Can America trust the BBC?

This ad comes from the BritainAndAmerica.com team.

Comments

[Nick]

What a bunch of complete crap. BBC? What about Rupert Murdoch's Fox empire? The BBC is actually fairly central in terms of politics. You should see some of the ignorant conservative fools they have presenting BBC NEWS 24. They probably should be biased against America (for it's imperialism), Israel (for it's violation of Palestinian rights), and capitalism (for the uncaring and selfish spirit it motivates within people.) But they aren't. Unlike Fox, they present all viewpoints, with little conclusion on either side, and are not polluted by concerns about advertising. If you believe that they are particularly hostile to your point of view, then this suggests your point of view is skewed beyond all belief, or you're highly parnoid.

[Martin A Knight]

Oh please Nick ...

Can't y'all come up with a better argument than "What about Rupert Murdock?". You don't mention any other person except Rupert Murdock, precisely because he's the only obstensibly Right-Wing guy with some clout in the media?

What about Robert Iger (heavy Democratic contributor) head of Disney and therefore ABC? What about Sumner Redstone, self-proclaimed liberal Democrat, and owner of CBS? What about David Westin over at NBC?

Let's be clear here, 90% of the United States Press is owned, run and staffed by Democrats or heavily Democratic contributors. And unfortunately for Britain, nearly 100% of the BBC's staff and leadership leans so far to the Left they cannot see the Right.

I find it ironic and hypocritical that you can be shrieking up and down about the bias of FOX news and then chortle when people on the Right make their own complaints against heavily Leftists institutions like the BBC. You don't see the bias because they never offend your Lefty nostrums because they share them.

The day Conservatives (in both countries) decide to take off the gloves and make each and every encounter with biased Left-Wing activists subtly masquerading as reporters, a no-holds barred brawl, challenging them on every Lefty premise, forcefully correcting their falsehoods, interrogating them on their views, questioning their motives, and destroying cherished Leftist narratives, that day would be a very dark day for the Press.

[Teddy Bear]

Martin - that's an absolutely superb retort in all respects. Well put!

[yochanan]

The only difference between the BBC and AL JAZERA on covering Israel is the lang. arabic vs english the views are the same.

[Sean Cross]

You say that can America trust the BBC, but can Britain trust the BBC!

The BBC should be neutral in all issue that is what they champion about on News 24 which I happen to watch on a daily basis and mostly is but then you get people behind the cameras wanting to champion their loony ultra left wing views to the public.

Just recently the BBC got scolded because they said something untrue about the Queen and tried to misinterpret the character of our new Prime Minister Gordon Brown to they're own advantage.

Change is coming and there is going to be a huge cull of these lefties in the next few months as Gordon Brown asserts his authority
onto the BBC in due course.

I must say I love the BBC it is usually full of informative and truthful programming and we should continue to get this as the majority of the British public agree the BBC should remain completely neutral, especially since we have to pay £125 for the privilege of having it!

At the moment though I do not trust the BBC and I have noticed they have swung to the left recently in their programming. I believe a new agreement should be penciled in to safeguard the BBC's neutrality for the future from these Spin loving maniacs that believe their views should be the only thing that should exist and sod the majority of people who have the real power to change things for the better!

I have met a few people that are ultra left winged and all they seem to be is Guardian reading butt kissing appeasers and looking at them reminds me that I have seen more backbone in cockroaches! these ultra lefties would rather slither and manipulate to get their way when the rest of us tell the truth and say what we think and we know sometimes we have to suffer the consequences.

Long live Britain and America the True west!

[Tony Hannon]

What a reprehensible piece of moronic nonsense.

First off, and it's only a point on style, but are you happy to put to us with a straight face the 'scary' music and wooden horse of Troy analogy to convey a serious point? This is politics and Britain - not a cheap eighties US B-movie.

These negative ads come straight from the American gutter and have reduced public discourse there to a derisory level. Quick to put the boot in but no actual argument. Let's look at two of yours.

