The left-wing bias of the BBC

[Imploding Turtle]

When are we going to see it?

Labour Manifesto rollout:


Conservative Manifesto rollout:

[claretdom]

Isn't that just a reporter being honest ?

[Rick_Muller]

Isn't that just a reporter being honest ?

No, its the Senior Political Editor of the BBC, someone who should be impartial about what her personal views are and report the news, not her opinion.

BBC Impartiality Guidelines for you...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguideline ... partiality" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Impartiality lies at the heart of public service and is the core of the BBC's commitment to its audiences. It applies to all our output and services - television, radio, online, and in our international services and commercial magazines. We must be inclusive, considering the broad perspective and ensuring the existence of a range of views is appropriately reflected.

The Agreement accompanying the BBC Charter requires us to do all we can to ensure controversial subjects are treated with due impartiality in our news and other output dealing with matters of public policy or political or industrial controversy. But we go further than that, applying due impartiality to all subjects. However, its requirements will vary.

The term 'due' means that the impartiality must be adequate and appropriate to the output, taking account of the subject and nature of the content, the likely audience expectation and any signposting that may influence that expectation.

Due impartiality is often more than a simple matter of 'balance' between opposing viewpoints. Equally, it does not require absolute neutrality on every issue or detachment from fundamental democratic principles.

The BBC Agreement forbids our output from expressing the opinion of the BBC on current affairs or matters of public policy, other than broadcasting or the provision of online services.

The external activities of staff, presenters and others who contribute to our output can also affect the BBC's reputation for impartiality. Consequently, this section should be read in conjunction with Section 15: Conflicts of Interest.

[dsr]

The perceived left-wing bias of the BBC is more towards metropolitan "liberalism", not ardent socialism. The Conservatives are probably (marginally) nearer to their vision than Labour, at the moment.

[claretdom]

No, its the Senior Political Editor of the BBC, someone who should be impartial about what her personal views are and report the news, not her opinion.

BBC Impartiality Guidelines for you...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguideline ... partiality" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Do the impartiality guidelines extend to Brexit ?

[KeighleyClaret]

You ought to see how Scottish politics is reported - a huge bias towards the Unionist parties with 'SNP Bad' otherwise.

[fatboy47]

Coon'sbreath is known to be a nasty little right-winger fully groomed by the four-eyed Cameron toady that she replaced.

[Imploding Turtle]

Do the impartiality guidelines extend to Brexit ?

Of course.

[Imploding Turtle]

Coon'sbreath is known to be a nasty little right-winger fully groomed by the four-eyed Cameron toady that she replaced.

Thanks for that "insight".

[UpTheBeehole]

Where did Kuenssberg get her inspiration I wonder?

[box_of_frogs]

Looks factual to me.

[Guich]

The perceived left-wing bias of the BBC is more towards metropolitan "liberalism", not ardent socialism. The Conservatives are probably (marginally) nearer to their vision than Labour, at the moment.

I think that's spot on DSR.

And given that both leaders would surely agree with the headlines, they look pretty impartial to me.

[Imploding Turtle]

Looks factual to me.

Imagine if the headlines were the following

Labour Manifesto: Corbyn targets a fairer tax system
Conservative Manifesto: Theresa May targets homeowners

Both would be factual but i bet you would be among the first to complain about a lack of impartiality, and with good reason.

Or would you be entirely happy with the BBC painting a rosey picture for Labour's manifesto and a darker one for the Tory's in this way, as long as what is reported is literally true from at least one perspective?

[Woodleyclaret]

I applied for a post in the engineering dept at the BBC.
This consisted of 3hr technical interview and 3hr political interview.
This was to weedle out any bias left wing or otherwise
The nonsense at BBC bias is fuelled by the Tory press and it's followers

[ClaretMoffitt]

Imagine if the headlines were the following

Labour Manifesto: Corbyn targets a fairer tax system
Conservative Manifesto: Theresa May targets homeowners

Both would be factual but i bet you would be among the first to complain about a lack of impartiality, and with good reason.

Or would you be entirely happy with the BBC painting a rosey picture for Labour's manifesto and a darker one for the Tory's in this way, as long as what is reported is literally true from at least one perspective?

Honestly if I saw that I wouldn't bat an eyelid. Nor would anyone else I don't think.

[pureclaret]

3hr technical interview then 3 hr political interview, just wanted to ask did you get the job ?? my son is looking for a job in copy writing so if you got the job can you help get him an interview?

[Clarets4me]

Nihal Athanayake and Sarah Brett on 5live's " Afternoon edition " is like listening to Guardian Radio .... I believe he's been repeatedly warned about referring to the " Daily Mail " as the " Daily Fail " on-air.
Just after the Referendum, it was reported that not one of the " Newsnight " production team had voted to " Leave "...

