The BBC’s outgoing head of news has told LGBT staff they “have to get used to” hearing things “they do not personally like”.

[ChristinaXYZ]

From The Telegraph - looks like there is an attempt by BBC management to assert the corporations duty to report all sides:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/11/14/get-used-hearing-things-dont-like-bbc-news-chief-tells-gay-trans

Apparently:

"In an “extremely hostile” Zoom meeting with the corporation’s Pride network, Frans Unsworth allegedly told employees last Friday they must get used to hearing opinions they disagreed with."

and also:

"Two sources present at the meeting claimed Ms Unsworth,63, said: “You’ll hear things you don’t personally like and see things you don’t like, that’s what the BBC is, and you have to get used to that.”

Ms Unsworth, who is due to leave her position in January, added: “These are the stories we tell. We can’t walk away from the conversation.”

A BBC journalist at the meeting said: “Fran was totally calm but determined about it. was totally calm but determined about it.

“She was reacting to questions from the network that implied people shouldn’t come across views they disliked. To me, it felt like she was having to explain journalism to idiots.” "

The article goes on further to note:

"Meanwhile, Tim Davie, the BBC’s director-general, has attempted to reassure staff over the corporation’s recent departure from Stonewall’s diversity champion scheme and that he was concerned about LGBT inclusivity.

However, Mr Davies was reportedly told by a member of staff that he was not in a position to make decisions on the issue “because he’s not trans”, while another claimed the BBC was “institutionally transphobic”."

I wonder if the rubber suit man at the NSPCC was being his “authentic self”? I’m not sure I want men people to feel confident bringing their whole self to work if so.

@Isthatthebestyoucando

Good. They should go apply to pink news if the have a problem with journalism.

Lolll burn

'Authentic self'.

Oh my God, I'd love to be that at work and there be no consequences.

I'd be able to tell anyone who was a fucking waste of space who didn't actually know how to do their own job, to do one.
I'd be able to tell creepy lecherous fuckers to drop dead and leave me alone.
I'd be able to tell the idiot 'on a diet' who has breakfast in the office, followed by mid morning butty from the van, followed by lunch, followed by office cake in the afternoon, followed by dinner and god knows what evening delights, why her diet might not be working.
And the ability to tell my boss, what a complete knobber they are.... I

@TalkingtoLangClegintheDark

A quote from that hilarious Ben Hunte piece:

”I know about eight trans people that left the organisation in the past 12 months because they don’t believe that the BBC is impartial anymore”

I mean, “impartial” isn’t really a synonym for “massively biased in favour of TRA ideology”, is it now? And these people think they’re journalists?

Seems like absolutely terrific news to me if there really is a mass exodus from the BBC of adherents of a profoundly misogynistic, reality-denying ideology. The institution will be infinitely healthier without them.

I wonder how they’ll get on in the real world. I suppose there’s always Vice.

I'm sure the BBC, who are currently considerably above their target for LGBT staff, won't worry. In terms of diversity, there's an overpresentation of trans people at the BBC compared to the population at as a whole. There is an irony in this when arguing about oppression. Just who is underrepresented at the BBC again?

It may even result in lesbians (y'know the ones who cant be their true authentic self in the workplace or on dating apps due to being harassed by males) at the BBC coming out of the closet too...

If I was my authentic self at work I'd work a couple of days a week and take the pay for five!

I'm not surprised by this article. My contact in the journalism and media department of the nearest Russell Group university has been trying to raise concern for years at the flat-out refusal by many of their students to observe the basics of impartiality and fact-checking.

@Shedbuilder

If I was my authentic self at work I'd work a couple of days a week and take the pay for five!

I'm not surprised by this article. My contact in the journalism and media department of the nearest Russell Group university has been trying to raise concern for years at the flat-out refusal by many of their students to observe the basics of impartiality and fact-checking.

Why are they all being passed and unleashed on the BBC unsuspecting public?

@WalkOnGildedSplinters

I wonder if the rubber suit man at the NSPCC was being his “authentic self”? I’m not sure I want men people to feel confident bringing their whole self to work if so.

Well exactly

Absolutely, RedToothBrush.

"I'd be able to tell anyone who was a fucking waste of space who didn't actually know how to do their own job, to do one."
I was an inch away from doing this today, instead I threatened to bang my own head against our lovely interior brick wall. out loud.
My workplace are not so inclusive of frustrated single parents who have been passed over for promotion time and again beacause of their single parent status. which is actually sex discrimination as most single parents are women.

I'm find this baffling. I hear things I 'do not personally like' every single day. I simply ignore, move on, scroll by.

