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
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