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the BBC has bee nterrified of having an opinion for years. After all, they have some guys who are incredibly knowledgeable and nuanced about politics, yet they never allow them to venture beyond "he said, she said". whenver they're required to actually say who's lying, they're careful to quote somebody else, they never say what they think. That's why they have the rise of the phone-in on the BBC, which has no need of them. they allow the public to be quoted saying those things they can't.

Even stating things we consider to be facts about Bush's record would be attacked as partisan, so they stick to the most limp and tepid description of his policies, downgraade the bad, upgrade the ... not so bad. Equally there is a real groupthink going on, especially over america where I suspect the hidden hand of Justin Webb has had an affect on most commentary.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Jan 14th, 2009 at 06:04:02 PM EST
Unfortunately the same thing is happening in the UK press that happened in the US press.  Krugman once pointed out that, if Republicans came out suggesting the Earth was flat, the New York Times headline would read "Views Differ on Shape of the Earth" the next day.

The BBC, like the NYT, had some of the most pathetic coverage of the election.  I'm not exaggerating when I say the Torygraph had better coverage than the Beeb, although I think the Guardian's was strongest.  The Beeb really made me sick, and I take no joy in saying that, as someone who's found it to be a pretty damned good news organization prior to last year.

And that moron Justin Webb needs to be fired.  He's not even a Villager.  He's a useful idiot to the Villagers.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Wed Jan 14th, 2009 at 06:29:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Justin Webb is being promoted, to becoming one of the main presenters on Radio 4's Today programme, which is the flagship radio news show.

I think this is mainly because he's considered a "safe" pair of hands, ie he doesn't make waves or ruffle feathers.


keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Jan 15th, 2009 at 06:07:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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