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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the BBC are showing a clear labour bias?

196 replies

blaeberry · 01/06/2017 01:09

I am basing this mostly on their news webpage. Over the last two weeks Corbyn has been smiling, looking benevolent, or standing at a podium on the BBC news home page nearly every day. Each time the headline has been pretty positive 'labour announce that' type thing. In contrast, May has been almost completely absent and Tory headlines have been negative 'Tories shown to be wrong'. I noticed this a few weeks ago so have been screen shot-ting a couple of times a day for the last two weeks (yes a bit mad I know). I have noticed a similar trend with the Radio 4 headlines though haven't been able to check that one. The question time audience last week was unquestionably partisan.

I did wonder if the Tories had hidden May or just decided not to bother campaigning but even then I thought the BBC were meant to be impartial?

OP posts:
gamerwidow · 01/06/2017 10:21

TM has been missing from the news because she has been largely missing from the campaigning using the excuse that she is too busy with Brexit negotiations. If the Brexit negotiations are so important that she can't be distracted from them even to campaign you do wonder what made her call the bloody election in the first place!

Original poster
blaeberry · 01/06/2017 10:22

Ok, looking back through my screenshots of the BBC website home page (so what appears on my iPad when I click on the link, no scrolling). I took a shot each time I looked at the website regardless of news over the last 14 days giving me a sample size of 26 screen shots. Politicians appeared in the photos with the following frequencies:

Jeremy Corbyn - 20
Dianne Abbot - 5
Theresa May - 5
Nicola Sturgeon - 4
Amber Rudd - 2

I think this is a clearer measure of bias of coverage than analysing text as it does not require any judgement on content which would be affected by my opinion. Quite clearly Jeremy Corbyn is getting significantly more coverage (there were no other political party announcements amongst the other items). Corbyn was the 'main item' on one occasion, May was never the 'main item'.

OP posts:
gamerwidow · 01/06/2017 10:30

I don't think you can go by pictures not words. If those pictures of Jeremy Corbyn and Dianne Abbot were accompanying articles deriding their numeracy after failing to get the numbers right for their policies for example then they can hardly be left wing bias
.

gamerwidow · 01/06/2017 10:35

Fwiw I'm a labour supporter and although I haven't agreed with all of the BBCs coverage I think they are generally fair.

Original poster
blaeberry · 01/06/2017 10:43

This post-dates Abbotts awful radio interview. These photos were mostly accompanied by 'I have different hair and different views'. There were a couple 'Corbyn struggles over childcare costs' but even then it is flagging up Labour's childcare policy so not entirely negative. ALL the photos of May were a split photo with Corbyn one side and May the other. There were none of May on her own. The coverage of May simply isn't there.

OP posts:
waitforitfdear · 01/06/2017 10:53

Agree with cave as both sides are claiming bias it shows the Beeb have got the balance right.

20nil · 01/06/2017 10:55

You can't seriously think that your random screen shots constitute any kind of serious evidence, can you?

Lweji · 01/06/2017 11:01

Have you compared it to more right-wing media?

Has May actually shown up at all? Should the BBC not show Corbyn because May is keeping away from the public eye?

Should the BBC seek to look for scraps of things Labour is wrong about just because the Tories are wrong about something?

Shouldn't they announce what Labour proposes if the Tories aren't proposing anything?

What is your definition of impartiality?

Orlantina · 01/06/2017 11:06

And when Corbyn appeared, what was the story about?

Positive or negative?

There were a couple 'Corbyn struggles over childcare costs' but even then it is flagging up Labour's childcare policy so not entirely negative

So having a go at Corbyn?

You do know the Conservative's policy is not to talk about policies but to talk down Corbyn?

Lweji · 01/06/2017 11:15

Maybe the BBC could run a story about where Corbyn went and what he said. Say for 2 min.
Then have the same time for May. They could have footage of the Nº 10 Downing Street door for the same 2 min.

Would that work?

lanouvelleheloise · 01/06/2017 11:17

Are you having a fucking laugh? The BBC are neoliberal to their core.

Lweji · 01/06/2017 11:31

Are you Boris Johnson, OP?

And this is from The Telegraph:

Boris Johnson blasts BBC over Left-wing bias at debate as poll shows Labour just three points behind Tories

Ahhhhh...
General Election 2017: Tory lead 'down to just three points' as Theresa May battles to boost ratings after debate no-show

Theresa May criticised by opposition party leaders for failing to take part

Well...

rollonthesummer · 01/06/2017 11:37

OP-from your 'research'-did you tally how many of each of those screen shots of the leaders were positive or negative reports?

Orlantina · 01/06/2017 11:39

Also - if Theresa May does something negative, is it reported?

We see what we want to see. Except with John Humphries as he is clearly biased when interviewing.

trixymalixy · 01/06/2017 12:03

What cavemum and pseudobadger both said. This thread is ridiculous.

MaisyPops · 01/06/2017 12:09

It's not ridiculous.

Overall, I don't believe the BBC is biased either way.

But it is telling that different shows/news reports have very different slants.

E.g. radio 4 news at 10 the other day sounded very much 'repeat Theresa May's soundbites and laugh at Corbyn' and yet radio 1 news beat it seems to talk about Corbyn's policies more.

Overall it's balanced but if I only listened to radio 4s 10 o clock news I could easily be under the impression of being biased to conservatives.

Original poster
blaeberry · 01/06/2017 12:33

Of course random screen shots are evidence - next you will be telling me newspaper front pages are not evidence of their content either!

It doesn't matter whether the articles are for or against Corbyn there is definitely a bias towards reporting on Corbyn which means he gets to lead the argument. May and her policies are just not being reported on. They shouldn't just report on Corbyn because they think he is more 'interesting'. I want to know what the Tories think is a good idea and why from them. I want them to show any flaws in Corbyn's policies. And I want Corbyn to respond to their policies properly. This can't happen if the BBC fail to cover May. (FWIW I already have my postal vote but can't decide; it is a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea).

OP posts:
Lweji · 01/06/2017 12:36

Because they are not presenting policies and May is shying away from the public eye and debates, FFS.

Lweji · 01/06/2017 12:36

Maybe the BBC could invade her house to make her speak out?

Orlantina · 01/06/2017 12:50

May and her policies are just not being reported on

She has only one policy. Look, Corbyn, do you really want him in charge?

StormTreader · 01/06/2017 12:56

"It doesn't matter whether the articles are for or against Corbyn there is definitely a bias towards reporting on Corbyn which means he gets to lead the argument."

Absolute rubbish. Theres been more reporting on Corbyn because theyve been slating him the entire time, constant articles on "haha look at this loser, heres why we're telling you hes unelectable" are not a pro-labour bias.

Morphene · 01/06/2017 12:59

Have you actually listened to what is being said though? The BBC could not have been MORE biased against Corbyn from the get go.

I am no labour supporter but the absolute non stop Corbyn bashing of the last 18 months could not have been more obvious.

rollonthesummer · 01/06/2017 15:16

It doesn't matter whether the articles are for or against Corbyn

Codswallop.

If you constantly criticise someone that isn't biased towards them!

PortiaCastis · 01/06/2017 15:18

The bbc have been attacking JC for months that is blantantly obvious

birdsdestiny · 01/06/2017 15:25

I loathe May , and I loathe Corbyn, on the other hand I think we are incredibly fortunate to have the BBC. Perhaps we could have another referendum - who would you like to disappear May, Corbyn or the BBC.