The BBC isn't that biased, it's just in a difficult position

[Echobelly]

I know the BBC isn’t perfect but I do think there’s a degree of confirmation bias in some people’s insistence that it’s determinedly backing the Tory government. Sure, if you look for things that could look like bias you’ll find them, but the Beeb is not a right wing institution as a whole. I think sometimes people forget the BBC is a public body, not social media – it can’t go lambasting anyone much as you might like it to. As it is, I don’t think the BBC has hidden the government’s failings with things like poverty, foodbanks, and Grenfell; the news website shared a prominent legal tweeter’s comment that Boris had basically copied one of his own threads and claimed it for his own. You could hardly call it a propaganda wing of the government, as some have been.

It can certainly miss the mark and I am furious they gave so much time and space to worthless toad Farage in the run-up to Brexit, presumably as he got good viewing figures, which may have contributed to Leave’s win. But then, of course, if they hadn’t included him, they would have been accused of being biased against Leave. I think the Beeb is often in a no-win situation with regards to neutrality.

Russian trolls and their ilk must be loving the British public rejecting the BBC – I’m sure they’d much rather we trust other sources. So AIBU for suggesting the BBC is trying to strike a balance, but is between a rock and a hard place?

Ive defended it for a long time, and im not a corbyn fan but Im certainly starting to think recenty.

Along with their 'editorial mistakes' theres Kuensberg.

The thing about QT and giving Farage so much airtime is weird.

But Tories think they're left-wing and Labour think they're right-wing, so they can't be doing things that badly.

I guess they are also mindful of the licence fee being reviewed, so suck up to whoever the government is.

If you listen to Today on Radio 4 it doesn't come across to me as being particularly Tory-supporting.

And programmes as different as Countryfile and Dr Who are pretty "right on".

I think the more passionate (extreme) right and left wings both think the Beeb is bias in favour of the other side.
As for Farage- like or loath him he helped bring about Brexit, the idea that he shouldnt get air time is bizarre to me.

I've always considered the BBC more left-leaning.

The thing about QT and giving Farage so much airtime is weird

Like him or loathe him, Farage had a fair impact on the original Brexit referendum and remains the leader of a legitimate political party and, as such, is entitled to as much of a platform as the others (doesn't mean you have to like or agree with him).

They don’t help themselves though. As Patroclus said editorial mistakes & LK can make it easy to see an agenda, even if there isn’t one. It’s worth remembering they were accused of exactly the same bias during the Blair years too.

It's suspect though that all these 'mistakes' favour Johnson and the Tories.
I do wonder if Corbyn had turned up at the Cenotaph looking a bit dishevelled, would BBC news have 'accidentally' shown a previous year's footage where he looked more presentable? Or would they, as I suspect, have gone to town on the showing disrespect angle?

I don't know OP. You may be right and my view of the BBC may be a bit jaundiced.

My DH is convinced that they are favouring Labour.

Why Farage gets so much airtime is a mystery - but then maybe he is the clown in the Shakespearean tragedy of current UK politics.

I believe you can tell how left or right leaning someone's politics are by whether they think the BBC has a left wing or a right wing bias, and how strongly they complain about it. I think editorially they generally manage to keep pretty neutral; for every story or commentary that might "favour" left or right political parties there will be another story favouring the other lot.

If you read right wing media (for example, the DM comments sections) then the BBC is a mouthpiece of the left.

If you read left wing media (e.g. much of my twitter feed at the moment) then the BBC is in bed with the Tories.

IMO if they're pissing both sides off then they're probably being pretty neutral.

One of their journalists referred to the PM as "Boris" on TV this morning. The BBC have been pulled up on this before. They need to refer to him by his full name or it sounds too cosy and "matey"

I've seen a number of mistakes and reporting biases from them, I've yet to see one that is incorrect in JC's favour whereas I have seen a number in BJ's favour.

Show me some of their mistakes that put JC in a good light and I'll reconsider my current opinion that they are biased.

Echoing some of the comments here, as a Jewish person I've always felt that fact that everyone thinks the BBC's coverage of Israel/Palestine is either too friendly to Israel or too pro-Palestinian is a good sign.

In my social media bubble everyone thinks it's too Tory-positive, but as others have said, I'm sure in other bubbles they think it's far too matey to Corbyn.

I do feel like they, along with the rest of the press, hammer Corbyn on anti-semitism a lot more than they do Boris with his history of racist comments.

Not that Corbyn doesn't deserve the criticism, it just doesn't seem even-handed.

When people say the beeb is biased what theyre actually saying is I dont see my views reflected and thats not the same.

Like him or loathe him, Farage had a fair impact on the original Brexit referendum

The inordinate amount of media exposure he received is why he had an impact though.

Johnson's still running scared. Coward and liar.

I do wonder if Corbyn had turned up at the Cenotaph looking a bit dishevelled, would BBC news have 'accidentally' shown a previous year's footage where he looked more presentable? Or would they, as I suspect, have gone to town on the showing disrespect angle?

Yes, I think we all know the answer to that one!

The tories and labour have had very different campaign strategies - or so it seems to me.

BJ has toured the country saying ‘Get Brexit Done’ over and over again. There is very little ‘substance’ so little to critique. Their ‘playing’ with numbers - 50,000 nurses and biggest NHS cash injection - has been rightfully called out and criticised by the BBC. Unfortunately, there is little hard data to criticise.

Labour have released a ‘manifesto for something’ every couple of days. There has been a new ‘offer’ every week - first it was Broadband, then WASPI women, then rail fares. This week we had the £6,700 an ‘average’ family would save and 20,000 new teachers. Again, financial analysis finds that the figures don’t add up and the BBC have called them on it.

Put simply, there is a lot more to criticise with Labour because their manifesto pledges come thick and fast.

My issue with the BBC is the failure to tackle outright lies and smears. They just smile and nod. Like the presenter of Today on R4 this morning who, when M Gove claimed labour would fix a referendum to ensure remain won, did not take the opportunity to point out that it was in fact Vote Leave, which he himself fronted, that's been in trouble with the electoral commission. Open goal, totally missed opportunity. Instead the smear against labour is left unchallenged.

And no, I'm not a labour voter.

All sides seem to be accusing the BBC of bias against them.

That suggests they're doing something right

My mum wont watch bbc news now as she says it's Corbyn biased.

Andrew Neil has more guts than our excuse fora Prime Minister will ever have in a million years.

Indeed he has. Here he is being Brave in a vest.

I’m mainly going on R4 here, but also think the BBC is in a difficult position and both sides seem to think they’re biased in favour of the other. I don’t really regard any media source as impartial.

@Saucery i feel a bit bad bout that picture now. I remember when Private Eye first taunted it with him, it was literally decades ago, yet he’s doggedly plodded on, doing his job with more impartiality than most journalists and is still here. Feels a bit grubby.