A few words on ‘Tommy Robinson’, @BBCNewsnight and freedom of speech. Firstly, to be clear, it’s well within Newsnight’s freedom of speech to do a piece on Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. This is *not* about ‘gagging’ him at all. 1/n
Secondly, it’s *also* part of *our* freedom of speech that we can criticise their decisions (a) to do the piece about Yaxley-Lennon and (b) how they do that piece. That’s our right, and our freedom. 2/n
Thirdly, that (as many have noted) freedom of speech does not mean the right to a platform for everyone. Yaxley-Lennon has no more right to demand a feature on his views and role than I do. 4/n
Dammit, I can’t count, that should have been 3/n
The BBC, however, does have questions to answer. Why did they choose to do a feature on Yaxley-Lennon rather than any of the other possible topics. It’s not as though there aren’t plenty of things happening in the world right now (the real 4/n)
The BBC makes choices, and their choices matter. Why Yaxley-Lennon? Why now? Why this rather than (for example) electoral interference in Brexit? The Facebook data leak? The weather in Cornwall? 5/n
And why did they choose to present him the way they did? Why did they use one of his PR shots, with his mouth covered with duct tape? The choice of image really matters - and Newsnight should have been acutely conscious of this after the Corbyn/Kremlin debacle 6/n
These choices matter. They change the effect that the programme has - and the BBC should know that their programming has and effect. They aren’t neutral observers or impartial reporters who have no impact on their audience. 7/n
Neutrality is a myth (I write about it in my new book, chapter 4 #ShamelessPlug) and impartiality is another myth - but they’re both myths that matter, because although they can’t be achieved they do represent a goal. 8/n
And in that light, the BBC should know - and I’m sure they do know - that they make mistakes and misjudgements, and stray too far from impartiality at times. When they do, they need to be aware of it, and correct for it. 8/n
Dammit, I can’t count again. That should have been 9/n
It should be possible for them to hold their hands up and say ‘sorry, we got that wrong’ or ‘we really should have chosen a different picture’ or ‘we should have asked more searching questions’. Right now, that seems completely impossible for them to do 10/n
That’s where @BBCNewsPR seems to be doing a really terrible job. Rather than even acknowledging that there could be a possibility that they misjudged something, they go on the attack, saying ‘you’re wrong to challenge us, shut up’. 11/n
And that makes the whole thing worse. I can see it’s hard to admit to making a cock up - I can admit I can’t count properly (as on this thread) but that’s easy. Much harder to admit a misjudgement. Much more important, though. 12/n
We expect a lot from the BBC. We *should* expect a lot from the BBC. It matters. Many of us care about it a lot - and feel personally let down when it disappoints us, as here. I hope it can find a way to improve. 13/13