Could be worse, they could ask Richard Bacon to come back !!!

[Guich]

Imagine if the headlines were the following

Labour Manifesto: Corbyn targets a fairer tax system
Conservative Manifesto: Theresa May targets homeowners

Both would be factual but i bet you would be among the first to complain about a lack of impartiality, and with good reason.

Or would you be entirely happy with the BBC painting a rosey picture for Labour's manifesto and a darker one for the Tory's in this way, as long as what is reported is literally true from at least one perspective?

But your example around Corbyn is giving an opinion IT, whereas the headlines at the top of the post are just facts.

[IanMcL]

All media totally biased at present, towards Conservatives....as they think they know who will win and all want to be seen as having done their bit!

Let the people rise and overcome - just as they had to when Labour was born.

[UpTheBeehole]

Just after the Referendum, it was reported that not one of the " Newsnight " production team had voted to " Leave "...

Reassuring to know that Newsnight isn't produced by idiots then

[Imploding Turtle]

But your example around Corbyn is giving an opinion IT, whereas the headlines at the top of the post are just facts.

How is my example any more of an opinion than "Theresa May targets mainstream Britain"?

[Imploding Turtle]

Nihal Athanayake and Sarah Brett on 5live's " Afternoon edition " is like listening to Guardian Radio .... I believe he's been repeatedly warned about referring to the " Daily Mail " as the " Daily Fail " on-air.
Just after the Referendum, it was reported that not one of the " Newsnight " production team had voted to " Leave "...

Could be worse, they could ask Richard Bacon to come back !!!

No one gives a **** about the political leanings of the people who work at the BBC. I don't even give a **** if Keunssberg is literally the mouthpiece of Theresa May in her spare time. As long as that doesn't impact on the impartiality they show in carrying out their roles at the BBC then who are we to tell people what they're allowed to think?

The problem here is pretty clear. Keunssberg, or whoever wrote it, has chosen with headline to paint the Labour manifesto in an unfavourable light while choosing to pain the Tory manifesto in a favourable one. It should be obvious to anyone who has the ability to see things objectively.

[Imploding Turtle]

Reassuring to know that Newsnight isn't produced by idiots then

You're a part of the problem.

[Lancasterclaret]

The BBC is whinged at by everybody, on all sides.

What better barometer of impartiality than being hated by all?

[ClaretMoffitt]

The BBC is whinged at by everybody, on all sides.

What better barometer of impartiality than being hated by all?

This.

[Imploding Turtle]

The BBC is whinged at by everybody, on all sides.

What better barometer of impartiality than being hated by all?

I think we can do better than having the BBC's political editor publishing what is an opinion article yet presenting it as a news article.

[Damo]

Coon'sbreath

Do people really call her that?

[northernpowerhouse]

The BBC bias in favour of the Tories is shocking, but their bias in favour of New Labour was pretty bad as well. I think they just like sucking up to the government at the time. And most of the comedy and entertainment stuff is all done by lefties, probably because all right-wing comedians are crap.

[cblantfanclub]

https://clyp.it/j5hk2wnk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Try this for biased BBC interview. Don't think it favours the left - yes I get the irony of thread title.

[thatdberight]

When are we going to see it?

Labour Manifesto rollout:


Conservative Manifesto rollout:

Now corrected. Such a tizz over a sub-editor missing an inverted comma.

Screenshot_2017-05-18-18-08-19_kindlephoto-371699873.jpg (21.64 KiB) Viewed 4905 times

[Guich]

How is my example any more of an opinion than "Theresa May targets mainstream Britain"?

May is targeting the mainstream, of that there is no doubt.

But whether Corbyn is targeting a fairer tax regime is a matter of opinion. He probably is, but not everyone will see it that way, particularly if businesses start to move or lay people off.

[thatdberight]

May is targeting the mainstream, of that there is no doubt.

But whether Corbyn is targeting a fairer tax regime is a matter of opinion. He probably is, but not everyone will see it that way, particularly if businesses start to move or lay people off.

The omission of the second inverted comma did make it just wrong but clearly could be interpreted as uncalled-for opinion. You are right that "fair" by definition is subjective; I'm not sure everyone on here sees 'fair' as a subjective notion.

[Imploding Turtle]

The omission of the second inverted comma did make it just wrong but clearly could be interpreted as uncalled-for opinion. You are right that "fair" by definition is subjective; I'm not sure everyone on here sees 'fair' as a subjective notion.

And i don't think many of us agree one what "mainstream" is, because if it's what most (or even just almost most) of the voters believe then pretty much everything in the Labour manifesto is mainstream. But May would have you believe it's extremist, socialist nonsense.
https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/08/06/su ... and-right/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Imploding Turtle]

Now corrected. Such a tizz over a sub-editor missing an inverted comma.

