RTS Television Journalism Awards 2006

I chuckled when I saw that you were casting accusations of bias. It amused me that someone who constantly berates the BBC and unfailingly sings the praises of ITV in all things should feel able to make such an accusation with a straight face.

Let's do a bit of research. Consider the BBC News article about the 2004 awards, where ITN was very much the focus of the article, and the BBC and Sky both got relatively little mention.

And what about the article about last year's awards? Even though BBC News got more awards than ITV, Channel 4 and Sky combined, the focus of the article is on Sir Trevor McDonald's recognition, and the BBC's decisive victory over its rivals is limited to "The BBC took 10 awards, and ITV won four. Sky and Channel 4 took one each."



Hmm. Well let's look again at the BBC News article from last year: "News programme of the year was given to BBC One's Ten O'Clock News, while Sky News won news channel of the year." So when the BBC won the news programme of the year award, it only got a one line mention last year - I don't see the issue with ITV getting the same this year. As for BBC News 24 making hay of its winning the award for news channel of the year, I believe this is the first time that it has won this award from the RTS, so why shouldn't they be proud?

Have you even compared the BBC's article with, for example, Sky's? About 80% of the article focuses solely upon Sky's achievements, with this being the only acknowledgement of those of the BBC and ITV:

~ News 24 beat Sky and ITV to take the news channel of the year, while ITV editor-in-chief David Mannion claimed the judges' award, despite ITV closing down its news channel in 2005.

Wow. Substantial.

I don't see the problem with the BBC being proud of winning the news channel of the year award, especially when Sky is allowed to get away with articles like this, and I don't see you speaking out in disgust at Sky's complete and total failure to mention ITV's well-earned award for news programme of the year anywhere in its article. Not even a footnote there, but you've not got a word to say about it.

But then, let's face it - the only reason you mentioned the BBC's supposedly appalling bias is because of your own obvious, and frankly tedious, bias against everything that the BBC does.

http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/1n24rtsaward.jpg

You seriously need to get a grip.

I haven't read most of that as I don't care what you think and haven't got an hour spare

It really comes to something when someone who is pro-ITV News is singled out and gets a lecture. This coming from someone called 'BBC LDN'

WHY BACK TO ORANGE!!!

I called myself BBC LDN because when I signed up, I liked the brand, and I happen to live in London. In that time, I have never set up a BBC LDN or BBC London thread, nor have I waxed lyrical about BBC London, nor do I singularly and blindly defend the BBC, nor indeed do I fail to give credit to ITV, Sky News, C4 News and other outlets where it is due, nor indeed do I have any qualms about criticising the BBC when it is appropriate. The fact that my username is BBC LDN is completely irrelevant.

You blindly defend ITV at every turn, and you constantly criticise the BBC, yet fail to see ITV's glaring failures, choosing instead to ignore them in favour of yet more criticism of the BBC.

Considering that my posting history on this site reflects the fact that I am able to hold a mature conversation and engage in a truly open-minded debate about things without deciding whether the BBC, ITV or Sky will win before a word is spoken, makes me quite contented that I have already "got a grip". The fact that you are unable to engage in such conversations without going into them with the pre-determination that ITV is right and 'the best' is borne out in your own history of posting on this site.

That you chose to ignore my comments against you - and that you choose to ignore comments against ITV, or merely condemn them as a conspiracy of BBC lovers against ITV - and indeed that you chose instead is an indication of your own level of maturity, and of the level of your ability to contribute to a genuine discussion.

I have no issues with those who are pro-ITV, nor with those who are pro-Sky, nor those who are pro-BBC. My issue is with those, such as yourself, who are closed-minded, who have a childish approach to debate, and who are unable to accept - much less discuss - criticisms against their chosen camp.

So Sky are still news channel of the year according to there titles.

From the Prime Minister's News Conference:

JL: "James Landale, BBC News 24.....RTS News Channel Of The Year..."

Tony Blair: "Were you?"

JL: "We were."

Tony: "That's slipped my notice completely! Can I add my congratulations to the ones you'll no doubt be getting..."

JL: "News 24, always first with the news..."

It's not that orange - my tv picture shows it more red, but it captures a bit more orangy - just a slight niggle with my hardware. It's basically as before, but with the added text.