BBC had "massive bias to left:" director general

[alienlovechild 75]

The director general of the BBC admitted Thursday that his organisation had been guilty of a "massive bias to the left" but said "a completely different generation" of journalists now works at the broadcaster.

Mark Thompson told the right-of-centre Spectator magazine that there was an institutional bias when he joined the organisation, reinforcing the findings of a 2007 internal report which concluded that greater efforts were required to avoid liberal bias.

"In the BBC I joined 30 years ago, there was, in much of current affairs, in terms of people's personal politics, which were quite vocal, a massive bias to the left," Thompson said.

"The organisation did struggle then with impartiality. And journalistically, staff were quite mystified by the early years of Thatcher."Now it is a completely different generation. There is much less overt tribalism among the young journalists who work for the BBC," he added.

The 2007 report criticised the organisations slow response to the rise of Euroscepticism and immigration concerns, which it said were considered "'off limits in terms of a liberal-minded comfort zone."

Outlining his hopes for the relationship between the national broadcaster and thenew Conservative-led coalition government, Thompson said: "What we want is an effective and businesslike relationship with government -- it's not about personal relations."

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.91cc350cfed23f483b23ec44acc183c7.201&show_article=1

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

This should surprise no one.

[Danno 1,228]

..... bbbbut it's all better now.

[mawilson 2,133]

The investigation also concluded that Fox News had a "bias to the right".

[_Simpson_ 250]

The investigation also concluded that Fox News had a "bias to the right".

Do take into consideration that BBC does not have the stigma that Fox News does.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Do take into consideration that BBC does not have the stigma that Fox News does.

Nor does the BBC have the "lack of credibility" issues that Fox News does.

Edited September 2, 2010 by Rob & Mel

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Fox news is a horrible news channel, as are all of the major US news networks.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Nor does the BBC have the "lack of credibility" issues that Fox News does.

If by that you meant that fox news has made more mistakes then yes I would agree.

BBC over all gets a way too much credit and fox news overall gets demonized way too much.

Pick up what I'm laying down?

Fox news is a horrible news channel, as are all of the major US news networks.

But I thought you thought that of all media? Why single out Americas's new channels?

Edited September 2, 2010 by _Simpson_

[The_Dude 1,142]

If by that you meant that fox news has made more mistakes then yes I would agree.

BBC over all gets a way too much credit and fox news overall gets demonized way too much.

Pick up what I'm laying down?

Fox News' mistakes are conveniently partisan hackjobs. Their actual news department isn't nearly as bad as people make it out to be. However, you really need to dig to discern what is commentary, and what is actual news. There are some shows on fox news that try to pass themselves off as legitimate news, but is really just hack commentators like Fox & Friends. That is my problem with Fox News.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Because US network news is atrocious. It's insular in scope and it mixes editorial with traditional news reporting in a way that the BBC never has.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Fox News' mistakes are conveniently partisan hackjobs. Their actual news department isn't nearly as bad as people make it out to be. However, you really need to dig to discern what is commentary, and what is actual news. There are some shows on fox news that try to pass themselves off as legitimate news, but is really just hack commentators like Fox & Friends. That is my problem with Fox News.

I prefer BBC over Fox News.

The main point I'm trying to make is that BBC in general does not come under the scrutiny that fox news does. Its a dam shame!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well it wouldn't in the US would it. The BBCs news programmer in the US follow the US format. What we see in the UK isn't the same.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Well it wouldn't in the US would it. The BBCs news programmer in the US follow the US format. What we see in the UK isn't the same.

So am I to assume that you're making the argument that BBC is demonized in the same manner that fox news is here in the US?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

BBC America has a very small audience share compared with the mainstream domestic networks there.

[_Simpson_ 250]

BBC America has a very small audience share compared with the mainstream domestic networks there.

The questions are clear, your answers are not! Why dont you just addresses the issue so that this topic can move on?

Edited September 2, 2010 by _Simpson_