Screenshot_2017-05-18-18-08-19_kindlephoto-371699873.jpg

Do you really still think those headlines are apolitical and impartial when compared to one another?

And you don't even have to just look at the headline (you can if you want and i'd still be right) but even the articles read like opinion articles. These are supposed to be news articles. They're not in an opinions section.

[thomaspaine]

When are we going to see it?

Labour Manifesto rollout:


Conservative Manifesto rollout:

The BBC is very pro the Conservative Party. I take every BBC news item concerning politics/elections with a very big pinch of salt. Laura Kuenssberg makes my blood boil, as every election report she does is tinged with bias towards the Tories. Norman Smith is an old Tory, as is Nick Robinson - how these people get jobs with the BBC and then proceed to pontificate with political bias is disgraceful and needs investigating. To make matters worse, we are paying their wages through the licence fee and our taxes!

[NottsClaret]

Nah, they're not biased either way. There's thousands of people working there, hundreds of reporters tweeting and chunnering on all day, I doubt they have team meetings about who to back.

If you're partisan and paranoid, you'll see bias everywhere. Look at us and our perceived slights against Burnley in the media. I'm not even sure if I'm 'left' or 'right', I've never been a member of any party and on occasion that I watch or listen to the Beeb they seem to go out of their way to be fair.

Most of their programmes are s**te though.

[HatfieldClaret]

Easy, I don't watch BBC news. I'm a Tory and I think its biased to the left (Maybe not so much since Corbyn as he's news on his own).

The left think the BBC are biased to the right.

Maybe Lancaster has a point.

[Bordeauxclaret]

With thousands working there you are bound to have some on both sides. Surprised Kuennsberg gets away with it to be honest.

[AndrewJB]

A few of the BBC political hierarchy are from the Murdoch empire, so it's not surprising to see this. From the beginning they referred to Corbyn as 'far' or 'extreme' left - which isn't correct. After all what term would you then use to describe someone who doesn't believe in private property?

[Guich]

I think they're being quite polite describing Corbyn as 'extreme left' .

But it avoids a litigious battle instead of describing him as 'a labour joke candidate for leadership who then got elected to the dismay of 8m Labour voters, and a supporter of Jihadist groups. A man who brings his IRA supporting buddy in as the finance guru and brings Diane Abbot to meet journalists at the front line, to show the country exactly what would happen if Corbyn got within a million miles of 10 Downing Street.

'A man who is anti- Europe, anti- UK, anti-business and can't differentiate Burnley from Barnsley any better than London 'sports' journalists. A man who still has Emily Thornbury hanging around even though she epitomises how much the current Labour despises the working class.'

Describing him as 'extreme left' may not be right but it's gentler.

Speaking as a long time labour supporter, but no more.

[dsr]

The problem here is pretty clear. Keunssberg, or whoever wrote it, has chosen with headline to paint the Labour manifesto in an unfavourable light while choosing to pain the Tory manifesto in a favourable one. It should be obvious to anyone who has the ability to see things objectively.

Why exactly is the Labour headline considered an unfavourable one? Corbyn has made a big, positive thing about spending lots of money on education, NHS, policemen, etc., and about raising taxes to pay it' and has made a big, positive thing about spending lots of money on new schools, hospitals, railways etc. and borrowing money to pay for it. If the headline hadn't mentioned Corbyn's spending plans, when he made such a big thing about them, surely that would have been unfair as well?

What in your view would have been a fair headline? Impartially, what would you have written?

[BleedingClaret]

All media totally biased at present, towards Conservatives....as they think they know who will win and all want to be seen as having done their bit!

Let the people rise and overcome - just as they had to when Labour was born.

The people are enshrined within their unions, they rise when & where they are told too, with identical flags as in Halifax. Their leaders live in mansions and drive Bentleys. Orwellian and thankfully outdated. Strengthening Theresa's appeal with every rehearsed act of protest.

[Damo]

Christ. Comrade Corbyn has got right into some people's heads with the offer of a few more days off work per year hasn't he

[Lancasterclaret]

Its a fair manifesto Damo, but the only issue is whether it is costed correctly.

Ditto the Lib Dem one.

[Damo]

The only issue is quite a large one though

[Lancasterclaret]

But not as large or as important as your parents having to sell their house to fund being looked after in their old age I suspect.

[taio]

They won't have to sell their house. Like they don't now.

[Damo]

Or as large as my kids paying off debts of my generations layabouts

[Lancasterclaret]

They need to raise the money to pay for this.

By even mentioning it, its on the table.

That why I prefer a straight rise in income tax.

[taio]

They can use a deferred payments scheme, as they can now for care home costs, and this will be extended to care at home.