BBC News.

[FairwayDodger]

You are doing it now, you are using your bias against me to colour your reply on the subject. I thought you were a bit more grown up than that.

I don't care if it's the Government , opposition , global warming or whatever, I just want the information so that I can make my own mind up.

I’m using what I know about you to inform my reply.

The bbc give us the facts but it’d be a lot of dry, repeated information if that was all they did.

The have a formula that they follow which is basically to give any interviewee a hard time and challenge everything they say even if it’s obviously fair comment. I’d like to see them being firmer where it was needed and sometimes agreeing rather than always arguing for the sake of “balance”.

What particularly annoys me is when they give air time to hate mongers to debate basic human rights just to give “balance”. You see it all the time when they discuss LGBT issues.

On the political front though they do it to all sides and you genuinely don’t see any other media organisation in the world being so impartial.

 

[SocketRocket]

I’m using what I know about you to inform my reply.

The bbc give us the facts but it’d be a lot of dry, repeated information if that was all they did.

The have a formula that they follow which is basically to give any interviewee a hard time and challenge everything they say even if it’s obviously fair comment. I’d like to see them being firmer where it was needed and sometimes agreeing rather than always arguing for the sake of “balance”.

What particularly annoys me is when they give air time to hate mongers to debate basic human rights just to give “balance”. You see it all the time when they discuss LGBT issues.

On the political front though they do it to all sides and you genuinely don’t see any other media organisation in the world being so impartial.

You don't know me at all although you seem to have a 'Hate Monger' view of me. Can you not see that.

I disagree with your comment regarding them giving any interviewee a hard time, it's my opinion that they use that policy in a very one sided manner and I am not talking about attacking the Government but in all cases where it suits their agenda.

 

[FairwayDodger]

You don't know me at all although you seem to have a 'Hate Monger' view of me. Can you not see that.

I disagree with your comment regarding them giving any interviewee a hard time, it's my opinion that they use that policy in a very one sided manner and I am not talking about attacking the Government but in all cases where it suits their agenda.

If you think my use of the term “hate monger” in that post was in any way directed at you, please reread and think again.

 

[shortgame]

Agree with O/P
Not quite as bad as channel 4 yet though...

As someone above said, it's also in the little nuances and choices of expression they use 'despite Brexit' etc

Brexit and Trump being the obvious 'targets'

 

[FairwayDodger]

Someone on here previously posted a montage of “despite brexit” stuff and it was easily shown to be a false grievance. Almost always it’s used appropriately and often in a pro-brexit piece.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

An example of the bias, for those that think otherwise, is the use of negatives when there just isn't any need. In a recent report on economic performance the reporter started with, "despite Brexit..." Why start a positive news report on economic performance with "despite Brexit?"

And in the run up to the last GE, the labelling of John McDonnell a Marxist. The majority of people couldn't define what a Marxist is but to some hearing it, it would be seen as a negative even though they don't know whether he is or not.

A cross-party select committee has already, officially, reprimanded the BBC for biased reporting, but maybe that was biased too.

they use 'despite Brexit' because at the moment just about everything associated with Brexit is problematic, difficult and causing argument and disagreement. If everything was going tickety-boo with the negotiations and we were all able to look forward with confidence to the glowing future being painted by the government - if in that context the BBC continued to say 'despite Brexit' then I'd agree there was a bias case to be made.

But we are where we are - because of Brexit

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Socket ,stop being so precious, not every post is about you or aimed at you.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

If you think my use of the term “hate monger” in that post was in any way directed at you, please reread and think again.

You are wasting your time @FD

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Socket ,stop being so precious, not every post is about you or aimed at you.

Oh they are - they really are...

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I can’t think of a more balanced news broadcaster the World over. Perhaps those complaining of their perceived “bias” would prefer something like Fox News to give you your “facts”?
As usual something is wrong or biased when people don’t like what’s being said.

 

[User20205]

100% agree with this and I think I made a similar post recently (pretty sure I was ranting about paying this corrupt organisation the mandatory license fee).

Since then I've boycotted all BBC content..... I dont use their websites, radio or TV stations anymore.

I remember at school being taught about propaganda during the war.....to me that is all the BBC are. They are a propaganda tool for the government, nothing more, nothing less......and yet we're all forced to pay for them. Absolute joke.

You do realise the OP was talking about the BBC being anti government?? Now you’re talking about it being govt propaganda?

It’s not all BBC content also. I don’t remember any overly political messages on TMS this morning. There was however a nice conversation about ginger & walnut carrot cake sent in by sue & nick hook in surrey.....I was furious, typical south east bias!! Don’t the bbc know the rest of the country can produce a cake!!!!! And who eats carrot cakes, apart from lefty leaning, pinko commies!!!

