The Newsroom

BBC rated most popular source for news

(September 2013)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
SW
Sam Walker
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/sep/25/bbc-uk-top-source-news-ofcom
An OFCOM report found that over half of the UK population get their news via the BBC, with 52% using the BBC website compared with 19% for Facebook and 10% for Twitter. BBC1 also remains the most popular single source of news, followed by ITV (13%), BBC News channel (6%), Sky News and the BBC website (both 5%).

In terms of bias and impartiality, BBC TV was beaten by Sky, ITV and Channel 4. Channel 5 was rated the worst of the TV news services.

What do you make of the report, and where do you get most of your news from?
SC
scottishtv Founding member
In terms of bias and impartiality, BBC TV was beaten by Sky, ITV and Channel 4. Channel 5 was rated the worst of the TV news services.

I think you need to be a bit more careful when quoting from a report about a report as things can get slightly lost along the way. For example, in relation to the above, the Guardian piece notes:

"Asked whether it was impartial and unbiased, and offered a range of opinions, BBC TV scored less highly ( among their respective viewers ) than Sky News, ITV and Channel 4 News. Channel 5 News rated worst among the TV news services." .

Apologies if you find this pedantic, but these outlets didn't "beat" each other in this ranking, they were being scored by their own viewers on this aspect. For example, BBC viewers may have given BBC News 6 out of 10 for impartiality. Sky News viewers may have given Sky News 7 out of 10 for impartiality. But they weren't asked to give their perception of, or rank the other outlets.
SW
Sam Walker
Apologies if you find this pedantic , but these outlets didn't "beat" each other in this ranking, they were being scored by their own viewers on this aspect. For example, BBC viewers may have given BBC News 6 out of 10 for impartiality. Sky News viewers may have given Sky News 7 out of 10 for impartiality. But they weren't asked to give their perception of, or rank the other outlets.


Nope, not at all. I was expecting feedback anyway.
BR
Brekkie
And that statement kind of contradicts itself - bias and impartiality are the opposites, not the same.

No surprise - a similar survey not that long ago (or indeed the same one a year ago) indicated most viewers got their news from the BBC, with ITV second
SW
Sam Walker
And that statement kind of contradicts itself - bias and impartiality are the opposites, not the same.

No surprise - a similar survey not that long ago (or indeed the same one a year ago) indicated most viewers got their news from the BBC, with ITV second


I probably should have put 'bias/impartiality' instead.
RM
Roger Mellie
The BBC certainly does have a comprehensive website for sure, and it's well laid out.

As for bias... well one of its veteran anchors had a word or five to say about that a couple of years ago:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1349506/Left-wing-bias-Its-written-BBCs-DNA-says-Peter-Sissons.html
CI
cityprod
The BBC certainly does have a comprehensive website for sure, and it's well laid out.

As for bias... well one of its veteran anchors had a word or five to say about that a couple of years ago:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1349506/Left-wing-bias-Its-written-BBCs-DNA-says-Peter-Sissons.html


And you believe what the Daily Fail tells you?
RM
Roger Mellie


And you believe what the Daily Fail tells you?


Laughing A little less than I believe what the BBC tells me Wink Of course the irony of the DM carrying an article criticising another news organisation for biased reporting, although the DM is explicity biased.

In this case it was the DM article written by the man himself (Peter Sisson)-- to my knowledge he hasn't complained/sued over it-- nor have the BBC. That said, whether I believe the DM is immaterial: Mr Sisson's Pope revealed to be a Catholic remarks (which I've yet to see refuted) are similar to what other BBC employees Andrew Marr, Justin Webb, Anthony Jay, Helen Boaden and people I know there, have admitted anyway
Last edited by Roger Mellie on 1 October 2013 9:47pm - 8 times in total
CI
cityprod


And you believe what the Daily Fail tells you?


Laughing A little less than I believe what the BBC tells me Wink Of course the irony of the DM carrying an article criticising another news organisation for biased reporting, although the DM is explicity biased.

