Left-Wing Bias? It's Written Through The Bbc's Very Dna, Says Peter Sissons

[Pent Up]

For 20 years I was a front man at the BBC, anchoring news and current ­affairs programmes, so I reckon nobody is better placed than me to ­answer the question that nags at many of its viewers — is the BBC biased?

In my view, ‘bias’ is too blunt a word to describe the subtleties of the ­pervading culture. The better word is a ‘mindset’. At the core of the BBC, in its very DNA, is a way of thinking that is firmly of the Left.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1349506/Left-wing-bias-Its-written-BBCs-DNA-says-Peter-Sissons.html#ixzz1Bl1xrR1p

I suppose even dead centre is too left wing for the Daily Mail though...

Edited January 22, 2011 by Pent Up

[Killer Bunny]

BBC works for the govt of the day or the one that is about be the govt.

BBC is of course peopled by those paid by the govt. Independent? Its about as independent as the Bank of England. Exactly.

[Misanthrope]

BBC works for the govt of the day or the one that is about be the govt.

BBC is of course peopled by those paid by the govt. Independent? Its about as independent as the Bank of England. Exactly.

Yep. Propaganda outlet.

[kenzdawg]

It doesn't have a government bias. It has a statist bias. What with it being a tax-funded body an' all that. Public choice theory in action.

[guitarman001]

Good find!!!

[MrPin]

That's a strange picture Mr Durch! What are those Carribeans doing in Norway, with all those pumpkins?

Not sure when I first though the BBC had gone dodgy! Mid nineties perhaps?

Or was it always like that, and I didn't care?

[bearORbullENIGMA]

"The BBC began in 1922, just before the corporate press began in America. Its founder was Lord John

Reith, whobelieved that impartiality and objectivity were the essence of professionalism. In the same year

the British establishment was under siege. The unions had called a general strike and the Tories were terrified

that a revolution was on the way. The new BBC came to their rescue. In high secrecy, Lord Reith wrote

anti-union speeches for the Tory Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and broadcast them to the nation, while

refusing to allow the labor leaders to put their side until the strike was over."

- John Pilger

Pretty much an establishment/status quo bias IMO, which would historically be seen as a right wing bias.

[MrPin]

I've no interest in the religion, but I've always loved those colourful, surreal, child-like depictions of "Heaven on Earth" in those Jehovah's Witnesses' leaflets:

Me too! I didn't know Heaven started in Norway, but it's probably a good place to model it on!

I have to admire the Jove's optimism!

[easy2012]

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1349506/Left-wing-bias-Its-written-BBCs-DNA-says-Peter-Sissons.html#ixzz1Bl1xrR1p

I suppose even dead centre is too left wing for the Daily Mail though...

Actually, left wing is about being nice and to care about other's - a with their highly paid presenter and journalist at license

payer's expenses, they can certainly afford to be nice. But they go left wing to a point - until their own income is under

threat then they suddenly become 'self employed' or Ltd companies.

Really, the essence of being left wing is about using other people money to help people..

[Democorruptcy]

BBC works for the govt of the day or the one that is about be the govt.

BBC is of course peopled by those paid by the govt. Independent? Its about as independent as the Bank of England. Exactly.

I thought that while Labour were in power but now I'm not so sure.

Why headline Coulson instead of Bliar yesterday?

I think the Tories have many enemies at the BBC. They have frozen the licence fee and supposedly want to abolish the BBC Trust.

The BBC news last weekend showed a very long Ed Milliband clip from the Andrew Marr show when he denied Labour overspending.

(I have attached a picture especially for the nutter who accused me of being biased yesterday for a similar post. Hope this helps)

[Executive Sadman]

Its not about hating the BBC as such, its simply that there is no such thing as 'impartial'

Its a timewasting folly to achieve it, or otherwise to convince people you've achieved it. I just feel that TV news should be like newspaper news, where if you want a conservative viewpoint you buy the telegraph, socialist you read the guardian, or populist you read the sun or mirror. Doesnt end in better quality coverage, but at least its all out in the open then. Everyone knows a channel's bias and can take it with a pinch of salt.

Oh yeah, and the idea of a poll tax licensing fee is absurd IMO.

