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Original poster

Media imbalance log

16 replies

Pratchet · 04/07/2018 08:05

Anyone up for contributing, logging coverage and registering complaints? Would mean counting the minutes and seconds of GC and TRA coverage with names and titles on the BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel Four. For example this week the BBC had the Pink News spokesman Ben Cohen on twice pushing the pro self ID viewpoint with no balance. That was Newsnight and Sunday Politics. Yesterday the BBC News Channel had Paris Lees with no opposing voice.

The reasoning (for those three) will be that it to discuss the LGBT anti-discrimination plan: however they used the opportunity to discuss the GRA unopposed. We count the minutes they talked about the FRA unopposed.

Who is up for this? Anyone good at spreadsheets?

OP posts:
Original poster
Pratchet · 04/07/2018 08:07

Likewise Nic Williams was on Today with Helen Belcher. Who got the most time, who got the first and last word. Sunday Politics: jane fae in the film seemed to get more time than Man Friday - needs timing.

Let's do it.

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Original poster
Pratchet · 04/07/2018 08:14

Oh wow the whole Cictoria Derbyshire thing. Starting on last Sunday, the week of the announcement.

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RogerAllamsFangirl · 04/07/2018 08:15

TBH, I'm not sure what this would achieve. Groups are always accusing the media of bias. What counts now is getting our point across. If the record could be sent to someone like Ofcom and it would make a practical difference before the consultation ends then it might be worth it, but otherwise it feels like quite a lot of time resource that might be better used elsewhere.

Sorry, hope this isn't coming across as dismissive, it isn't meant like that, I just think we need to focus resources where we can make most difference.

Original poster
Pratchet · 04/07/2018 08:20

Not at all dismissive, it's good to hear a different point of view.

The point would be to put them on notice that they are being watched, and to provide weekly data that will eventually be sent to Ofcom. Sometimes they aren't aware of their own behaviour tbh. It's not all deliberate.

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Tanith · 04/07/2018 11:41

It makes a great deal of difference.

At one time, we childminders were contacting the media every single time they poorly or wrongly represented us. I’m sure we irritated a good few journalists.

It worked, though, if only to shut us up! Smile

Why do you think they are so careful about not offending the trans community? It’s not just the money, it’s because media outlets know they’ll be getting endless complaints otherwise.

If you don’t complain, they’ll assume you’re fine with it.

UglyCathKidstonBag · 04/07/2018 11:50

I’ve contacted The Wright Stuff today.
When it came to the viewer discussion portion of their debate surrounding gender recognition they spoke to one trans person (who to be fair questioned how it work and why) and then when a non-trans person spoke the panellist called Scott spoke over everyone. He was also incredibly aggressive to a doctor named Dawn (who presented some very well thought out thoughts on keeping a medical presence in gender recognition) on the same topic.
Opposing views were shut down with his screaming.

R0wantrees · 04/07/2018 13:05

Its worth relistening to the R4 World at One segment yesterday. There are a lot of complaints about it on twitter by some TRAs. I'm not sure that their assertions about transphobia stand up. In fact, my impression was that the majority of voices represented a very TRA position.

Interesting also to consider the sex balance.

Original poster
Pratchet · 04/07/2018 13:20

Thanks. This will be a job.

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R0wantrees · 04/07/2018 13:47

See Erishgil's post on current thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/a3296433-BBC-Bias-Collecting-Examples-here?msgid=79159455#79159455

"I reported the Sunday Politics show for bias for PN editor being allowed free rein with no balance from GC people.

I got back a condescending letter.
We aim to achieve due impartiality over a period of time and across our coverage; it’s not the case that every interviewee must appear alongside a contributor with the opposite viewpoint."

Tanith · 04/07/2018 14:25

That’s the sort of thing we’d get, too.

You have to persevere. It’s daunting and it seems like a waste of time, but they do eventually see your point if you keep going, particularly if a lot of people are doing it.

FloralBunting · 04/07/2018 14:34

I think it was ITV last night, introduced a brief interview with the Prime Minister on the LGBT survey released yesterday, with the words that it questioned 'Gay, Bisexual and Trans people'. Not even a beat dropped as the L was left out of acknowledgement.

UglyCathKidstonBag · 04/07/2018 14:36

Floral was that ITN news?

FloralBunting · 04/07/2018 15:13

UglyCathKidstonBag I think so. It was rather late, and I think it was on after the football. Tbh, I was reasonably impressed with the interview itself which actually brought up the issue of women's thoughts on the matter. The ''GBT" thing was in the intro. Tbh, I'm kind of hoping I misheard...

R0wantrees · 04/07/2018 15:21

Today's article by JAmes Kirkup:
blogs.spectator.co.uk/2018/07/labour-and-tories-finally-see-the-truth-about-the-gender-debate/

BadasIwannaB · 06/07/2018 10:38

Thought this might be relevant here too:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3298579-AIBU-to-think-this-is-propaganda

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