Does the BBC have a left-wing bias?

[mona]

Politically it has to try and avoid bias as part of its remit and generally does so.

Socially, however, there is a strong liberal, metropolitan bias towards feminism, the gay movement, the situation of ethnic minorities etc. etc.......particularly on R4.

 

[jakarta]

Politically it has to try and avoid bias as part of its remit and generally does so.

Socially, however, there is a strong liberal, metropolitan bias towards feminism, the gay movement, the situation of ethnic minorities etc. etc.......particularly on R4.

Having worked at (not for) the BBC at several of their sites I believe the above is the case.

You only have to listen to the News Quiz to hear it, Hardy et al. simply cannot believe that anyone could have views different to theirs without them being Neo-Nazis....

 

[SAC]

It probably has a liberal bias, it certainly doesn't have a left wing bias. The problem is that a lot of the right can't see the difference.

 

[attila]

Take it from me - no it doesn't

 

[Peteinblack]

I've always suspected that when Conservatives complain about the BBC's 'Left-wing' bias, what they are really bemoaning is that the BBC does not - thankfully - report things in the same semi-hysterical, emotive, permamently-outraged, 'shouty', manner of blatant pro-Tory papers like the Daily Mail, Daily Express and the Daily Telegraph, any of which might as well be written and published by Conservative Central Office.

 

[severnside gull]

Journalism has its roots in the liberal arts and it would be unsurprising if many who follow the profession were liberally minded. The Beeb has no multi- millionaire owners with an inherent interest in rampant capitalism and its views will therefore tend to be less adulterated than much of the press for example.
My view is that as an organisation it tends to lean slightly to the left but when it realises this it over-compensate by positively promoting opposing perspectives. Depending on timing it can be distinctly pro-right at times and during an election campaign it tends to at very least lean away from the left in order to try to avoid criticism.

Much of peoples' perceptions may be down to the criticism its neutrality attracts from the majority pro-Tory press and the ability of the Conservative party to use those utterances to promote itheir comments as an evident truth.

 

[Flex Your Head]

the Beeb is very clearly (imo) left leaning in a Liberal Democract, left of centre fashion

Are you able to provide any evidence of this 'very clear' left leaning? Does it relate to the BBC coverage of the royal family? Or their coverage of big business and industry? Or the people they choose to interview? Or what?

 

[beorhthelm]

Are you able to provide any evidence of this 'very clear' left leaning? Does it relate to the BBC coverage of the royal family? Or their coverage of big business and industry? Or the people they choose to interview? Or what?

i'll let another answer, as they did better than i probably will...

Socially, however, there is a strong liberal, metropolitan bias towards feminism, the gay movement, the situation of ethnic minorities etc. etc.......particularly on R4.

to be very clear, i make a distinction between the BBC institution and BBC News, with the former left leaning in its programming and editorialising. and I'm not even saying its a bad thing, it would be a bit bland if it didn't. commercial channels tend to still clear of alot of these matters as they are controversial and they'd rather stay on nice populist center-right territory.

 

[W.C.]

Personally I just find a lot of the BBC a little bland. Especially their web news. That said, I'd take it over a multitude of other channels and when they do things well, by god they do them well.

 

[Flex Your Head]

to be very clear, i make a distinction between the BBC institution and BBC News, with the former left leaning in its programming and editorialising. and I'm not even saying its a bad thing, it would be a bit bland if it didn't. commercial channels tend to still clear of alot of these matters as they are controversial and they'd rather stay on nice populist center-right territory.

I think that you might be confusing 'progressive' with 'left leaning'. Treating minorities with respect and equality is something which the Tories claim to do along with all the other parties, (excepting UKIP, obv.)

 

[JCL666]

Mark Steel said everything that needs to be said about this the other day:

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices...-chillaxing-in-camerons-kitchen-10137059.html

Nailed it.


For me it's really simple. Those who are liberal in their views are happy to see a balance of opinions, whereas those who are less liberal aren't.

Clue is in the word "liberal"

 

[attila]

Why should the BBC be unbiased? The Tory press aren't! A radical left BBC would go some way to bringing real democracy to the media as a counterbalance to the ludicrous right wing majority in the press. I don't accept the argument that private ownership should allow bias and public ownership exclude it.