Morning:
13°c
An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
London faces a wave of bus and Tube strikes that could cause chaos for millions of passengers as unions walkout over pay and conditions
More...
We are biased, admit the stars of BBC News
Last updated at 21:22pm on 21.10.06
Sue Lawley led the discussions during the summit.
It was the day that a host of BBC executives and star presenters admitted what critics have been telling them for years: the BBC is dominated by trendy, Left-leaning liberals who are biased against Christianity and in favour of multiculturalism.
A leaked account of an 'impartiality summit' called by BBC chairman Michael Grade, is certain to lead to a new row about the BBC and its reporting on key issues, especially concerning Muslims and the war on terror.
It reveals that executives would let the Bible be thrown into a dustbin on a TV comedy show, but not the Koran, and that they would broadcast an interview with Osama Bin Laden if given the opportunity. Further, it discloses that the BBC's 'diversity tsar', wants Muslim women newsreaders to be allowed to wear veils when on air.
At the secret meeting in London last month, which was hosted by veteran broadcaster Sue Lawley, BBC executives admitted the corporation is dominated by homosexuals and people from ethnic minorities, deliberately promotes multiculturalism, is anti-American, anti-countryside and more sensitive to the feelings of Muslims than Christians.
One veteran BBC executive said: 'There was widespread acknowledgement that we may have gone too far in the direction of political correctness.
'Unfortunately, much of it is so deeply embedded in the BBC's culture, that it is very hard to change it.'
In one of a series of discussions, executives were asked to rule on how they would react if the controversial comedian Sacha Baron Cohen ) known for his offensive characters Ali G and Borat - was a guest on the programme Room 101.
On the show, celebrities are invited to throw their pet hates into a dustbin and it was imagined that Baron Cohen chose some kosher food, the Archbishop of Canterbury, a Bible and the Koran.
Nearly everyone at the summit, including the show's actual producer and the BBC's head of drama, Alan Yentob, agreed they could all be thrown into the bin, except the Koran for fear of offending Muslims.
In a debate on whether the BBC should interview Osama Bin Laden if he approached them, it was decided the Al Qaeda leader would be given a platform to explain his views.
And the BBC's 'diversity tsar', Mary Fitzpatrick, said women newsreaders should be able to wear whatever they wanted while on TV, including veils.
Ms Fitzpatrick spoke out after criticism was raised at the summit of TV newsreader Fiona Bruce, who recently wore on air a necklace with a cross.
The full account of the meeting shows how senior BBC figures queued up to lambast their employer.
Political pundit Andrew Marr said: 'The BBC is not impartial or neutral. It's a publicly funded, urban organisation with an abnormally large number of young people, ethnic minorities and gay people. It has a liberal bias not so much a party-political bias. It is better expressed as a cultural liberal bias.'
Washington correspondent Justin Webb said that the BBC is so biased against America that deputy director general Mark Byford had secretly agreed to help him to 'correct', it in his reports. Webb added that the BBC treated America with scorn and derision and gave it 'no moral weight'.
Former BBC business editor Jeff Randall said he complained to a 'very senior news executive', about the BBC's pro-multicultural stance but was given the reply: 'The BBC is not neutral in multiculturalism: it believes in it and it promotes it.'
Randall also told how he once wore Union Jack cufflinks to work but was rebuked with: 'You can't do that, that's like the National Front!'
Quoting a George Orwell observation, Randall said that the BBC was full of intellectuals who 'would rather steal from a poor box than stand to attention during God Save The King'.
There was another heated debate when the summit discussed whether the BBC was too sensitive about criticising black families for failing to take responsibility for their children.
Head of news Helen Boaden disclosed that a Radio 4 programme which blamed black youths at a young offenders', institution for bullying white inmates faced the axe until she stepped in.
But Ms Fitzpatrick, who has said that the BBC should not use white reporters in non-white countries, argued it had a duty to 'contextualise' why black youngsters behaved in such a way.
Andrew Marr told The Mail on Sunday last night: 'The BBC must always try to reflect Britain, which is mostly a provincial, middle-of-the-road country. Britain is not a mirror image of the BBC or the people who work for it.'
Reader views (32)
I say bravo for the BBC in its acknowledged bias. Foxtel refuses to acknowledge its ridiculous degree of skewed reporting, that makes BBC's bias seem paltry in the extreme, while all other commercial stations remain steadfastly biased toward the right without any acknowledgement either. The viewing public requires balanced viewing, and as such it is entirely appropriate that public funding should go toward an institution that balances the scales, as corporate news reporting will always tend to the political views of private enterprise and commercial interest.