The sheer narcissistic entitlement that seems to be embedded in the ego of people like these BBC employees is amazing.

How have we got to a point where there is a tranche of society so fragile and lacking in resilience, yet so aggressive and demanding?

Im also working class. not many orgs seem too bothered about including people like me.
There is a lot to do.regarding inclusivity and fair representation in this country.
the fact that the bbc had 4%trans employees shows they are over represented per population.
how do black people, disabled people, lesbians, working class, people from deprived backgrounds feature?
the inclusivity pot of gold might actually be at the end of the rainbow.

I honestly don't know why they even bother with the other letters anymore, because non of it has anything to do with the L,G or B.
It's only about the T. The emotionally fragile, who need to be protected

It's all just emotional blackmail.

"How have we got to a point where there is a tranche of society so fragile and lacking in resilience, yet so aggressive and demanding?"
This is the description for "spoilt brats".
maybe we are to blame for being helicopter parents, over protective and over controlling of our children's time. .
or maybe there were always dicks like this but now they've got degrees and a platform??

^You know, there's something here that makes me think these people have no concept of the economic self. It is as though they believe their employers are hiring them as a total phenomenon, rather than just a set of skills or a body of knowledge.

There's a lot of interesting things to unpick here: the influence of the rise of the "celebrity personality brand" in popular culture, for example.

It's all very "my job is me and I am my job" somehow.^

Agreed. We’re being sold the idea that you should be ‘a personal brand’ as if you are some sort of walking Facebook post with all your opinions and experiences plastered across your face. It’s one step away from having a ‘like’ button on your chest.

@PanicPrevention

"How have we got to a point where there is a tranche of society so fragile and lacking in resilience, yet so aggressive and demanding?" This is the description for "spoilt brats". maybe we are to blame for being helicopter parents, over protective and over controlling of our children's time. . or maybe there were always dicks like this but now they've got degrees and a platform??

This in bucket loads.

The only BBC journalist I know personally is the person who sent me hurtling to to the peak! I tell you there is nothing like seeing a black lesbian being admonished by a straight white man for not acknowledging her privilege and her apologising to make you take a long hard look at the whole thing.

Not to harp on or derail the thread but as a working class single parent I am interested in inclusion in employment and it does frustrate me somewhat that nobody from head office hr or ppl ive worked with for years seem to wonder why im stuck.
I'm a good value for money employee, hardly ever sick, one kid hardly ever sick, he's actually off school with covid now and ive only missed one day of work for 10 day isolation.
maybe if i identify as nb i might get ny promotion?

So, employers are supposed to feel they have the best people for their roles after those employees resort to using emotional manipulation to get what they want? To the point of crying? Not through rationally laying out their needs and negotiating outcomes when those needs conflict others needs. Just crying because their needs are to be prioritised. Like children.

"However, Mr Davies was reportedly told by a member of staff that he was not in a position to make decisions on the issue “because he’s not trans”, while another claimed the BBC was “institutionally transphobic”."

They have pushed the term to the point where it means nothing. I am transphobic according to a friend because I, a bloke, wouldn't have sex with a transwoman with a penis. If that's the level of the bar then the term means nothing and I am more than happy to be called transphobic.

I agree Childrenofthestones. Transportation has become meaningless except as a fall back term of abuse.

Should read "Transphobia " damn autocorrect!

@Youdonthavetobegood

I used to work at the BBC. Its hard to understand from the outside, but it really is like a big sixth form common room. Everyone is young, even if their not, and all feel duty-bound to tell everyone exactly what they're feeling, lest they appear inauthentic. Feeling 'unsafe' is the criticism du jour. In fact, I can't imagine any other workplace pandering so much to the various pyschodramas. It's really hard to imagine how exactly they feel unsafe. Working anywhere else, they would be given short shrift, or told to leave the drama at home

I worked at BBC News for a long time and don’t recognise this at all. In fact I would go so far as to say that this attitude would get you laughed out of the newsroom. The BBC is massive - were you in Programmes?

Who the hell is able to be their "authentic self" in the workplace?

My authentic self likes to sleep all morning, swear a lot and smoke. Pretty sure I’d be sacked if I rocked up to school at 2pm, cigarette in hand, and told my year 9 class to fuck off.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/b6dbb888-458a-11ec-9969-911e63457092?shareToken=059aabbd3a266519e39e1bfcead59769

It’s the gift that keeps on giving. The style guide really need to go.and it’s great to hear that actual journalists are now being able to come forward. Emma Barnett was just the start.

If 8 trans people did leave the BBC in the last 12 months it is not exactly a ringing endorsement for Stonewall.