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BBC presenter confesses broadcaster ignores complaints of bias | BBC presenter confesses broadcaster ignores complaints of bias |
(about 20 hours later) | |
BBC Newsnight host Evan Davis has admitted that although his employer receives thousands of complaints about alleged editorial bias, producers do not act on them at all. | BBC Newsnight host Evan Davis has admitted that although his employer receives thousands of complaints about alleged editorial bias, producers do not act on them at all. |
“All the time we get those [bias accusation] emails. And honestly, no one at the BBC takes those kinds of things into account,” the journalist said during a talk at the Hay Festival on Sunday. | “All the time we get those [bias accusation] emails. And honestly, no one at the BBC takes those kinds of things into account,” the journalist said during a talk at the Hay Festival on Sunday. |
“Maybe people at the very top of the BBC do, I don’t know. Maybe they do. But none of the people who are making programs do.” | “Maybe people at the very top of the BBC do, I don’t know. Maybe they do. But none of the people who are making programs do.” |
The publicly-owned broadcaster has had to deal with copious accusations of pandering to both the political left and right. | The publicly-owned broadcaster has had to deal with copious accusations of pandering to both the political left and right. |
Recently, controversy arose after the airing of a BBC election debate, when the Conservative Party lodged a complaint that the audience was too left-leaning. | Recently, controversy arose after the airing of a BBC election debate, when the Conservative Party lodged a complaint that the audience was too left-leaning. |
The audience cheered Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and heckled Conservative stand-in, Home Secretary Amber Rudd. The debate, which Prime Minister Theresa May dodged, was watched by an estimated 3.6 million people. | The audience cheered Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and heckled Conservative stand-in, Home Secretary Amber Rudd. The debate, which Prime Minister Theresa May dodged, was watched by an estimated 3.6 million people. |
Davis did, however, highlight that the BBC has rather strict guidelines on fairness and representation. | Davis did, however, highlight that the BBC has rather strict guidelines on fairness and representation. |
“There are some diktats at the BBC. They’ll be on certain specific things like, ‘you have to interview a Lib Dem during this part of the campaign,’ ‘you cannot not have a Lib Dem on your program,’ or ‘you can’t do this thing without having UKIP on’ or something like that,” he argued. | “There are some diktats at the BBC. They’ll be on certain specific things like, ‘you have to interview a Lib Dem during this part of the campaign,’ ‘you cannot not have a Lib Dem on your program,’ or ‘you can’t do this thing without having UKIP on’ or something like that,” he argued. |
“That sort of diktat is imposed, where there’s a sort of a fairness issue.” | “That sort of diktat is imposed, where there’s a sort of a fairness issue.” |
However, not all BBC programs are made in the same way, he added. | However, not all BBC programs are made in the same way, he added. |
“The BBC isn’t one thing, it’s a competing fiefdom of large numbers of different programs competing with each other, sometimes cooperating with each other, more often competing with each other,” Davis said. | “The BBC isn’t one thing, it’s a competing fiefdom of large numbers of different programs competing with each other, sometimes cooperating with each other, more often competing with each other,” Davis said. |
“So if one program is trying to be convenient to the corporate interests of the BBC, another one will not be.” | “So if one program is trying to be convenient to the corporate interests of the BBC, another one will not be.” |
But Davis told RT his words might have been misunderstood. | |
“I was trying to suggest that contrary to the impression of many, we do not bow to pressure to adopt a particular editorial line… For example, journalists on the front line, don't give the government an easy ride in order to help get a good licence fee settlement,” he wrote on Twitter. | |
Earlier this year, the BBC’s senior political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, was found guilty of misreporting stories about Corbyn, but no proof of bias was found. | Earlier this year, the BBC’s senior political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, was found guilty of misreporting stories about Corbyn, but no proof of bias was found. |
An internal investigation by the BBC Trust found Kuenssberg had breached the BBC’s impartiality and accuracy guidelines in her report on Corbyn’s views on shoot-to-kill policies in the aftermath of the Paris attacks. | An internal investigation by the BBC Trust found Kuenssberg had breached the BBC’s impartiality and accuracy guidelines in her report on Corbyn’s views on shoot-to-kill policies in the aftermath of the Paris attacks. |
Her colleague Nick Robinson has also had to fend off accusations of pro-Tory bias and anti-Corbyn reporting. | Her colleague Nick Robinson has also had to fend off accusations of pro-Tory bias and anti-Corbyn reporting. |
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