- Sherard Maine, Adelaide, Australia
To describe the BBC as being 'liberal' is a bit of an oxymoron. The BBC in effect backed Saddam Hussein during the recent war. It has heavily promoted 'minoroty' issues and appears to hate Britain. The answer may be to break up the BBC which is far too powerful. It is, in effect, a publicly funded permanent opposition party.
- Peter Sammons, Saffron Walden, UK
I have regarded the bias in the BBC for some years with disappointment. The general regard for the professionalism of the BBC in my sphere of influence has significanly reduced as a consequence. Reform is needed.
- Mal Prior, Canberra, Australia
We all knew of the bias. How sad for the BBC to allow themselves to fall so far in their responsibility to the public. They understand the power of their influence more than most and they have failed miserably in their representation of truth, serving only to inflame and stir the already troubled melting pot. I wonder if they will be held accountable for any harm that they have caused.
- Bev Brown, Queensland, Australia
I am deeply concerned about the revelation of the bias of the BBC in so many areas. I have been concerned in recent years at some aspects of reporting and now understand that the neutrality and quality of reporting that was once a hallmark of the Corporation has been swallowed up in a liberal bias. It is good to hear that some senior employees of the Corporation are speaking out - I think it is time that those in management seriously considered what is going on and, in the name of honesty and true professionalism, corrected it.
- G Brookes, North Yorks
So they finally admitted what everyone already knew. I was thrilled years back when my cable system started carrying BBC America. I thought that we finally would get some real news from the rest of the world. That is until I started watching it and found out it was at least as slanted as US television news and possibly worse. I have given up on television news entirely now. Thank God for the internet where you can get both sides of almost any issue if you dig a little.
- Dave, Newport, NC, USA
Would that ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN each covene their own "impartiality summit" here in America!
What is being admitted by the BBC only now is a bias many have been aware of for a long time.
As with much American media, the tidal shift has been away from any pretense of objective news reporting and toward "make a difference" journalistic advocacy (while still being labeled "news").
That the BBC proudly admits to worshipping at the alter of multiculteralism, I find particularly disturbing. While I count myself among those who would welcome with open arms a truly color-BLIND world (ie. where content of CHARACTER mattered most), multiculturalism and "celebrating diversity" (for diversity's sake) is something else entirely.
Multiculturalism's most notable failing (it has many) is its deafening silence in the face of evil.
Multiculturalism claims all cultures are equally valid; no moral distinctions one over another (except, that is, for the "special case" disdain and hostility it reserves for the US and Britain).
In the face of terrorism and criminality, what can/does a thorough media multiculturalist say? Only some feeble utterance like: "The attackers were acting out their own cultural values, beliefs and anger at the West. We must have done something to offend them. We must seek to better understand them in the future."
The BBC, having proudly and openly aligned itself with such nonsense, has proven itself to be a news source unworthy of one's trust.
- John Peterson, Columbus, Ohio USA
The BBC screened 'Gerry Springer The Opera' and received 60,000 complaints (I complianed about the foul and offensive language especially as it related to Christianity - I asserted that they woudn't dare treat Islam in that way). It dismissed all the complaints out of hand and claimed that it treaed Islam and Christianity with equal respect. Your article illustrates that not only is the BBC biased against Christianity (the founding religion of the values so cherished by the majority in the United Kingdom) but by their own admission they are now shown to be liars and can no longer be trusted. What a shame that this great institution has decended to such a low level.
- William Armitage, Cumbernauld, Scotland
This comes as no surprise. But what is suprising is that they have finally openly admitted it. At least I can get my news from a different source and no longer put any credence in any news from the BBC.
Shame really. As I respected them for many years.
- Shannion, London
In our home we like to listen to the BBC news - we get as much of a true picture of the world as one can get those days from the news media - we also like the CBC news. However, the American news network is very one sided and it is clear to see that the voice of the opposition to the Bush regime is not getting heard. I say "good" that the BBC is looking at all points of view - and not just the white anglo saxon christian right wing business suited male perspective. We need more women like Sue Lawley who are not afraid to tell the world that people live in different homes, have differnt religions, wear different clothes - what does it matter if one wears a veil - it is what in inside of us that REALLY counts.
