I know it's "fashionable" to hate on the BBC, but for as far back as I can remember, I respected their news coverage.
Sure, there was toadying around individual politicians, but it still told the "truth" or appeared to.
It's only in the last 3-4 years that it went to pieces.
Sure, there was toadying around individual politicians, but it still told the "truth" or appeared to.
It's only in the last 3-4 years that it went to pieces.
Two factors: Brexit, and the free licenses for over 75s issue.
Brexit brought its own baggage. It wasn't enough to have editorial balance across the political spectrum any more. Now, the BBC had to engineer "fairness" on a subject where reality is biased towards one camp.
Brexit brought its own baggage. It wasn't enough to have editorial balance across the political spectrum any more. Now, the BBC had to engineer "fairness" on a subject where reality is biased towards one camp.
It could have tackled Brexit like it *now* treats climate change: there is only one credible side to the argument and therefore we won't help to artificially engineer another side in opposition to it.
But it didn't. It gave equal weight to truth and lies, experts and idiots.
But it didn't. It gave equal weight to truth and lies, experts and idiots.
And then there's the stick of the licence fee. The Government has used it to beat the BBC with. Already facing the prospect of severe funding cuts, the BBC appear only too happy to be obliging to the "official line", rather than interrogating it as they should.
End result: a much respected institution, once renowned around the world, now reduced to a hollow shell of its former self.
Can the genie ever be put back in the bottle? I'm not sure it can, but it sure would be nice to see the BBC *make an effort*.
I won't hold my breath.
Can the genie ever be put back in the bottle? I'm not sure it can, but it sure would be nice to see the BBC *make an effort*.
I won't hold my breath.
