting, I thought, to listen to Helen Boaden’s comments in response to the comments of Robin Aitken and others on the Talking Politics show highlighted by Andrew below. Boaden’s comment about impartiality not being a “state of grace” I thought especially revealing. I mightn’t actually have to think too hard to think of a few apples which the BBC ought not to bite, or commandments they shouldn’t break. … Continue reading
Please use this thread for BBC-related comments and analysis. Please keep comments on other threads to the topic at hand. N.B. this is not (and never has been) an invitation for general off-topic comments, rants or use as a chat forum. This post will remain at or near the top of the blog. Please scroll down to find new topic-specific posts. Click through to read and contribute comments on this … Continue reading
was on the subject of BBC impartiality, or rather partiality. The programme features notable contributions from two recent critics of the BBC’s partiality, Robin Aitken, author of Can We Trust The BBC?, Anthony Jay co-creator of Yes Minister, and author of Confessions of a Reformed BBC Producer (PDF) published by the Centre for Policy Studies. The programme also features contributions from Professor Adrian MonckDepartment of Journalism and Publishing at City … Continue reading
