BBC news is biased... in favour of the tories.

independent research finds that the BBC has lurched to the right since between 2007 and 2012 while ITV and channel 4 show no similar pattern.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/opinion/extract-how-the-bbc-leans-to-the-right-9129608.html

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1

MatureStudent36

Original post by Joinedup

Lurched to the right from its left leaning stance?

Hopefully its more neutral now.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/nov/03/bbc-left-right-poll

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/10235967/BBC-is-biased-toward-the-left-study-finds.html

Reply 2

Inazuma

It's blowing my mind how there is an article by a leftie paper claiming that their rival leftie paper is turning right!

Reply 3

MatureStudent36

Original post by marinaim

It's blowing my mind how there is an article by a leftie paper claiming that their rival leftie paper is turning right!

Falling sales. The papers are starting to turn on each other now in order to steal each others readership.

Reply 4

Inazuma

Original post by MatureStudent36

Falling sales. The papers are starting to turn on each other now in order to steal each others readership.

That's what I thought when I read this - will not believe that being written by a politically rival newspaper :tongue:

Reply 5

redferry

Original post by marinaim

It's blowing my mind how there is an article by a leftie paper claiming that their rival leftie paper is turning right!

How in hells name is a paper that has columns by nigel farage and Janet street porter lefty???

Independent. Clues in the name.

Also the report was not done by the independent it was by an independent body at Cardiff uni.

Reply 6

Inazuma

Original post by redferry

It's definitely more left though; it's not associated with any one party yes hence independent, it's still left though.

Reply 7

anayan

Original post by redferry

The independent is left of center, it regularly features socialist columnists such as Owen Jones ( socialism isn't even in the political mainstream).

The name means nothing don't be so stupid.

Reply 8

redferry

Original post by marinaim

It's definitely more left though; it's not associated with any one party yes hence independent, it's still left though.

Sad as it is I actually keep a tally of left wing right wing articles in the independent and it is pretty balanced. The only thing that tips it is it is pro environment so falls on the left because the right are anti environmental.

Reply 9

redferry

Original post by anayan

The independent is left of center, it regularly features socialist columnists such as Owen Jones ( socialism isn't even in the political mainstream).

The name means nothing don't be so stupid.

And also has regular columns by Nigel farage, Janet street porter, Melanie Phillips, among others.

Reply 10

username1022139

And you acquired that information from the Independent - who famously lean leftwards?

Reply 11

anayan

Original post by redferry

And also has regular columns by Nigel garage, Janet street porter, Melanie Phillips, among others.