 

[Hobbit]

Someone on here previously posted a montage of “despite brexit” stuff and it was easily shown to be a false grievance. Almost always it’s used appropriately and often in a pro-brexit piece.

And yet a cross party select committee found it to be biased and reprimanded the BBC. I don't doubt Brexit is a bad idea.

A quick Google below...

"Regulator says report on Labour leader’s views about shoot-to-kill breached impartiality and accuracy guidelines"

"The BBC has been reprimanded for a “serious” breach of rules on impartiality and accuracy over a ​

Radio 4

show that featured climate sceptics mocking the science behind global warming"

And then there's the example of Dame Judi Murray's comments on the Radio 4 programme in a piece about transgender, for which she received a reprimand for lack of impartiality.

There's plenty of examples out there, so lets be realistic and admit that the BBC has a proven record of bias.​

[SUB][SUP]
[/SUP][/SUB]​

 

[Lord Tyrion]

No one is the answer to that question.

Even worse was the courgette cake my wife once made. It was a shocker and never been repeated.

Vegetables and cakes do not mix.

 

[FairwayDodger]

And yet a cross party select committee found it to be biased and reprimanded the BBC. I don't doubt Brexit is a bad idea.

A quick Google below...

"Regulator says report on Labour leader’s views about shoot-to-kill breached impartiality and accuracy guidelines"

"The BBC has been reprimanded for a “serious” breach of rules on impartiality and accuracy over a ​

Radio 4

show that featured climate sceptics mocking the science behind global warming"

And then there's the example of Dame Judi Murray's comments on the Radio 4 programme in a piece about transgender, for which she received a reprimand for lack of impartiality.

There's plenty of examples out there, so lets be realistic and admit that the BBC has a proven record of bias.​

[SUB][SUP]
[/SUP][/SUB]​

Is that institutional bias or just getting it wrong sometimes? I think the latter. Especially since there isn't a trend in one direction or other, offending opposite ends of the political spectrum at different times.

 

[Deleted member 23270]

Why do news channel focus on bad news, then chuck in a bit of light hearted good news at the end? Why not do it the other way round? It would be a much better watch. Not that I bother much. It's far too depressing.

Just turn over to the 6pm news at 6:29 in future then

 

[Hobbit]

Is that institutional bias or just getting it wrong sometimes? I think the latter. Especially since there isn't a trend in one direction or other, offending opposite ends of the political spectrum at different times.

I think in an off the cuff interview, when the interviewer is asking questions of the responses, it is possible to be unintentionally biased. And then there's the political preferences of interviewers when interviewing someone with an obvious different stance to theirs - Andrew Marr does some great interviews but, equally, he can give some interviewees an easy ride.

As to the institutional aspect, I'd be inclined to say they try their best to be impartial but occasionally that falls down (probably) due to poor editing and direction, or is it an editor's subconscious preference breaking through.

Does the Beeb have an establishment line they take? No I don't think it does, apart from trying to satisfy the majority of its viewers.

However, institutional or otherwise there's too many 'mistakes' leading to reprimands. Is that not down to poor management, and hence institutional?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

...The bbc give us the facts but it’d be a lot of dry, repeated information if that was all they did...

In my opinion:

The News is just a dry repetition of facts. It isn't an entertainment show.

Magazine programmes, interviews, debates and Editorials are where opinion should be stated (and viewers should be informed that opinion and not necessarily facts are what is being discussed).

The BBC should be impartial as it is not privately owned. Any privately owned show can say pretty much whatever they want, but not a publicly funded "news" programme.

 

[SocketRocket]

Socket ,stop being so precious, not every post is about you or aimed at you.

Are you posting that with your Mods hat on or as a Forum member. If it's as a Member then you are talking rubbish as I have never suggested every post is about me. If it's as a Mod then you should be sending me a PM.

 

[drdel]

It seems to me SR simply expressed an opinion and raised an issue about the BBC's style of reporting.

However the school playground quickly and unjustifably jumped into attack SR mode playing the person not the ball: racing off down the tracks of a Brexit, Tory v Labour, the old nut of Scotland v RoUK. Its a bit rich he then gets chastised for defending himself.

Not everything is about the PM. JC Brexit etc

In my view the BBC should expect to be held to different standards than other purveyors/media because it is tax funded precisely to protect it from the influence of political parties, commercial organisation and other pressure groups.

Unfortunately in their financially protected ivory tower they have chosen to let celebritisation (hence £££s) become the norm. Consequently the prime objective of LK is the promotion of LK. Hence we hear more of her telling us what was (she thinks) said instead of us being allowed to hear the actual speaker's words.

Ironically (IMO) Al Jeezera broadcasts are often better!!!

 

[Old Skier]

Strange how so many past head of this and that have now gone on to lead left wing think tanks being paid for by Labour.

Biggest problem at the BBC is they want to be the news. Direct problem of 24hr reporting.