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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| BBC 'must become more impartial' | BBC 'must become more impartial' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The BBC needs to make greater efforts towards impartiality, according to a report commissioned by the corporation. | The BBC needs to make greater efforts towards impartiality, according to a report commissioned by the corporation. |
| It accuses the BBC of breaking its own guidelines by screening an episode of The Vicar Of Dibley which promoted the Make Poverty History campaign. | It accuses the BBC of breaking its own guidelines by screening an episode of The Vicar Of Dibley which promoted the Make Poverty History campaign. |
| The report also quotes former political editor Andrew Marr, who says the BBC has an "innate liberal bias". | The report also quotes former political editor Andrew Marr, who says the BBC has an "innate liberal bias". |
| However, it adds that the BBC is "generally seen as impartial" and sets out new guidelines for avoiding bias. | However, it adds that the BBC is "generally seen as impartial" and sets out new guidelines for avoiding bias. |
| It warns that "hearing both sides of the case" is no longer enough, when Britain has become a "multi-polar" society. | |
| The BBC is also advised to remember that there are points of view not represented by the UK's two main political parties, which should be addressed in its programmes. | |
| Weather 'bias' | |
| But it is not just news programmes that are targeted in the report. | |
| The introduction of the BBC's 3D weather maps in 2005 is used as an example of how the corporation can be seen as biased towards the south-east of England. | |
| Because of the way the maps were tilted, they appeared to suggest that northern Scotland was on the periphery. | |
| Although the problem was quickly ironed out, the report warns that "the continuing practice of giving temperature forecasts for conurbations rather than rural areas may suggest a presumption that the bulk of the audience lives in large cities, whereas the opposite is in fact the case". | |
| Fair and informed | |
| In compiling the report, the BBC commissioned a survey into its audience's views on impartiality. | |
| Sixty-one per cent of people questioned said that broadcasters may think they give a fair and informed view but a lot of the time they do not. | |
| A further 83% agreed that broadcasters should report on all views and opinions, however unpopular or extreme some of them may be. | |
| "BBC audiences believe that impartiality should not lead to political correctness," said Richard Tait, the BBC Trust member in charge of the report. | |
| "The BBC agrees and one of our new principles makes clear that impartiality is no excuse for insipid programme-making." | |
| The BBC's deputy director general, Mark Byford, welcomed the report. | |
| "Safeguarding impartiality is a big and challenging topic and the publication of the report should be the catalyst to a wide conversation and debate across the BBC." |