BBC bias

[tranceporter]

And remember: a licence is only required for watching live broadcast, not playing games on a TV. So by buying a TV doesn't mean you have to buy a licence, despite the propaganda.

The automated letters from Capita are hilarious and are faux threats: they mean nothing - collect them and enjoy.

+1. That being said, we actually we do not watch any live TV. Most of the time on TV is spent using Netflix on Xbox Live Gold subscription, playing a xbox games once in a while, BBC iPlayer for catch up tv, or movies using dvd player. That way, we have knocked off nearly £35 off the virgin media package, returned the V+ HD box to virgin media, and now only have 100 mbps fibre optic + phone line for £30 a month. Not to mention saving £145 tv license.

[Wanderer]

Reuters, Telegraph & Times.

Lots of people say that the Times and the Telegraph are "the establishment" papers that are biased towards the Conservative party. Do you think that's true?

I find Reuters very reliable and much more neutral on international matters than the BBC which by definition is there to report from a British point of view. Yet, a great many people accuse Reuters of bias too. And to those people who think the BBC is politically biased, who do they think it's biased in favour of?

[KentPhilip]

... And to those people who think the BBC is politically biased, who do they think it's biased in favour of?

Pro: left-wing politics, socialism, statism. Pro-muslim, ethnic minorities, feckless

Anti: white skilled indigenous born in Britain people who work hard and respect the law.

Chapter and verse here:

Criticism of the BBC - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Ignis Fatuus]

Have the BBC grilled anyone from the Labour government about them running up a large deficit during a period of growth?

Yes. ISTR Paxo grilling Blair on exactly this topic.

I think what you mean is, the BBC do not share your politics. Well they don't share mine either. Difference between us is, when asking myself whether the BBC and/or the licence fee are Good or Bad things, I look a bit wider than that.

[Wanderer]

Most of the time on TV is spent using Netflix on Xbox Live Gold subscription, playing a xbox games once in a while, BBC iPlayer for catch up tv, or movies using dvd player.

Putting aside the legal technicalities about it not being broadcast TV, do you think people should be allowed to get the benefit of watching BBC programs but not have to pay for it?

[Malcolm Buggeridge]

If you guys think the BBC is biased, then can you please point us to some outlet that is actually a reliable, unbiased news source...

Yes but these news sources do not claim to be unbiased, unlike the BBC:

The Agreement accompanying the BBC Charter requires us to do all we can to ensure controversial subjects are treated with due impartiality in our news and other output dealing with matters of public policy or political or industrial controversy. But we go further than that, applying due impartiality to all subjects

[Ignis Fatuus]

Lots of people say that the Times and the Telegraph are "the establishment" papers that are biased towards the Conservative party. Do you think that's true?

I find Reuters very reliable and much more neutral on international matters than the BBC which by definition is there to report from a British point of view. Yet, a great many people accuse Reuters of bias too. And to those people who think the BBC is politically biased, who do they think it's biased in favour of?

It is IMHO beyond the intelligence and psychological makeup of most people to understand or recognise bias, lack of bias, or avoidance of bias (that's 3 attitiudes not 2!), so involved are they in their own world-view.

Some news sources are infused with bias but try to cover as many views, and carry as much information, as they can (Telegraph, Guardian).
Some try to lack bias: but this often leads to them being non-judgemental, even where they should be judgemental. The more a news source tries to be like that, the less interesting it is, because it will never have worthwhile investigation. Reuters often seems like that to me (I once worked there and have great respect for them).
Some attempt to avoid bias by deliberately airing competing views. The BBC attempts to do that, and while it has at least 2 disadvantages (1. it can look silly sometimes, 2. it is therefore bound sometimes to air views that you disagree with), it is IMHO the better way for a national brodcaster.

(I suppose I could mention in passing the type of news source that concentrates on giving the impression of being unbiased, regardless of the reality - Times, New York Times,...)

Not for nothing did Peregrine Worsthorne as editor of the Telegraph say that he always read the Guardian, and loved it because it was permeated with its Liberal values: it had a soul. Conversely the Guardian had Worsthorne edit its annual compilation for several years running, and he was immensely popular with Guardian fans because they knew that he was inspired by his values too.

I also read both the Telegraph and the Guardian. IMHO either would be superior to, say, the Times as a source of news. Having a viewpoint doesn't make a source unsuitable. far less does having a viewpoint opposed to one's own make it Bad, and a viewpoint aligned with one's own make it Good.

[Ignis Fatuus]

Pro: left-wing politics, socialism, statism. Pro-muslim, ethnic minorities, feckless

Anti: white skilled indigenous born in Britain people who work hard and respect the law.

Chapter and verse here:

Criticism of the BBC - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I looked at that and couldn't find "Anti: white skilled indigenous born in Britain people who work hard and respect the law." Could you give me the chapter and verse, please?

[Doggy Styles]

Yes but these [other] news sources do not claim to be unbiased, unlike the BBC:

"The Agreement accompanying the BBC Charter requires us to do all we can to ensure controversial subjects are treated with due impartiality in our news and other output dealing with matters of public policy or political or industrial controversy. But we go further than that, applying due impartiality to all subjects"

How does that sit with their self-confessed bias in reporting global warming?

[Wanderer]

Chapter and verse here:

Criticism of the BBC - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That is really funny, it sounds like just about everyone has accused them of bias in one way or another.

Loving the references in there where the Daily Mail are criticising the BBC, priceless.

It's disappointing to hear that they make mistakes from time to time but they do try very hard to get it right and on balance I think the BBC is a great institution. Having spent a lot of time in other countries I can tell you that the beeb is a national treasure for the UK.