Richard Brooks and Dipesh Gadher report today in The Sunday Times that an official report commissioned by the BBC will confirm that amongst other things the Corporation is partial in its treatment of single-issue politics such as climate change, poverty, race and religion.  The bias has extended across drama, comedy and entertainment, with the corporation pandering to politically motivated celebrities and trendy causes.

We have been here before, of course.  In January 2005 another report commissioned by the BBC came to the conclusion that the Corporation was unintentionally, but nevertheless too well disposed towards the European Union.  Another report commissioned for internal consumption alone (the “Balen Report”) is widely thought to have been critical of the BBC’s Middle East reporting, which is perceived in most quarters to be pro-Arab and unsympathetic towards Israel.

In the latest report it is acknowledged that,

“[there is] the danger of BBC programmes being undermined by the liberal culture of its staff, who need to challenge their own assumptions more,”

and,

“there is a tendency to ‘group think’ with too many staff inhabiting a shared space and comfort zone.”

So far, so good.  The real issue is that the BBC will not address the problem because it cannot.  Those people within the Corporation who should challenge the current “liberal” mindset do not have the critical mass to ensure that there is any real, significant change.  There are too few of them.  Their minority view is considered quaint, wrongheaded, dangerous or just downright bad and in consequence is ignored. The Sunday Times leader identifies the only course open to the BBC if it truly wishes to avoid being unnecessarily partial in its outlook.

“That the BBC should investigate itself is perhaps admirable, but only if it acts on the conclusions. The likelihood is that it will lament its shortcomings, pledge to do something and carry on much as before. Changing its cosy culture will take more than a report; some who have worked there say it would require a small neutron bomb. The BBC is a self-perpetuating liberal arts club. Recruitment is the key. It needs to employ more nonconformist journalists whose paper of choice is not The Guardian.”

So will the BBC now seek to spread its net wider when recruiting staff?  Don’t hold your breath.

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BBC wins Balen report battle

The Editors – Both Sides

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