The Beeb - Paragon of Unbiased Observation

[Steve]

NOT!

I listen to the BBC in the morning on the way to and from working out. Sometimes it's OK, pretty much standard reporting that you can get anywhere. And the cultural and arts & literature things they report, well, you won't find those on any Clear Channel station, that's for sure.

But all too frequently, they are so damned biased it's painful to listen; I actually switch stations for a few minutes. For instance:

This morning, one of the discussions was about aid to Indonesia and which countries contributed what. South Africa was being used as an example, and the BBC "commentator" said (not an exact quote, but close enough) "South Africa has already sent a Minister to the [UN relief effort] conference, aren't they already doing all that they can?" (italics mine)

"All that they can"? WTF! How apologetic can you get? Yessiree, I'll bet those hungry, unsheltered, and injured refugees in Indonesia are might grateful that some wonk from Johannesburg attended a meeting on their behalf.....:rolleyes:

The BBC: nuggets of gold embedded in mountains of excrement.....

[RetFireCapt]

If they get hungry enough, maybe they'll eat the SoAf minister.

[SixofNine]

N "South Africa has already sent a Minister to the [UN relief effort] conference, aren't they already doing all that they can?" (italics mine)

Probably flew first class, too.

Brian

[Techie2000]

Forgive me if I am not understanding what exactly you are talking about in regards to BBC, as I don't listen to them, but it has always been my understanding that news reporters are supposed to deliver the news without bias, while news commentators (IE Bill O'Reily, Joe Scarborough, Ron Reagan Jr., Sean Hannity, et al.) are making their commentaries and opinoins on the news known, and in no way are supposed to be considered unbiased.

[Biker]

Thank you Techie. I just spewed coffee all over the screen and keyboard. Since when in recent history have reporters delivered the news without bias?

[Techie2000]

I think you miss my point. I was attempting to differentiate between what a commentator is supposed to do versus a reporter, not what they actually do. If he meant reporter, I could certainly understand his grievances, as they are supposed to at least try and deliver unbiased reporting, however if he really did mean commentator, then that leaves me a bit confused as to why that would cause Steve to complain about bias, when commentators are not supposed to be unbiased in the first place...

[Biker]

There's a difference these days?

[Techie2000]

From a technical/ideal case standpoint yes, from a typical case standpoint, I could only wish...

[Steve]

All I can note is that I was listening to "News Hour" on BBC, not "Op/Ed Hour", Techie. The item I complain about was immediately preceded by a hard news item. If the BBC is going to mix news and op/ed, they should at least put a disclaimer before airing each one. Otherwise, run the stuff in discrete segments and identify them.

[Techie2000]

Ah in that case, I agree...

[ravital]

It's so sad to think how recently, people under despotic regimes were risking imprisonment or worse, just to listen to the BBC in hiding. Somewhere in the world, somebody probably still does. Lo, how the mighty are fallen.