Faced with numerous allegations of bias during the UK’s General Election, the BBC’s Director General categorically denied them and asserts there is no case to answer. There are accusations too of an elitist liberalism associated with the financially well-off middle-class pervading personnel employed in the BBC and so influencing its approach to news and the issues of the day.
The BBC is a unique media coverage organisation. Much more than a news broadcaster, it produces some great entertainment, period pieces and documentaries. Its radio service is the best in class. Its World Service is special. As a precious asset of the UK it is admired for many things across the globe.
There is a focus on its funding by a license fee and it is hoped that any new financing solution ensures the many benefits and qualities of the BBC are not lost. However, the big challenge which recent commentaries have thrown up is whether its senior management and its culture as a whole are capable of taking on board critical feedback. Is there inbuilt in the BBC an inability to listen, digest constructive criticism, learn from it, change and improve?
Newswatch is a weekly BBC production which reflects on comments received from the public about that week’s news broadcasting. Those comments may be complimentary, but many are complaints or suggestions to improve (for example accusations of bias). The BBC selects itself which of those comments gets reviewed on the programme. Sherbhert has never heard the BBC or any of its representatives who appear on Newswatch admit that any complaint is justified or concede that some comments need to be taken on board and that as a result the BBC might alter its behaviour. Observe that it is statistically very unlikely that there is absolutely no wisdom contained in the public’s comments which is worthy of the BBC making change. Newswatch perhaps evidences an inability to listen possibly borne out of a mistaken belief in the BBC’s own righteousness. When feedback is consistently giving a similar message there is probably more than a grain of truth in what is being said.
Newswatch provides another lesson. One is entitled to question the appropriateness and value of a programme which seeks to analyse criticism of the BBC, when that very programme is run by employees and editors of the same organisation. Perhaps it should be run by an independent body to give the show real credibility and purpose.
It is to be hoped that the BBC can find some humility and confidence to accept and act on criticism. Perhaps too it should look at the well of talent from which it draws its journalists and editors to ensure that a diversity of opinion, rather than a single mindset, informs its approach.
In a world of fake news, and where news distributors’ independence is questionable, the BBC has a real opportunity to develop and demonstrate its absolute commitment to accurate and objective news broadcasting, If it will listen.