The more I learn the more I know that the news is controlled by big business and right wing governments who have money and power. The news media does not reflect the voice of the common person.
We are not all christian, male, straight, white - let multiculturalism's voice ring out so we can see the real world and not just the face of George Bush and Tony Blair!
- Ruth Larson, Halifax, Nova Scotia
What Mr. Wheatley and other BBC lovers seem to miss is that actual ideas and debate are alive and well in America. In Britain, Canada and most of western Europe the media reads almost like a myopic orthodoxy with a singular, utopist agenda. In Europe, the media simply work through a prism of varying degrees of socialism. Republicans could barely survive in Europe because the state controlled media and the endless "sensitivity" laws would bar them from public debate. There is a reason many in Europe despise America - and if you think it is because they are "smarter than us" than you've never been to Europe and never spoken with too many native Europeans. They are too cool for serious political thought, woefully ignorant to current events when challenged, reflexively irreverant, and rather indoctrinated, if not brainwashed, by the media blitz of feel-good leftism they are fed. I don't envy a single European. And for that and for everything else Americans do and have - they envy and even resent us. Just talk to some Europeans - just talk to them. Outside of their interesting accents there is very little substance there beyond some Freshman at any California Community College.
- Joseph Watts, Boston, Massachusetts
To Mr Wheatley from Clinton, NY: I do find enough Objective news on the american media - one just needs to look with one's eyes open, Sir. And I do follow BBC news daily, from the day we landed in the US more than 20 years ago. It would take a blind man to miss the constant, subtle anti-American bias, the snobby derision, scorn and contempt of anything American in their reporting - and please spare me the standard lame excuses of "anti-Bush, not anti-American". The BBC has been disrespectful and patronizing in their reporting about the USA way before Dubya was a glimmer in our eyes.
- S. Wesley, San Francisco
The BBC has fallen from a monolith of integrity and courage to the role of pimp for the left. Each time it shows its bias, it sinks lower in the regard of the world. It is becoming irrelevant, as it speaks only to a smaller and smaller audience. Pitiful.
- Don Bowman, Columbus, GA, USA
Despite all the comments about the left wing takeover of the BBC..(They say the same here about Public Radio)..As an expat I watch and listen to the BBC as often as I can as its still the only well produced and truly informative news media this side of the Atlantic. If you think the BBC is biased spend a week trying to get any abjective news from The American media. Its all two minute sound bites usually directed by the government of the day, be it Republican or what ever. Now add the never ending church controlled radio stations with a strong biais to wards the Right, make that very strong, and you will get some idea of how limited the news information can be. George Orwell would be pleased to see the development of double speak, double talk etc., in the US over the past few years. Sad to say very few people seem to care about this lack of indepth reporting. So I say thank goodness we have the BBC and the Canadain News Media who keep us reasonably informed about world events.
- Geoff Wheatley, Clinton NY USA
I have been astounded at the bias that the BBC get away with for a long time now, but felt completely powerless to say so. These people know that if they control the media, then they control people's minds.
And the biggest insult of all is that I am FORCED by law to hand over nearly £200 a year to prop up their agenda. Stalin couldn't have done better.
20 years ago I wouldn't have dreamed of saying this, but I am now 100% in favour of scrapping the BBC at the earliest opportunity.
- James Carden, Harlesden
I think that the BBC try very hard to be unbiased. It seems to me that mostly what this report is saying is that they are trying too hard.
I'd personally much rather that happened, than what seems to happen in most other foreign media, where corporate and political influences are extremely heavy, and even when the BBC try too hard, I'd much rather get my news from the BBC than anywhere else.
- Ian Woollard, UK
I listened to BBC World Service radio for quite a few years. At the time, it was the finest and most comprehensive news service in the world.
Immediately following the installation of Mr. Blair's Labor government, things began to change. Longtime presenters, producers, programs and correspondents began to disappear. Within a year it had degenerated into little more than an organ of leftist propaganda.
I would like to see a return to the BBC's former quality and objectivity, but it's highly unlikely. The only way this problem could be reversed would be to again throw out all the management and most of the staff.
- Gene Taglia, New Marshfield, Ohio, USA
This is really a huge scandal. The 'trendy elites' whom currently occupy the BBC wish to rebuilt Britain in their own ideological image - and have some of the most advanced propaganda tools to do so.
