By PAUL REVOIR BBC chief Mark Thompson: Nervous about tackling sensitive issues BBC coverage of issues such as immigration and Europe had been weak in the past, admitted the corporation’s Director General Mark Thompson. He confessed the BBC had been nervous about tackling issues regarded as sensitive. But he claimed the broadcaster had corrected that position and forced reluctant politicians to address the matter of immigration during this year’s General Election. He admitted it should not be the corporation’s role to start ‘censoring the public debate’ and said the BBC would give space for ‘extreme and radical perspectives’. His admission comes only a few months after he accepted the corporation had been guilty of a ‘massive’ Left-wing bias. His latest comments – made during a speech at the Institute for Government on Thursday night – follow a 2007 BBC Trust report which suggested news coverage had sidestepped immigration and Europe. Mr Thompson said: ‘The BBC doesn’t always get it right. I think there are some areas, immigration, business and Europe where the BBC has historically been rather weak and rather nervous about letting that entire debate happen. ‘We have made some progress there but I think there are more areas where we can make progress.’ He also admitted that the public debate changes over time. He said: ‘Views which start off as extreme can become the prevailing view inside five years.’ He also said that impartial broadcasting fails when it excludes extreme views that have enough electoral support to have an influence on the national debate, such as the BNP. He said the BBC had made improvements in covering previously difficult areas. He said: ‘I can point to areas – business, Europe, immigration – where I believe we’ve made strides towards better impartiality in recent years, but the work is never done.’ The corporation chief also said new channels should be allowed to abandon tough impartiality rules. This could see new TV news operators allowed to back tougher immigration controls or call for Britain to pull out of Europe. Mr Thompson’s idea effectively provides support for the UK having its own version of Fox News, the Right-wing U.S. news channel credited with launching the anti-government Tea Party movement in America. He said: ‘Why shouldn’t the public be able to see and hear, as well as read, a range of opinionated journalism and then make up their own mind?’ The Director-General said the BBC would thrive in an environment of competing voices because it would be seen as a beacon of impartial journalism. The BBC Trust’s independent report in 2007 into impartiality found the corporation had self-censored subjects it found unpalatable.Our coverage on immigration and Europe was weak, admits BBC Director General
Last updated at 10:20 PM on 17th December 2010
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Posts
