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BBC 'guilty' of ignoring public opinion says senior executive
Last updated at 00:22am on 26.10.06
The public service broadcaster has come under fire from one its senior executives for not listening to its audience
A senior BBC executive has admitted the politically correct views of the corporation are at odds with most of its viewers.
BBC commissioning editor for documentaries Richard Klein admitted the broadcaster was out of touch with the British public, saying it was guilty of "ignoring" mainstream opinion.
Speaking to a room full of TV viewers and BBC staff, he suggested that if the current situation continued it could affect the organisation's long-term future.
Klein said: "By and large, people who work at the BBC think the same and it's not the way the audience thinks. That's not long term sustainable."
"We pride ourselves on being 'of the people', and it's pathetic.....Channel 4 tends to laugh at people, the BBC ignores them."
His comments, reported in the corporation's in-house magazine, come on the back of news earlier this week that a string of BBC executives and journalists have admitted that the corporation is institutionally biased.
Details from a recent "impartiality" summit held at the BBC highlighted how some of the corporation's own top staff now believe it is guilty of promoting left-wing views, is biased against Christianity and as an organisation is disproportionately dominated by gays and ethnic minorities.
It was also claimed the BBC overtly promotes multiculturalism and is anti-American and anti-countryside.
Klein, who made his views known at an "audience festival" organised by the BBC last week to find out what its viewers think, admitted that the BBC's liberal internal culture did not match that of the wider British public.
He said: "Most people at the BBC don't live lives like this, but these are our licence payers. It's our job to reflect and engage."
The TV executive, who sponsored a study to find out what issues concerned viewers, even warned other BBC staff about the dangers of ignoring popular opinion.
"They may be challenging to us, but don't dismiss them", he said.
His comments come after repeated claims that the BBC has misjudged the mood of British public.
Last month the corporation was deluged with complaints after a Muslim extremist was given 12 minutes of airtime on Radio 4's flagship Today programme.
It also came under attack in the summer when it broadcast a "sick" comedy, which showed Tony Blair being assasinated and terrorists crashing a jet into parliament.
The BBC was also criticised last year after it was revealed that the corporation had cautioned journalists against using the word terrorist - claiming the word was too judgmental.
More recently the BBC has agonised over whether news-reader Fiona Bruce should be allowed to wear a necklace with a cross on it.
Research conducted by the BBC showed that many viewers felt "gagged and alone" and also believed mainstream views were being driven underground.
Ann Davies, who carried out the research for the corporation, openly questioned whether the BBC should change its approach.
She asked: "Should we, the BBC, be a pressure valve for that opinion? Should we help break the contraints of the PC police?"
Research into audience members views showed that many thought that politcal correctness had become endemic in Britain.
One said: "Politicians know more about how a Muslim lives than they do about what it's like to be me, day in, day out."
Reader views (8)
I love the one show love christines laugh at least it s genuine not forced
there is not enough laughter on tv these days just doom and gloom
- Amelia Taylor, folkestone kent
I really like the One Show. and Christine is good at what she does, but I'm afraid she lowers the tone of the show with her horrible raucus laugh. she laughs at abosutely everything like an idiot. Please tell her to act like an adult.
- Hannah Mccoll, Glasgow Scotland
I had an audition on the Charlie Brooker show on BBC4 a couple of years ago , I had done some comedy training in New York at the American Comedy Inst. and did a gig there at the venue 'Stand Up New York' I did what I thought was an open talent audition , came down from Yorkshire there were 49 other 'acts' all from around the M25.. i did my act of comedy impersonations...Norman Wisdom, Sean Connery...I did a Fawlty Towers John Cleese 'silly walks' and I didn't use any bad language profanity...I am a Christian...I did a mimic of John Lennon 'don't mention the poor!'....make poverty history....I was surprised at the end to find I was cut from the show ..politically correct ? don't they like Northeners too ? I was by far the best....the joke was I'd even had a letter of praise from Tony Blair in my pocket...at that time in New York everyone was asking for me for a Tony Blair impression...opportunity knocks? it doesn't In this country...comedy is a non event...you only have to look at everyone's faces in the streets and place of work ...I have had sales of my album outside of the UK worldwide to ex-pats because I do the 'old school' classic comedians when the BBC was the place to be seen...going back to the tv audition it was titled '40 secs. of fame' ...if you have been to Africa...you realise why every second is precious...Jonathon Ross £6 million ....? Dull as Peter Kay....over rated over paid...over the other side of the Pennines..corporation t shirt stupid bloody tuesday
- Phil Holmes, pontefract west yorkshire
We would like to add our voice to the mounting anger that our licence fee - a poll tax by any other name - should be used to pay people like Russell Brand, Jonathon Ross and those responsible for allowing the show to go out, for the sort of filth they produced last week.
This is not a program we would normally watch but the explicit comments now printed in the newspapers should not be allowed to go out on a publically funded wave length. What hope for the moraility of the next generation if this sort of output is promoted?
Russell Brand has already resigned. In these times of belt tightening, it is a scandal that Jonathon Ross, on his vastly inflated salary, should still be in post. We hope to hear of his resignation or dismissal very soon.
Disgusted,
Susan and Robert Latter
- Susan And Robert Latter, Scruton, Northallerton, England
Well, admitting one has a problem *is* the first step. (Of course, one can admit a problem, apologize profusely for it and still do absolutely nothing to change.)
The Beeb, with its government charter and public funding, often seems more like a Ministry than a corporation. I expect its managers to behave like politicians and its employees like bureaucrats.
There will be a great deal of talk about this problem and perhaps several commissions and reports. Change, if it happens at all, will be slow and by half-measures.
Every sinner has a future. Good luck, BBC.
- Scott Mize, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
It about time the BBC folowed the example of local radio and represented the views of its viewers and listeners.
- Alex Barwick, Maidstone, England
Perhaps the BBC should compensate TV license tax...erm, fee payers by refunding our money.
- Andy, London
This is not new news, we knew this all along about the bias.
- Gareth Crowley, Florida, USA
