BBC impartiality at risk because journalists…

[steveatesh]

“BBC impartiality at risk because journalists 'lack understanding of basic economics'

So reported in the Telegraph after a review by some economists of reporting of economic issues.

Who would have thought it? I suspect it's not just limited to the BBC….

Text includes: “The authors also identified “an occasional temptation to hype - and we think hype an is impartiality issue. We don’t want to be bored either, but see breathless stories or headlines that seem to chase excitement by slanting data or evidence."”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/30/bbc-im...

https://archive.ph/FAgsa


Edited for a rushed original submission.

Edited by steveatesh on Monday 30th January 17:40

[Al Gorithum]

Something something, pot/kettle/black, something?

[Randy Winkman]

Al Gorithum said:

Something something, pot/kettle/black, something?

I'm sure that The Torygraph never hypes. It's just the BBC that does that.

[abzmike]

Impartiality and Telegraph… not words that are usually seen together.

[Jockman]

They are all competing with social media for news audiences.

Hyping and amplifying is all part of this process.

[bitchstewie]

Financial coverage is always interesting and that includes from professional sources like Bloomberg.

The number of times stock markets "plunge" or "sell off" and you have a look and they're 2% down.

[Eric Mc]

steveatesh said:

“BBC impartiality at risk because journalists 'lack understanding of basic economics'

So reported in there Telegraph , after a review but some economists of reporting.

Who would leave thought it? I suspect not limited to their bbc either….

Text includes this “The authors also identified “an occasional temptation to hype - and we think hype an is impartiality issue. We don’t want to be bored either, but see breathless stories or headlines that seem to chase excitement by slanting data or evidence.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/30/bbc-im...

https://archive.ph/FAgsa

PH threads at risk because posters 'lack understanding of basic written English'.

[scenario8]

“In our audience research, most had no comment on impartiality on fiscal policy because they didn’t know what the stories meant.”

That’s rather damning on several levels.

“Audiences were relaxed about impartiality in drama…” (in relation to healthcare in drama as an example of non-news output relating to tax and spending).

Interesting stuff. To be honest that doesn’t strike me as remarkable as health spending appears to remain so very popular.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-6445...

[LimaDelta]

abzmike said:

Impartiality and Telegraph… not words that are usually seen together.

The Telegraph is under no obligation to be impartial, unlike the BBC. Nobody forces you to fund the Telegraph.

[oyster]

How can hype alone put impartiality at risk?

[steveatesh]

Eric Mc said:

PH threads at risk because posters 'lack understanding of basic written English'.

Yes sorry Eric, typed out in rear seat of a car whilst trying to keep an eye on my grand daughter at Same time and relying on Apple Type….. well spotted there !

[2xChevrons]

oyster said:

How can hype alone put impartiality at risk?

Because if a story is hyped up (or over-hyped) it bestows it with much more importance than a non-hyped account of the facts and context would.

There is a tendency - across the media and the BBC is no exception (but should know and do better given its unique position) - to put the most dramatic, all-important slant on any story. "Cold weather could leave millions without power" is a typical example, albeit a fairly generic one I've just made up on the spot. It implies a major national crisis, but the text of the story (under a standfirst of something like "Arctic weather expected to sweep the nation next week could leave over six million homes without electricity, experts warn") will reveal that the National Grid has done a risk analysis and if the weather is the worst predicted, and is that severe everywhere it is expected to hit, and the highest estimate for infrastructure damage occurs, and a major power station randomly trips offline, and the French can't spare any power through the cross-Channel connector...then yes, there will be a major power outage."

You can also see it in the way the press/media glomps onto stories that are desperately important within the political/media/commentariat sphere while much bigger scandals, failures, issues and stories go unreported.

[motco]

oyster said:

How can hype alone put impartiality at risk?

Rises 'skyrocket' and falls 'nosedive. Just as simple examples. Hyperbole especially when referring to a BBC bandwagon such as 'climate change'. "Sea levels ever rising" by Rowlatt on 'Today' this morning connected with seventy year old event when the east coast was flooded. Conflating sea level rise and climate change with coastal erosion. "The spring high tide" says Rowlatt when it is actually a high spring tide which happens naturally every couple of weeks making it sound like a special event. Just listen to the tone, the emphasis, the language, the vocal and facial expressions.

[Randy Winkman]

LimaDelta said:

abzmike said:

Impartiality and Telegraph… not words that are usually seen together.

The Telegraph is under no obligation to be impartial, unlike the BBC. Nobody forces you to fund the Telegraph.

But it's 2023 and the BBC competes for audiences. So it has to reflect what people expect to see.

[anonymous-user]

Al Gorithum said:

Something something, pot/kettle/black, something?

[JagLover]

Most journalists are arts graduates with little grasp of economics or basic statistical analysis and that will likely apply to the Telegraph as well as the BBC.

Edited by JagLover on Tuesday 31st January 06:33

[XCP]

LimaDelta said:

abzmike said:

Impartiality and Telegraph… not words that are usually seen together.

The Telegraph is under no obligation to be impartial, unlike the BBC. Nobody forces you to fund the Telegraph.

No body is forced to watch TV!

[LimaDelta]

XCP said:

LimaDelta said:

abzmike said:

Impartiality and Telegraph… not words that are usually seen together.

The Telegraph is under no obligation to be impartial, unlike the BBC. Nobody forces you to fund the Telegraph.

No body is forced to watch TV!

No, but many pay grudgingly, due to other factors, even if never watching the BBC. If they don't they receive regular intimidation from the authorities.

I stopped my TV licence a while back and still get emails from them.

[Blue62]

Eric Mc said:

PH threads at risk because posters 'lack understanding of basic written English'.

Frightening ain’t it?

[Randy Winkman]

LimaDelta said:

XCP said:

LimaDelta said:

abzmike said:

Impartiality and Telegraph… not words that are usually seen together.

The Telegraph is under no obligation to be impartial, unlike the BBC. Nobody forces you to fund the Telegraph.

No body is forced to watch TV!

No, but many pay grudgingly, due to other factors, even if never watching the BBC. If they don't they receive regular intimidation from the authorities.

I stopped my TV licence a while back and still get emails from them.

Yes - why get your hype from the BBC when it's freely available.