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Are the BBC biased towards the Government?
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Congratulations on posting the first 'non-seasonal' post of the year, Gromit. (But I'm still going to wish you a Happy New Year anyway!).
Ever since the days of Lord Reith, the Opposition have accused the BBC of being biased in favour of the Government, while the Government has accused the BBC of being biased in favour of the opposition.
The BBC isn't perfect. (Anyone seeking unbiased coverage of international news, for example, needs to check out all of the 'big three' news broadcasters [BBC. CNN, Al Jazeera) before even starting to formulate an opinion). However, whenever both left and right are criticising the corporation in equal measure (as seems to be constantly happening) it suggests that the Corporation isn't doing too bad a job.
Chris
Ever since the days of Lord Reith, the Opposition have accused the BBC of being biased in favour of the Government, while the Government has accused the BBC of being biased in favour of the opposition.
The BBC isn't perfect. (Anyone seeking unbiased coverage of international news, for example, needs to check out all of the 'big three' news broadcasters [BBC. CNN, Al Jazeera) before even starting to formulate an opinion). However, whenever both left and right are criticising the corporation in equal measure (as seems to be constantly happening) it suggests that the Corporation isn't doing too bad a job.
Chris
Happy New Year all - Health, Wealth, Happiness and all that :)
The Tories made similar representations and complaints re BBC political coverage at the height of Blairs pomp, so I would dismiss this as desperation.
Its a sign of Labours exasperation that they are not doing better in the opinion polls, despite this age of austerity, the public spending cutbacks, rising unemployment, major NHS reforms etc. Ed Milliband seems unable to make any kind of positive impression on the electorate, and has had few standout successes in the Commons. Sometimes, simple narratives can create a stranglehold on perception.
2 simple narratives firmly held by a wide section of the public need to be overcome before Labour stand any chance of being seen as a credible alternative to the coalition.
The first is that Ed Milliband is not to be trusted, because how can you trust someone who stabbed their own brother in the back?
The second is that Labour were profligate and reckless with the public purse in their last term in office - and that those responsible for such spending are still in positions of power, namely the 2 Eds. That idiotic message left by Liam Byrne has only served to reinforce the notion.
The public spending cuts announced by the Coalition have yet to be take full effect, and that will probably increase some support for Labour. It is likely that unemployment will rise further in 2012, another potent driver of support - but to me, until they come up with a distinctive narrative on how they propose to deal with the structural deficit, whilst at the same time protecting public services, they do not represent a credible alternative.
The Tories made similar representations and complaints re BBC political coverage at the height of Blairs pomp, so I would dismiss this as desperation.
Its a sign of Labours exasperation that they are not doing better in the opinion polls, despite this age of austerity, the public spending cutbacks, rising unemployment, major NHS reforms etc. Ed Milliband seems unable to make any kind of positive impression on the electorate, and has had few standout successes in the Commons. Sometimes, simple narratives can create a stranglehold on perception.
2 simple narratives firmly held by a wide section of the public need to be overcome before Labour stand any chance of being seen as a credible alternative to the coalition.
The first is that Ed Milliband is not to be trusted, because how can you trust someone who stabbed their own brother in the back?
The second is that Labour were profligate and reckless with the public purse in their last term in office - and that those responsible for such spending are still in positions of power, namely the 2 Eds. That idiotic message left by Liam Byrne has only served to reinforce the notion.
The public spending cuts announced by the Coalition have yet to be take full effect, and that will probably increase some support for Labour. It is likely that unemployment will rise further in 2012, another potent driver of support - but to me, until they come up with a distinctive narrative on how they propose to deal with the structural deficit, whilst at the same time protecting public services, they do not represent a credible alternative.
Blimey Gromit you are up and about early this morning, didn't you see in the New Year?
Anyway A Happy New Year to you and yours, have a good 2012.
Regarding your question, this is not an election period, so I don't see why Labour are attacking the BBC.
They are bound to report more on the Coalition, seeing they are the Government in power, and I am sure all their reporting isn't in favour with certain decisions the Government makes.
Perhaps Labour should look in their own back-yard before criticising the Beeb, give them something positive to report on and I am sure they will be only to eager to report on it.
Anyway A Happy New Year to you and yours, have a good 2012.
Regarding your question, this is not an election period, so I don't see why Labour are attacking the BBC.
They are bound to report more on the Coalition, seeing they are the Government in power, and I am sure all their reporting isn't in favour with certain decisions the Government makes.
Perhaps Labour should look in their own back-yard before criticising the Beeb, give them something positive to report on and I am sure they will be only to eager to report on it.
there's nothing much on the news once the NY Honours have been got out of the way (and given that there are no weather calamities at the moment) so Labour may have thought to grab headlines with this story, especially in newspapers that don't like the BBC (which is most of them, since they are rivals).
They may have a point, who knows. They might have made it better by including a few clear examples. Otherwise they will struggle to overcome what LazyGun calls the narratives - though I am not sure that people are really bothered that Miliband "stabbed his brother in the back"; sounds like democracy in action to me, and not something I've ever heard anyone complain about.
They may have a point, who knows. They might have made it better by including a few clear examples. Otherwise they will struggle to overcome what LazyGun calls the narratives - though I am not sure that people are really bothered that Miliband "stabbed his brother in the back"; sounds like democracy in action to me, and not something I've ever heard anyone complain about.
-- answer removed --
When you said "Ed", jno, I almost thought you meant our Ab Editor... Happy New Year, all!
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