When the paper was established in 1986, the founders intended its political stance to reflect the centre of the British political spectrum and thought that it would take readers primarily from The Times and The Daily Telegraph. It is now seen as leaning to the left, making it more a competitor to The Guardian, though like its rival, it also features conservative columnists. The Independent tends to take a classical liberal, pro-market, stance on economic issues.^[5] In an editorial on 27 January 2013, the Independent on Sunday referred to itself as a "proudly liberal newspaper".^[28]
An Ipsos MORI poll estimated that in the 2010 general election, 44% of regular readers voted Liberal Democrat, 32% voted Labour,^[29] and 14% voted Conservative.^[30] On the eve of the 2010 general election, The Independent supported the Liberal Democrats, arguing that "they are longstanding and convincing champions of civil liberties, sound economics, international co-operation on the great global challenges and, of course, fundamental electoral reform. These are all principles that this newspaper has long held dear. That is why we argue that there is a strong case for progressively minded voters to lend their support to the Liberal Democrats wherever there is a clear opportunity for that party to win."^[31] A leader published on the day of the 2008 London Mayoral election, compared the candidates and said that, if the newspaper had a vote, it would vote first for the Green Party candidate, Sian Berry, noting the similarity between her priorities and those of The Independent, and secondly, with "rather heavy heart", for the then incumbent, Ken Livingstone.^[32]
The paper took a strong editorial position against the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, the Iraq War, and aspects of US and UK foreign policy related to the War on Terrorism following the 11 September attacks. It has been a strong supporter ofelectoral reform.^[31] The paper has also taken strong positions on environmental issues, campaigned against the introduction of ID cards, and campaigned against the restriction of mass immigration to the UK. In 1997, The Independent on Sunday launched a campaign for the decriminalisation of cannabis. 10 years later, it reversed itself, stating that the cannabis strain skunk "smoked by the majority of young Britons" in 2007 had become "25 times stronger than resinsold a decade ago."^[33] In addition, The Independent has highlighted what it refers to as "war crimes" being committed by pro-government forces in the Darfur region of Sudan.^[34]
Originally it avoided royal stories, Whittam Smith later saying he thought the British press was "unduly besotted" with the Royal Family and that a newspaper could "manage without" stories that focused on the monarchy.^[35]
In 2007, Alan Rusbridger, editor of The Guardian, said of The Independent: "The emphasis on views, not news, means that the reporting is rather thin, and it loses impact on the front page the more you do that."^[36] In a 12 June 2007 speech British Prime Minister Tony Blair called The Independent a "viewspaper", saying it "was started as an antidote to the idea of journalism as views not news. That was why it was called the Independent. Today it is avowedly a viewspaper not merely a newspaper".^[37] The Independent criticised Blair's comments the following day.^[38]^[39] The newspaper has since ironically changed format to include a 'Viewspaper' insert in the centre of the regular newspaper, designed to feature most of the opinion columns and arts reviews. In the 1990s, satirical magazine Private Eye frequently referred to The Independent as The Indescribablyboring.^[40]

"

Reply 12

AspiringMedic8

Original post by Joinedup

If it has lurched to the right, it's still left wing, you can't deny that. It's not conservative in any way possible. Listen to "Women's Hour" for a start.

Reply 13

redferry

Original post by jake4198

And you acquired that information from the Independent - who famously lean leftwards?

Someone didn't bother to read the article. The original report is from an independent body at Cardiff uni.

Why are the public so stupid? Look at the facts not the media reporting for gods sake.

Reply 14

username1022139

Original post by redferry

Someone didn't bother to read the article. The original report is from an independent body at Cardiff uni.

Why are the public so stupid? Look at the facts not the media reporting for gods sake.

I think you need to calm yourself down firstly. But even so, I acknowledged the data was attained from an independent body, but those whom are reporting it are renowned for their constant left-wing stories and support towards the likes of Labour. In many regards, the Independent reporting news bias is hypocritical - that was my point; the independent have no right to call anyone bias.

But to bring my point back to question, I think it's difficult for a news team to reiterate a point without sometimes coming across left or right. I prefer it when the correspondents show their own opinion - it isn't exactly extreme and it often reflects public opinion.

Reply 15

redferry

Original post by jake4198

I prefer it when the public actually bother to read into things and make up their own mind rather that dismissing things off the back of their political message

Alas independent thought seems to be frowned upon among young people today.

Reply 16

username1022139

Original post by redferry

In my own opinion; I think this is just the problem with modern media in society. They're so limited to what they can report on or what they can say because the likes of the Independent and study groups who criticise them for leaning towards one end of the political spectrum.

The BBC news should be able to report on what they like and the correspondents or people reporting on them should be able to voice their own opinion if it's civil and not extreme - what's wrong with that? The wrongness stems from society.

Reply 17

redferry

Original post by jake4198

BBC news is the worst. They are so anti science it is unreal.

Reply 18

anayan

Original post by redferry

Young people that I know rush out to the printing presses to grab their copy of the independent.

Does your personal anecdote trump mine or does mine trump yours?

Reply 19

redferry

Original post by anayan

Young people that I know rush out to the printing presses to grab their copy of the independent.

Does your personal anecdote trump mine or does mine trump yours?

You just have to look at public perception v reality on topics such as climate change and benefit distribution to know the public swallows whatever the media says without thought or reason