Post by Teddy Bear on May 12, 2013 21:47:51 GMT
When a 25 year BBC journalist describes the loneliest job on earth as being a Tory inside the BBC, you know whatever balance being claimed by the BBC is none existent.
Robin Aitken, the journalist did make a podcast at 18 Doughty Street, when it was operational, about the demonisation of George Bush when he was president.
Now he's written a book about his experiences, and further describes the BBC attitude to Bush, as well as other examples.
Robin Aitken, the journalist did make a podcast at 18 Doughty Street, when it was operational, about the demonisation of George Bush when he was president.
Now he's written a book about his experiences, and further describes the BBC attitude to Bush, as well as other examples.
George Bush? He’s mad... Shock truth about BBC bias
SENIOR BBC journalists have unleashed vitriolic attacks on the corporation, describing it as “completely out of touch with the real world”.
By: James Murray
In a new book, the journalists lambast the BBC’s “politically correct” culture in which Tory leaders were not given a fair chance and it “was assumed” that the Iraq war was wrong and President George W Bush was “mad”.
Can We Still Trust The BBC? by former correspondent Robin Aitken comes in the wake of scandals surrounding sexually deviant presenters Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall.
In one dynamite chapter Mr Aitken reveals what respected people in the higher echelons of the organisation really think about the political bias which infects newsrooms.
None of the current or former journalists who spoke out is identified due to fears of disciplinary action.
A senior TV and radio news presenter reveals bias in coverage of the war in Iraq saying: “It was just assumed throughout the BBC that it was a bad thing, that it was unreasonable and that Bush is mad. And to have anyone on who might think it was a good thing was a remarkable and brave thing to do.
“On Europe: I mean anybody who suggests Europe might not be a good thing is as mad as a box of frogs. On the environment: Anybody who suggests that environmentalists might be overstating the case is absolutely barking.”
According to a senior TV news reporter, former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, now Work and Pensions Secretary, was considered by BBC staff to be “useless”.
The journalist says: ‘‘To start with there’s an assumption in the BBC as to ‘How on Earth could these lunatics vote for a man like IDS?’ And this was being expressed in staff meetings. Very few people said, ‘Give him a fair chance’.
It was just assumed throughout the BBC that it was a bad thing, that it was unreasonable and that Bush is mad
A senior TV and radio news presenter
“I believed he should be given a fair chance but I think that from the start both he and William Hague had a very tough time because they were working against the mindset in the BBC.”
A freelance producer adds: “Throughout the BBC there is a politically correct, pro-Labour culture, which is completely out of touch with the real world. The BBC is almost like some social democratic republic. They drink among themselves, they eat together, they sleep together, they marry each other. The BBC is a very incestuous place.”
A senior television editor reveals: “Just after the fall of Thatcher, my head of department took me to a meeting with John Birt, who at that time was vice or deputy director general. My boss asked me what we would do if Labour formed the next Government. John Birt replied: ‘Let’s hope the **** they do.’ I couldn’t believe how candid he was.”
Mr Aitken spent 25 years working for the BBC and was well thought of when at Radio Four’s Today programme.
He believes there is still much which is excellent about the broadcaster, adding: “This bedrock excellence has not been destroyed by recent scandals and it provides a solid foundation for the BBC to restore people’s trust in it.
“This will not be an automatic process but if the corporation can show it is serious about reform and about tackling long-standing complaints about its impartiality, there is the possibility it can emerge humbled but eventually triumphant. All it needs do is be true to its founding charter.”
Can We Still Trust The BBC? is published by Bloomsbury on May 23.
SENIOR BBC journalists have unleashed vitriolic attacks on the corporation, describing it as “completely out of touch with the real world”.
By: James Murray
In a new book, the journalists lambast the BBC’s “politically correct” culture in which Tory leaders were not given a fair chance and it “was assumed” that the Iraq war was wrong and President George W Bush was “mad”.
Can We Still Trust The BBC? by former correspondent Robin Aitken comes in the wake of scandals surrounding sexually deviant presenters Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall.
In one dynamite chapter Mr Aitken reveals what respected people in the higher echelons of the organisation really think about the political bias which infects newsrooms.
None of the current or former journalists who spoke out is identified due to fears of disciplinary action.
A senior TV and radio news presenter reveals bias in coverage of the war in Iraq saying: “It was just assumed throughout the BBC that it was a bad thing, that it was unreasonable and that Bush is mad. And to have anyone on who might think it was a good thing was a remarkable and brave thing to do.
“On Europe: I mean anybody who suggests Europe might not be a good thing is as mad as a box of frogs. On the environment: Anybody who suggests that environmentalists might be overstating the case is absolutely barking.”
According to a senior TV news reporter, former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, now Work and Pensions Secretary, was considered by BBC staff to be “useless”.
The journalist says: ‘‘To start with there’s an assumption in the BBC as to ‘How on Earth could these lunatics vote for a man like IDS?’ And this was being expressed in staff meetings. Very few people said, ‘Give him a fair chance’.
It was just assumed throughout the BBC that it was a bad thing, that it was unreasonable and that Bush is mad
A senior TV and radio news presenter
“I believed he should be given a fair chance but I think that from the start both he and William Hague had a very tough time because they were working against the mindset in the BBC.”
A freelance producer adds: “Throughout the BBC there is a politically correct, pro-Labour culture, which is completely out of touch with the real world. The BBC is almost like some social democratic republic. They drink among themselves, they eat together, they sleep together, they marry each other. The BBC is a very incestuous place.”
A senior television editor reveals: “Just after the fall of Thatcher, my head of department took me to a meeting with John Birt, who at that time was vice or deputy director general. My boss asked me what we would do if Labour formed the next Government. John Birt replied: ‘Let’s hope the **** they do.’ I couldn’t believe how candid he was.”
Mr Aitken spent 25 years working for the BBC and was well thought of when at Radio Four’s Today programme.
He believes there is still much which is excellent about the broadcaster, adding: “This bedrock excellence has not been destroyed by recent scandals and it provides a solid foundation for the BBC to restore people’s trust in it.
“This will not be an automatic process but if the corporation can show it is serious about reform and about tackling long-standing complaints about its impartiality, there is the possibility it can emerge humbled but eventually triumphant. All it needs do is be true to its founding charter.”
Can We Still Trust The BBC? is published by Bloomsbury on May 23.
