BBC NEWS
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Can you trust it? Is it impartial? Is it worth the money? At the moment no, no and NO.
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Seems the only recently appointed Director General agrees: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/bbc-chief-quits-shoddy-journalism-failures-002050657.html Personally I've seen news standards slip with the sense of urgency leaning towards accepting local gossip and speculation rather than waiting official statements. More often these days I'm hearing phrases such as: "The victim's name has not yet been officially announced - but has been named locally as ..........." Only today, reporting the resignation of General Petraeus: "His affair with an unnamed woman - but widely reported to be this woman........" - cut to video of attractive woman - naming her and her professional relationship to the general. And don't get me started on treble dip publicity of political campaigning and speeches - it's blatantly clear that major politicians release the text of upcoming major speeches ahead of the event so reporters are spared the need to shorthand the speech and ensure reporting is considered and accurate. So we get; "In a speech later today the Prime Minister is expected to announce the increase/cut/introduction of blah blah blah. " They even get ministers on unable to comment on an as yet unmade speech where they coyly pass back questions about what they both clearly are already aware of. Later in the day we get: "In a speech happening now,the Prime Minister is announcing the increase/cut/introduction of blah blah blah." and that night/next morning: "Earlier, the Prime Minister announced the increase/cut/introduction of blah blah blah." I know that with 24 hour news coverage they struggle to fill air time but this embarrassing cow-towing to the publicity seeking is a major personal annoyance. Martin
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for years i have only really listened to channel four and newsnight, ch 4 well supposedly anit centrish and rightish with now , but not to me. and newsnight i grew up with paxmen on spotlight, a ulster bbc prog, he never let anyone off the hook. I am disgusterd with the Beeb since they didnt stand up to blair. No i cant trust them. Should be investing time and money in a dying empire (USA) no we shouldnt.
