THE REVOLTING MS FOX
>> SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2010
Fiona Fox, Ray Snoddy's interviewee on Newswatch, who is clearly a pivotal figure in setting the parameters of BBC science coverage generally and climate change in particular, has precisely the credentials the BBC looks for in its "experts" (an area of responsibility, incidentally, that Sue Inglish manages). Her degree was in meejah studies at the Polytechnic of Central London (just down the road from Broadcasting House in Portland Place). Then she cut her teeth inthe Revolutionary Communist Party; moved on to the press office of that quintissential qango, the EOC, and then joined CAFOD, a Roman Catholic Charity that has sold its soul to climate change fanaticism. From there she took up her present role as a science "expert" and now works cosily with Ceri Thomas, the editor of Today. This is all beyond parody. (h/tip Barry Wood)
Inglish Lesson
From hippiepooter in the comments comes a timely reminder, ahead of the BBC leaders' debate, that Sue Inglish, the BBC's Head of Political Programmes, is married to former Labour Party Director of Communications John Underwood. He was the man behind Progressive Policies Forum, the don't-think tank which channelled funds to Peter Hain's failed deputy leadership bid.
As hippepooter points out, the declaration of personal and family interests section of Inglish's BBC profile appears to be in a permanent state of "will be published shortly".
I wonder if it was Ms Inglish who gave the go-ahead to broadcast this week's edition of Any Questions from a school with close ties to another former Labour Director of Communications.
Attack Of The Clones
Here are the signatories to the letter defending the BBC in today's Observermentioned by David in an earlier post. It's the stuff of nightmares - cloned luvvies:
I bet the first Richard Eyre is really pissed off knowing that the second one has a knighthood.
(Hat tip Winston Smith in the comments.)
RUBBISH IN, RUBBISH OUT...
Following on from the earlier DB post, I have known Ray Snoddy, the editor of the BBC's Newswatch, for more than 25 years and I admire him as a journalist. But his decision to interview Fiona Fox - director of a body called the Science Media Centre (SMC) - to give a supposed impartial verdict on the current standards of BBC science reporting was a major mistake.
First, this harpy is not a scientist, but a camapaigning lefty journalist. Second, as I have pointed out in previous posts, the body she works for is in no sense "independent"; not least because it is run partly run by a senior BBC editor (of Today), Ceri Thomas. Further, SMC long since dropped any pretence of impartiality and all its seminars on anything to do with climate change are addressed only by warmist fanatics. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Ms Fox - although she may have picked up scientific jargon with relish - has not the faintest idea of how science works and appears to think the veracity or otherwise of scientific theories is decided by the weight of evidence.
Equally as chilling (though no surprise on this blog) was her revelation on Newswatch that Richard Black and Roger Harrabin have been campaigning hard to reduce the appearance of sceptics on BBC science items. This confirms yet again that they are political activists. Snoddy should have torn her apart for this, but he let her walk all over him, and showed not a flicker of curiosity or surprise at her fanatical, absurd responses.
It is deeply depressing, but also predictable, that it will be to bodies like the SMC and women like Fiona Fox that the BBC Trustees will turn in their current investigation of the standards of science reporting. As with Oxburgh, rubbish in, rubbish out.
STARS FOR THE BBC...
I see the luvvies have come out in defence of the State Broadcaster..
Harry Enfield, Jo Brand, Eddie Izzard (who has publicly supported the Labour Party) and former Dr Who star David Tennant are among almost 50 signatories to a letter in the Observer newspaper accusing the Tories of "attacking the BBC to serve the interests of its commercial rivals".
SPOT THE MISSING WORD...
Yes, it's that game we play all the time on B-BBC. Here is an article that has appeared on the BBC today concerning the re-opening of the Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai (Bombay). As a reader emails me, you will note that there is no mention of the fact that the "militants" were Muslims engaged in an act of Islamic Jihad. The BBC journalist who filed this report, Mr Ahmed, would appear to be a Muslim. Just a coincidence?
Newswatch on Climate Change Coverage
Thanks to Ryan for emailing me about this week's Newswatch, and apologies to Ryan for not reading his email until now. Fortunately it's all for the best asJames Delingpole has already covered it.
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