Sky News: Presentation Discussion

I don't think we should overstate the bias situation. Most of the accusations are Twitter-led which I think its fair to say is not representative of the population as a whole. I also sense there is a mood of it being 'cool' to slag off Sky News and accuse it of bias.

The fact is that there is nothing to suggest that Sky News is actively supporting the Conservatives. News International may well have endorsed the Tories, despite Rupert Murdoch preferring Labour but being persuaded by his son to back Cameron. The link between News International and Sky News is a minute one. BSkyB chief exec Jeremy Darroch stated clearly that BSkyB had no interest in getting involved in party politics. He made these remarks on Jeff Randall Live. There is also the fact that throughout its long history Sky News has maintained editorial independence not just from the Murdoch's but from BSkyB itself.

I am happy to admit that incidents involving Jeff Randall are not in the best interests of Sky News and are inappropriate. However to tarnish the whole of Sky with being biased because of this is madness. I find it insulting to the hard working journalists at Sky that they are all being tarnished with the same brush, in many cases by Labour party members and supporters who are infuriated by News International's support for Cameron, despite happily accepting their support for the past 13 years. I am sick of hearing these accusations without them being significantly backed up and in many cases involving people just jumping on the bandwagon and I am not surprised that Adam got frustrated today.

On the Kay Burley front she is far from perfect but the amount of stick she gets is at times OTT and despite putting in a pretty faultless shift this afternoon she receives no recognition.

They can't keep using sleep as an excuse - it's not happening on the other channels, and Sky News is perfectly well resourced to allow others to do Adam's job to give him in the mornings for example. If he's so exhausted a responsible employer would be giving him leave.

Here's the Ben Bradshaw clash :

"I'm not going to take this from you"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NWAkxKQLQs

Daily Mirror : Fiery Sky News Presenters Most Controversial Moments :

http://www.mirror.co.uk/most-popular/2010/05/10/adam-boulton-bust-up-with-alastair-campbell-the-fiery-sky-news-presenter-s-most-controversial-moments-115875-22249241/

Because he's so neutral isn't he.

It may not be deliberate or even concious but it's been very evident in the last month - and Sky News may just be guilty by association, but individuals like Jeff Randall and Adam Boulton haven't helped. It's fair to say they like to push it as far as they can without being seen to cross the line, but often they do - and with Adam Boulton especially it's not his political leanings which are in question, it's his professionalism - and he has shown himself to be unprofessional a number of times over recent days.

Press preview back in the sunrise part of the studio tonight

Bradsaw said "I know you're sore about this" - he got a little personal. But Adam is meant to be above the whole thing.

I don't think Adam has a problem with Labour, I get the impression he hates Brown.

Guardian seem to have got the first response from Sky News

It's so obvious that Sky News is run as an annexe of the Murdoch empire it hurts.

In an extraordinary outburst whilst trying to defend Sky News on Twitter, Eamonn Holmes is now saying GMTV is not impartial and pro-Labour. Couldn't make this stuff up.

http://twitter.com/EamonnHolmes/status/13750434627

One thing is for sure, Sky News does not do itself any favours.

Am I right to assume skynews.com was not shown at 7pm today?

Yes it was Randall and Boulton Unleashed instead, although it was really during Live at 5 that Boulton was unleashed. I expect we wont see SkyNews.com until a government is formed.

Guess the rumours about him returning to GMTV aren't true. That was a risky comment he made given he gets a lot of work off ITV. What was he thinking!