In this case it was the DM article written by the man himself (Peter Sisson)-- to my knowledge he hasn't complained/sued over it-- nor have the BBC. That said, whether I believe the DM is immaterial: Mr Sisson's Pope revealed to be a Catholic remarks, which I've yet to see refuted, are similar to what other BBC employees Andrew Marr, Justin Webb, Anthony Jay and Helen Boaden have admitted anyway


On the other hand, you have The Conversation, and The New Statesmen reported on another study that pointed to the BBC having a pro-conservative and euro-skeptic bias. I think these articles and studies point more to the bias of the people writing them and compiling them, than they do to any institutional bias at the BBC.
RM
Roger Mellie


On the other hand, you have The Conversation, and The New Statesmen reported on another study that pointed to the BBC having a pro-conservative and euro-skeptic bias. I think these articles and studies point more to the bias of the people writing them and compiling them, than they do to any institutional bias at the BBC.


Well, first time I've ever had heard the BBC accused of those things Laughing I'd be interested to see their proof of those accusations, since I can't I've detected these traits in the BBC (indeed I can think of one recent BBC website article, and a report on the One Show that would refute the latter accusation for sure).

I've read a (that?) article by the News Statesman in its investigation of BBC bias: Despite its repeated accusations that the BBC is euroscpetic, it does nothing to substantiate its accusations (closest it gets, is talking of the Eurosceptic Conservatives; the NS, like BBC, can't see that is an oxymoron); just vague claims, which often have nothing to do with eurosceptism. The article actually does nothing to refute the allegation of pro-EU bias within the BBC, nor investigates the funding the BBC (to state the BBC is anti-EU is bizarre, considering the grants it gets from the EU)

Granted the BBC is not explicitly bias, and is far better the likes of Russia Today or Al Jazeera. However given the BBC is supposed to be unbias by its charter and we're obliged to fund it, I think there is a room for improvement. On a general level, for instance: I've found in recent years many of its correspondents have turned into speculators, rather the reporters; they give their conjecture and opinion, rather than reporting the facts and letting us think for ourselves. To be fair, there are those at the BBC who I feel get it right: Jeremy Vine, Tony Livesey and John Craven for instance

I'm certainly not a Daily Wail type (perish the thought), but the BBC does struck me as having left-patrician slant at times. I have been happy to give the BBC benefit of the doubt, since I admire the BBC as a corporation; but it's interesting to see my suspicions have been confirmed by leading figures and the BBC. Plus friends I know who work there, who confirm too (the common wry remark made by them, is that if you want to fit in at the Beeb, carry a copy of the Guardian around with you).

You do make a good point about bias of compilers. It's my observation that find those who don't believe the BBC is often biased, are those who share its outlook: A bit like than the way USA Republicans think Fox News is unbiased (mercifully the BBC is nowhere near slanted as Fox News, mind!).

I note from your blog, you slur anybody who disagrees with your left-authoritarian views as "extreme". Therefore you wouldn't spot the BBC's biases: Not just because you share the BBC's biases/philosophy; but anybody who dismisses opposing views in a such bigoted fashion, is not going to have any sense of objectivity or balance (by their nature, left-authoritarian views don't anway). Ironically being closed-minded as to arrogantly dismiss opposing your views as "extreme", makes you just that.
Last edited by Roger Mellie on 11 November 2013 8:50pm - 7 times in total
DT
DTV


On the other hand, you have The Conversation, and The New Statesmen reported on another study that pointed to the BBC having a pro-conservative and euro-skeptic bias. I think these articles and studies point more to the bias of the people writing them and compiling them, than they do to any institutional bias at the BBC.


Well, first time I've ever had heard the BBC accused of those things Laughing I'd be interested to see their proof of those accusations, since I can't I've detected these traits in the BBC (indeed I can think of one recent BBC website article, and a report on the One Show that would refute the latter accusation for sure).

