BBC News

Not that I would even think about poking fun at the good old Beeb, but ahem.....

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Labour declares war on the BBC

Kamal Ahmed, political editor
Sunday April 15, 2001
The Observer

Labour is to launch 'a war of attrition' against the BBC during the general election campaign after losing patience with the coverage given to political stories.
Senior party figures have told The Observer that the BBC trivialises politics and concentrates on the 'tittle-tattle of the Westminster village' rather than serious policy issues such as education, health and the economy.

The party is now planning a series of complaints to senior figures in the BBC, including the new head of news, Richard Sambrook. The moves will be spearheaded by David Hill, the party's former chief media spokesman, who will be brought back to a senior campaigning role during the election.

Hill was involved in a series of high-profile spats between the party and the BBC in the run-up to the 1997 election. He regularly rowed with the editors of BBC Radio 4's the Today programme and the World at One. One official said Hill would be checking the BBC 'with a stop-watch' to ensure Labour policies received fair coverage.'

Senior BBC figures said they 'were ready for a fight'. 'What they [the Labour Party] don't seem to understand is that the more they complain the more we realise we are doing a good job,' said one editor. 'Trying to bully us into covering politics the way they want will not work. The public will see them for what they really are.'

Last week Downing Street directly criticised the BBC over the prominent coverage it gave a newspaper story saying that Alastair Campbell, the Prime Minister's official spokesman, was to take a 'behind-the-scenes' role after the election. 'It's typical of the media obsession with process and personality, rather than the serious issues facing the country, that a newspaper article about Alastair Campbell should feature on the BBC TV news ahead of an important speech by the Prime Minister about the future of our country's schools,' a Downing Street spokesman said.
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Oh well, who's the weakest link now?

Labour's the weakest link! Goodbye

(I thought George Alagiah would have ended his BBC News at One yesterday - after the Anna Robinson in the USA story - with 'In a moment the latest from the news teams across the United Kingdom, but that's all from me this Tuesday lunchtime, and from the One O'Clock News Team, Goodbye (Anna Robinson style!))

Ok cheshirec, and err what's your point ?

LOOK OK THE BBC HAS IT FAULTs BUT IF YOUR NOT GOING TO SAY ANYHITNG NICE PLEASE!!! DNT SAY ANYTHING AT ALL... Ok so ONE News presenter said something a bit like weakest link, but it dosent mean the BBc news is suddenly aufull which is what will go on to be said........ (ok Moan over)

Which is your favourite sign off?

My favourite is Michael Buerk's:
'Newsnight's just started (nod to the left) over on BBC Two - but from the Ten O'clock news, goodnight'

Why does he do that - is BBC Two, over there?

Hahah, you don't like someone telling the truth.
My point is, you are all going about saying the BBC is the best at this, the BBC is the best at that, and I am showing you it isn't, in fact, if anything, it has been proven to be the worst.
And bail, If I were to do what you wanted me to do, and if the media world were to do that then that would essentially be censorship!
Saying only good things isn't what a forum is about.

Yeah, and he looks embarrased when he says goodnight! He sort or prolongs the 'night' aswell.
The News at One sign off is a bit of a mouthful.

Bail, was that aimed at me? If you'd read my post carefully, it says I thought George Alagiah WOULD have said.... I thought it would have been funny.

No it was not aimed at anyone robert, just saying it to everyone really)

But equally cheshirec, you've been saying that the BBC never take risks, well doesn't this disprove your theory. The fact that the government has been critical just goes to show that the BBC are not in the governments pockets as you might expect them to be and only makes me prefer the BBC over other broadcasters even more !

the beeb does tend to concentrate on the tittle tattle as one to one programme on news 24 demonstrates.

Sarah Montague and Darren Jordan end abruptly on Goodbye or Good Evening.
Once, Sarah Montague just said 'There are news bulletins throughout the afternoon on BBC News 24, the next news on BBC One is at 5.25' - then she just turned away!!
Sian Williams' is always friendly either - '...I'll see you then, bye bye!' OR 'that's it from me, byebye for now'.

IT THIS IS TAKING THIS PERSONALLY BUT THIS IS ALL I AM GOING TO SAY AND IT IS AIMED AT ONE PERSON! WHO WAS THE CREATOR OF THIS POST, NOT NAMING NAMES!!!! Ok here goes:

FOR GODS SAKE, THERE IS NOTHINK WRONG WITH THE BBC, OK SO YOU LIKE SKY... FINE BUT DONT KEEP TELLING US HOW BAD THE BBC IS AND HOW GOOD YOUR 'SKY' IS OK, JUST KEEP YOU SELF-TO YOUR SELF, OK YES THE BEEBS NOT PERFECT BUT E V E R Y LITTLE TINY HITCH YOU PICK UP ON IT!! ok, I dont want to start a war, but well yeah thats it!