Balance within the BBC

[french frank]

Interesting pronouncement from Ofcom's CEO to the DCMS Committee:

"She told MPs it was right the BBC was reviewing its social media guidelines, adding: "There is ambiguity in there, I think that was probably designed to give a degree of flexibility… but it didn't achieve what they wanted."

She said there needed to be "very strict rules" for news presenters, but said it was a "slightly different question" when it comes to other contributors, including freelancers and actors.

"I think they need to be weighing freedom of expression alongside the wider reputation they have for impartiality," she said.

[Maclintick]

The article recycles criticisms heard before. It would be more interesting had it suggested a better system of protecting broadcasting impartiality.

I agree. It's hardly news that much of the UK establishment in the 1930s, including royalty, the aristocracy, the Daily Mail ("Hurrah for the Blackshirts !") and Lord Reith were sympathetic to fascism, but in an attempt to manufacture a narrative of unbroken establishment bias at the BBC the author, lumping all Directors-General into the same mould, conveniently ignores the fact that their mindsets were far from identical, and thereby traduces figures such as Carleton Greene (TW3 & social-realist Play for Today), Alasdair Milne (sacked by Thatcher's place-man chairman Marmaduke Hussey) & Greg Dyke (forced into resigning by Blair's placeman Richard Ryder, after the whitewash of the Hutton report).

[eighthobstruction]

On the broader question of BBC balance, the relationship between the Corporation and the government of the day -- and as EH commented in an earlier post, this applies to both the current Tory and previous New Labour administrations -- is accurately summed up in an aphorisim coined by Teddy Roosevelt, which hung on the wall of the office of Richard Nixon's chief counsel Charles ('Chuck') Colson -- "When you've got them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow".

....Mac....once again 50% of population ignored.... (are you sure it didn't say "When you got the white guy by the balls etc etc )....

[Maclintick]

....Mac....once again 50% of population ignored.... (are you sure it didn't say "When you got the white guy by the balls etc etc )....

8thObst, I'm not at all sure how Teddy Roosevelt's aphorism excludes people of colour, as it seems to have universal application in situations where the powerful exert control over the powerless. Here's another thought re BBC balance, and how societal attitudes have gradually shifted to what would previously have been considered far-right positions. In recent general elections the BNP manifesto pledges have been closely aligned with the government's policies:

1. Withdrawal from the EU ( Tory √)
2. Curb immigration (Tory √)
3. Cut international aid (Tory √)
4. Boost defence spending (Tory √)
5. Restore capital punishment (not yet, but Tory vice-chairman Lee Anderson supports it ! )

[vinteuil]

I'm not at all sure how Teddy Roosevelt's aphorism excludes people of colour...

... but it does exclude the c 50% of people without testicles

.

[eighthobstruction]

... but it does exclude the c 50% of people without testicles

.

....yep that's what i meant, but decided i felt like writing a longer sentence (looking for a punchline as usual) - no offense was meant. Also due to involving myself too much in USA news cycle where there is a lot going on in the black/white divide....