I've read a (that?) article by the News Statesman in its investigation of BBC bias: Despite its repeated accusations that the BBC is euroscpetic, it does nothing to substantiate its accusations (closest it gets, is talking of the Eurosceptic Conservatives; the NS, like BBC, can't see that is an oxymoron); just vague claims, which often have nothing to do with eurosceptism. The article actually does nothing to refute the allegation of pro-EU bias within the BBC, nor investigates the funding the BBC.

Granted the BBC is not explicitly bias, and is far better the likes of Russia Today or Al Jazeera. However given the BBC is supposed to be unbias by its charter and we're obliged to fund it, I think there is a room for improvement. On a general level, for instance: I've found in recent years many of its correspondents have turned into speculators, rather the reporters; they give their conjecture and opinion, rather than reporting the facts and letting us think for ourselves. To be fair, there are those at the BBC who I feel get it right: Jeremy Vine, Tony Livesey and John Craven for instance

I'm certainly not a Daily Wail type (perish the thought), but the BBC does struck me as having left-patrician slant at times. I have been happy to give the BBC benefit of the doubt, since I admire the BBC as a corporation; but it's interesting to see my suspicions have been confirmed by leading figures and the BBC. Plus friends I know who work there, who confirm too (the common wry remark made by them, is that if you want to fit in at the Beeb, carry a copy of the Guardian around with you).

You do make a good point about bias of compilers. It's my observation that find those who don't believe the BBC is often biased, are those who share its outlook: A bit like than the way USA Republicans think Fox News is unbiased (mercifully the BBC is nowhere near slanted as Fox News, mind!)


The Whole BBC Bias thing is quite interesting - Lefties say it's biased to the right, righties say it's biased to the left. It's a whole opinion thing - the BBC seems to always criticise the opposition more than the government even though the charter states that it is allowed to criticise the government. Another thing is that the BBC could be said to have a Eurosceptic, Right Wing view as if you look at air time given to each party UKIP gets almost as much as the Liberal Democrats and far more than Parties with actual power such as Respect, the Greens and Plaid Cymru who the latter have 3 HOC seats opposed to UKIPs 0.

Sorry to get Political but the BBC basically boycotts the BNP like most broadcasters on basis of racism but if you look at Policies on Immigration they're the same but on other things such as Health UKIP is to the right of the BNP so I think the BBC could be said to have a right bias in terms of Political Party Coverage. Also is it just me or is the BBC addicted to Michael Gove as I don't think I've caught any political coverage on the BBC in the last fortnight without him cropping up - Newsnight, Question Time, Breakfast ... and he's in the CWF Faction of the Tories. Also in terms of Political Conference Coverage the BBC seems to be oddly critical of Labour's Policy but generally in favour of the Tories Policies this year maybe it's just former head of Oxford Conservative Club, Nick Robinson.
CA
Cando


And you believe what the Daily Fail tells you?


Laughing A little less than I believe what the BBC tells me Wink Of course the irony of the DM carrying an article criticising another news organisation for biased reporting, although the DM is explicity biased.

In this case it was the DM article written by the man himself (Peter Sisson)-- to my knowledge he hasn't complained/sued over it-- nor have the BBC . That said, whether I believe the DM is immaterial: Mr Sisson's Pope revealed to be a Catholic remarks (which I've yet to see refuted) are similar to what other BBC employees Andrew Marr, Justin Webb, Anthony Jay, Helen Boaden and people I know there, have admitted anyway


It's actually a serialisation of his autobiography published by the Tory billionaire Lord Ashcroft through his production house Biteback which specialised in bashing anything that isn't right wing. They are also publishing the Damien McBride book.
He got a fat cheque from a Tory( subject to a number of Panorama's) and the Daily Mail for bashing the BBC. Which is hilarious given his past comments about the Daily Mail after they attacked him for that 'tie' he wore when announcing the death of the Queen Mother. But hey a boy's got to eat.


are similar to what other BBC employees Andrew Marr, Justin Webb, Anthony Jay, Helen Boaden and people I know there, have admitted anyway


You do realise who Anthony Jay is ?? Rolling Eyes and you have also selectively quoted the others. SLOPPY

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