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May 17, 2005
Left, right, or centre?
Very interesting is the current debate on the bias of the BBC in its reporting. The BBC News team and its documentary departments all deny that they are biased, but report after report has stated that they are. So just who is right?
Well, let's consider the facts.
Watching BBC television news is a bit like watching a party political broadcast. The amount of "air time" devoted to what Mr Blair and any member of his government are thinking, to the latest pronouncements of any pro-unified Europe apparatchik from anywhere in Europe is saying, or to anything that makes either of the main opposition parties look divided and unfit to govern is quite apparent to even the most unscientific surveyor. Even more apparent is an obvious anti-American and definitely anti-Israel bias. It often seems that no effort is spared to make either Israel or the US look bad. Sadly, it is often also a very distorted view of the event reported.
Now a former BBC "insider" has written a book, exposing the bias, exposing examples of news being doctored, suppressed or otherwise misrepresented. The BBC's response? To impugne the reputation of the author, a former "star" reporter! Melanie Phillips, a columnist in the Daily Mail, yesterday wrote a leader page in which she quoted a number of examples of the blatant bias - a bias which has reached the stage that I, for one, find so nauseating that I regularly change to ITN (Biased!), CNN (also biased!), FOX, or even Euro News on satellite! Frankly it is disgraceful that our publically funded broadcaster - one whose "Charter" requires unbiased and factual reporting - can be so blatantly left wing in its views and get away with denying any wrong-doing!
Frankly, as I have said before in this blog, as they have now become the official propaganda media for the Labour Party, the Labour Party and its supporters should pay for it. There can be no justification for the continuance of the annual Licence Fee when I have to go elsewhere anyway to find unbiased reporting. Radio 4's "Today" programme, the Dimbleby "interviews", and all the "Panellist" shows that are supposed to allow debate and the airing of opposing views have become little more than an opportunity to air, as the "voice of reason", the Labour/Socialist supporters usual arrogant and unrealistic vision of Heaven on Earth.
Religion, especially Christian, is rapidly becoming, like anyone from any party deemed to be "right wing" by the guardians of Socialist "truth", something to be sneered at and belittled at every opportunity. At least there is hope on that score; the BBC recently actually admitted that they do portray religious figures as caricatures and see no reason why this should be objectionable! Don't hold your breath for any change in this attitude - they have also admitted that they think it's perfectly legitimate to do so. Christianity is now seen as something evil by this comfortable and well paid coterie in the BBC, so they feel no compunction in belittling anything about it and especially anyone who dares to admit that they have a faith. Even the flagship "Songs of Praise" programme sometimes slips into a mode of questioning which is supercilious and suggestions that the 30 second God-slot allowed on their Radio 2 programme early in the morning should include an Atheist were acted on - with the result that those of us who did find something useful in hearing the views of the many very good and devout speakers, were subjected to the abuse of one of the most negative and frankly unintelligent tirades I can recall. Sadly, I have now stopped listening to that programme, precisely because I found the views of the supposedly intelligent atheist offensive - but the BBC is still convinced that they are right and everyone else is wrong.
Herein lies the problem. The BBC has, through its policy of recruiting only those who read the Guardian - a paper I refuse to spend money buying - and even then only those whose views accord with the left wing anti-US, anti-Israel, anti-Capitalist, Socialist elite who now control it, that it is unable to even consider that their view is NOT the Centre of British politics. As with all Socialist "visionaries" - including Karl Marx - they are so wrapped up in their own superiority of vision that they cannot see that the lenses are rose tinted, or that there is another vision - which is not theirs.
The BBC's response to criticism is to attempt to rubbish the research, assasinate the critics' character and to deny all bias. Any halfwit can see what they refuse to acknowledge, that any politician who is not "one of ours" gets trashed in any interview, while any Labourite gets the silk sheet treatment. This extends to any foreign dignitary who comes from a party or government which the BBC Left do not approve of - and there are many - and many of us writhe with shame as this shameless bunch of arrogant bigots blatantly smeer the visitor, his or her country and their ideas. No wonder most US dignitaries decline the "privilege".
What is to be done? Very little at present, precisely because the only person with the power to do it is the chief beneficiary of this biased and totally unacceptable behaviour in our public broadcaster. But, as will certainly happen, as soon as another party is elected to power, this arrogant and unrepresentative body needs to be radically cut back - downsized and seriously pulled up short. Its recruiting policies must be changed, its entire management replaced, and its bias must be monitored and policed by an independent watchdog. Furthermore, its denizens must be made fully accountable for their suppression of "bad news for Labour" and promotion of twiseted and biased reporting.
Alternatively, privatise it, scrap the Licence Fee, and let's see how long the left wing bias survives in the harsh light of reality.
Update: Church Mouse has advised me that I would be most remiss if I did not give you this valuable link to The Biased BBC.
Posted by The Gray Monk at May 17, 2005 04:16 PM
Comments
Yes, but in the meantime, do something positive, sell your television and stop paying the licence fee.
That's what I did some years ago when I'd had enough of the BBC, and you'd be surprised how easy it is to do without; it surprised me. If you really want to you can get your TV and video detuned (tuner removed, most electric reapir shops will do it) and just use them to watch hired films etc so at least you'll still stop feeding the monster.
Posted by: fdm at May 18, 2005 08:13 AM
Now there is a really positive thought! Thanks!
Posted by: The Gray Monk at May 18, 2005 01:11 PM