Thread by @docrussjackson

#THREAD

Pleased to be quoted in this @ScotNational article, discussing Govt pressure on the @BBC, #bbcqt, #BBCBias, Richard Sharp, & the 'tabloidisation' of the BBC.

'BBC 'pro-establishment bias' shown in first six months of Laura Kuenssberg show'.

thenational.scot/news/23377081.…

"Dr Russell Jackson, a senior media lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, penned an open letter to the @BBC in February raising concerns about bias on #bbcqt's panels & from hosts, BBC management's links to the Tories, & a tendency towards platforming dangerous rhetoric."

"Jackson told The Sunday National that the -astonishing response to that letter [which has now been read more than 210,000 times] suggests that a hell of a lot of people are very concerned about what is happening with the broadcaster."

#BBCBias #bbcqt

yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/an-op…

"Jackson said the issue of pro-establishment bias within the @BBC was worsening, with a predilection towards right-wing commentators & a growing likelihood to platform Tory guests."

#BBCBias #bbcqt #BBCLauraK

"The @BBC will tend towards over-representing whoever is in power. We saw that with New Labour, but I think it's getting worse now for a variety of reasons, not least Richard Sharp is the new boss, & the head of @BBCNews now is ex-GB News [John McAndrew]."

https://twitter.com/docrussjackson/status/1629444308750290945?s=20

"I think the @BBC are on the back foot because they're scared of threats from the Government to remove the licence fee. There's a whole host of reasons. There's no monocausal theme to this."

#BBCBias #bbcqt #BBCLauraK

https://twitter.com/WritesBright/status/1346912550131261440?s=20

"However, Jackson further said that the @BBC was a crucial public service, likening it to the #NHS. He told The Sunday National that the fact that the largest group of panellists on Kuenssberg's show were experts who could be considered neutral was a positive sign."

#BBCLauraK

"He said it is absolutely fundamental that the @BBC platformed more [real] experts, instead of journalists & political commentators [ie representatives of opaquely funded #TuftonStreet lobbyists like the IEA] who are highly partisan & wheeled out as being the voice of expertise."

"We have tens if not hundreds of thousands of people who have devoted their lives to studying in great detail particular issues, and we rarely hear from any at all. That's just such a tragedy."

"Most people in Britain would love the opportunity to have calm, rational, expert voices discussing the issues that matter in a non-polarising way. The @BBC used to be great at that. Now it seems to be being dragged down, a 'tabloidisation' almost of the BBC, & that's tragic."

"Jackson said that the @BBC seemed to be moving towards a model based on boosting engagement, something more akin to the clickbait seen in some commercial media."