[Nuggets Mahoney]

I've no interest in the religion, but I've always loved those colourful, surreal, child-like depictions of "Heaven on Earth" in those Jehovah's Witnesses' leaflets:

you missed one...

[Freeholder]

Actually, left wing is about being nice and to care about other's - a with their highly paid presenter and journalist at license

payer's expenses, they can certainly afford to be nice. But they go left wing to a point - until their own income is under

threat then they suddenly become 'self employed' or Ltd companies.

Really, the essence of being left wing is about using other people money to help people..

'The trouble with socialism is evenyually you run out of other peoples money' Margaret Thatcher.

[Tired of Waiting]

It doesn't have a government bias. It has a statist bias. What with it being a tax-funded body an' all that. Public choice theory in action.

Exactly. The BBC has a public sector bias. It is not exactly left, but similar. Like any bureaucracy, the BBC works for the BBC.

[cica]

If you were into the idea of using compulsory taxes (you don't HAVE to watch TV but if you watch ANY TV you have to pay for the BBC) for "doing good" etc. then you're bound to find the idea of working at the BBC attractive.

[mattyfc]

The BBC are so left leaning it's ridiculous. Cameron know it only too well. I can barely read the news content it has become so biased. Not surprising as the BBC has already had its budget cut and there will probably be more to come. £800k for the CEO, totally nuts for a public organisation.

I would rather not own or watch any live TV rather than pay for such largess and bias. Easy opt out I would recommend. No need to watch live TV in the current age, no need for a TV licence.

[Tired of Waiting]

The BBC are so left leaning it's ridiculous.

(...)

Eddie Mair's views of the private sector and competition are clear in this audio:

Radio 4 LINK: (10 minutes into it) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xhffj

Shocking. Unforgettable.

Edited January 22, 2011 by Tired of Waiting

[shindigger]

I'd say the BBC is largely ace as an Arts / Sport entity. 6Music BBC3 TMS New comedy/music being given a chance. All good stuff.

However the political coverage, with the exception of Andrew Neil make my guts curdle.

The rest of em are lick spittle champagne hypocrite lefty tossers.

[123Jim]

Nice one. Puts me in mind of the 'Earth reborn' ending of 'Mars Attacks' (featuring Tom Jones):

Yes. Let me feed the furry one.

[Timak]

The problem for righties is that facts tend to have a left wing bias.

The BBC has a duty to be balanced, that means presenting both sides of the arguement.

If you want one side of the story read the Mail or the Telegraph but don't expect your ideology to go unchallenged in an unbiased institution.

And of course the creative side of the organisation will be left-leaning, it is a known fact that creative people tend to be more liberal.

[ken_ichikawa]

The problem for righties is that facts tend to have a left wing bias.

The BBC has a duty to be balanced, that means presenting both sides of the arguement.

If you want one side of the story read the Mail or the Telegraph but don't expect your ideology to go unchallenged in an unbiased institution.

And of course the creative side of the organisation will be left-leaning, it is a known fact that creative people tend to be more liberal.

just because you have a duty does not mean you have to actually do it. Saying something and being something are two different things. Re the democracy debate, China North Korea, the UK and USA all claim to be democracies, none of them are.

As said the election was not a long time ago you can clearly see the bias before there simply was NEVER any bad news or the BBC would put a positive spin on it. Now their sith masters Labour are out of power it is open season on the tories/libs.

[otters]

This part of the article just about sums up the way the uk has gone.#

Colleagues told me that they had not just lost respect for their highly-paid bosses, what they felt was now total contempt. What they were looking for was leadership, and all they got was management.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1349506/Left-wing-bias-Its-written-BBCs-DNA-says-Peter-Sissons.html#ixzz1BmzynZsI

[bearORbullENIGMA]

Really, the essence of being left wing is about using other people money to help people..

You forget the reasoning behind this: because the right wing is happy to deny the masses access

to land and resources, so the people need compensating with social services, or they will

rise up & slit the throats of the 1% who own & deny them access to 97% of the land.

[ken_ichikawa]

or they will

rise up & slit the throats of the 1% who own & deny them access to 97% of the land.

You seem to imply that this is a bad thing.....

[jammo]

There are whole websites dedicated to exposing BBC and other (US equivalent for example) bias.