The papers need to demand that this shameful organisation be bought into line and provide what we pay for. Most British people see through the enforced doctrines which the organisation propogates yet sit back sigh and shrug.
- Nick, London
Since 1940 as a youngster I had eagerly listened to the BBC to be in touch with the world. But for the last decade or so I have rarely listened because I found the coverage adolescent in its depth and perspective. The BBC has long lost my respect.
- Robert Williamson, Cleveland, GA USA
It seems the BBC has joined the majority of American news outlets with their leftist, biased reporting of the news. Welcome, BBC, at least you have the guts to admit your biases.
- Ken Legg, Springfield, OR
So this is news? The BBC is no different than all of the major media outlets in the US...and that's not a good thing.
- Mike Collins, Lansing, Michigan USA
Not exactly shocking. We no longer watch BBC via satellite in the States because of its insufferable lefty pontification. It would be heartening for BBC to one day return to its role as the once-great voice of a vaunted civilization and language. I suspect those days are long gone, however.
- Aaron, Washington, USA
Everyone knows it stands for Biased Broadcasting Corporation. It is the most shameful organisation because it takes money from the very people it despises.
- Alan, Coulsdon, Surrey
As a Canadian, I'm shocked that the BBC would be so openly anti-British, but then again, nationalism is a no no in the mantra of left wing morons.
- Stephen R. Leach, Lexington, South Carolina
The BBC ought to be privatised and the License Tax scrapped. How long could this socialist propaganda machine function in a free market?
- Roger, London
We used to rely on the BBC for truth, unbiased reporting in ALL matters. For quite a number of years now we, the ordinary people have known that truth was no more for when matters of importance are biased,'truth' becomes the first victim. Yet the ordinary people have also been, in part, the employers of those that work in the BBC, and now the time has surely come when what once was the envy of the world should now take its place among the other forms of broad-casting and go forth and look for sponsors. The fact that admitting the 'offence' of biased reporting has not taken away that like your true masters, the Government, the BBC has been trashed beyond repair. It is very sad that not one of you apparently recognised its true worth.
- Anne, Wolverhampton. England
Wartime BBC radio uplifted and was patriotic. Since aboute 1960 the BBC especially TV have been a major engine in the destruction of what was once a law-abiding, patriotic, nation.
You had a great opportunity to do good and you did the opposite.
You are a disgrace.
Shame on you.
- Mona Mcnee, Knowsley, England
I couldn't agree more - and if you complain about their lefty, politically correct pro-government bias (they won't really criticise government policy anymore, including America's) then they come back and say some poll or other says that they sit well with their audience, so they're not going to do anything about it.
- Mark, Cambridgeshire
It is now more obvious than ever that the BBC no longer represents the majority views of the population of Great Britain. It has been taken over by people who are totally out of touch with the British public and who are products of left wing minority led thinking and teachings.
Why should we have to pay our licence money to support a BBC delivering wholly un acceptable programmes, propaganda, government spin, and individual hidden personal agendas? If the BBC is allowed to survive it should be on its own merit and popular demand for producing programmes that people wish to watch, and advertisers are prepared to support, not be propped up by public money, which is used to support and produce programmes and views many don’t agree with.
The time has come for the BBC licence to be abolished. The BBC is no longer respected as it used to be around the world, or seen as telling things as they are, for obvious reasons, and is now noted world wide more for its young left wing producers and broadcasters trying to spread the word of the world they want to promote. Time for the BBC to stand on its products and productions rather than on the shoulders of the British tax payer.
- R Hewson, Nr Grimsby England
Now that the BBC has admitted what has been obvious to many of us for years, where does that leave the compulsory licence fee? If one does not agree with the editorial line of The Independent and The Guardian one is not forced to buy them; however one cannot exercise an equivalent choice with the Beeb, on pain of imprisonment. Surely its time to scrap this malign tax?
- Guy R, London
I'm an American / naturalized Brit who has lived here for 7 years now. I have found the BBC to be completely biased and it shocked me when I first moved over at how much disdain is aimed at America.
It's odd because PBS in the States is similar--state funded and accountable to no one to speak of. It's liberal and completely off the mark for the true feeling of the country.
I just hope the BBC can do something about this.
- Jennifer, Durham, England
A very good article and 100 percent true!
BBC has to change with the time or else, well, dustbin may be far away, but it will be there!
- Krishna R. Kumar, Udupi, India