The BBC will "conquer" America??? Have you any idea, you imbecile, how much money it would take to even begin to dent the sheer number of media markets in the USA for radio alone, never mind television. Do you realise how many BBC's it would take to even begin to register the organisation on the average American's radar??? Hundreds!!!!

The Guardian is the ONLY national left wing newspaper at all. You think it's the "most left wing"????? What about the Morning Star? The Socialist Worker? Or any of the other left wing newspapers (which, thankfully, few people read). "The BBC recruit from the most left wing newspaper in the UK" you say? So does everybody!!!

It just so happens that the biggest media jobs section in the country is "Media Guardian" on a Tuesday. The Daily Telegraph advertises there - so does the Daily Mail. So does Sky News - EVERYBODY with media jobs do because it's the biggest.

The other demonstration you use as proof of BBC bias was of a caricature of Bush as Hitler. For goodness sake - we live in Britain. It's satire. Whether it's funny or not, whether it's tasteless or not - how can you seriously begin to suggest that someone putting a caricature on a wall as an indictment of an organisation of several thousand people. Do you think they worshipped the picture?? Do you think there was a competition among staff to draw something that best represented their views and this picture won??? What on earth are you suggesting by this that is credible?

On my desktop is a cartoon of Michael Jackson 'picking' a new nose. Have I proven my entire Firm of accountants as anti-Michael Jackson? As anti-Motown perhaps? Your second point, like your first, is ridiculous.

Martin A Knight – You’d lose that "brawl". You think Bill O'Reilly would not look shamelessly partisan beside Jeremy Paxman? What about Sean Hannity? Who is his BBC equivalent?

You can't name one person from the BBC who is as partisan as either of those.

The Rupert Murdoch (correctly spelt) argument is a valid one. There is no bigger (widespread) nor more influential news organisation in the world than News Corp. It pains me to see any politician, conservative or otherwise having to placate themselves to this [expletive thought but not written]. He is undoubtedly bias - but I don't care. People can watch or buy what they want. To hear him deny his bias, or Fox News deny it however, would be laughable were it not sickening to think these people run the national debate.

If BritainandAmerica.com promotes the link between the two countries – that is a noble and laudable thing. However, that’s not what you appear to be doing. You’re promoting conservatism. Or, to be more precise, your Bush defending, high spending, tax cutting, massive deficit producing, unilateral, anti-intellectual, lying Attorney General, fundamentalist Christian, sentence commuting completely distorted version of conservatism.

With these attack ads (I saw the crap about Ken Livingstone) you’re reducing the level of debate to attack those who disagree with you.

So why not have the courage to call the site “BritainandAmericanconservatives.com”?

[Liam]

oh yeh: i forgot that america cant show certain things; despite freedom of speech. just cos bush was shown like hitler; well, so what. the bbc has more freedom of speech than say fox. And if you dislike that, take a good look on how the U.S is denying the 1st amendmant.
The bbc isnt biased, and i hope it always will be, hats why we have our election broadcast on it, free from corparate biastness.

[Liam]

oh yeh: i forgot that america cant show certain things; despite freedom of speech. just cos bush was shown like hitler; well, so what. the bbc has more freedom of speech than say fox. And if you dislike that, take a good look on how the U.S is denying the 1st amendmant.
The bbc isnt biased, and i hope it always will be, hats why we have our election broadcast on it, free from corparate biastness.

[Jeff]

Martin that was a crushing come back to Nick!! It felt great just reading that!

[John]

Why is everybody getting so angry? That video is a joke isn't it? It must be. The thought that the BBC has such sinister intentions is hilarious. Nice touch with the soundtrack, although could I suggest some shrill screaming and dark clouds, perhaps some thunder as Michael Burke and Moira Stewart burst out of the trojan horse to corrupt the minds of the poor and unsuspecting US citizens.

[Texas_Blueblood]

The BBC is without a doubt absolutely pro-EU/anti-American/anti-Bush and those who defend it are simply the types of people who are being told what they want to hear.

It is their intention to plant the notion into the British people that the American government is corrupt and that the American people blindly follow it.

Why?? Because they feel that Britain's interests will be best served by playing a leading role in the management of the EU rather than being a sidekick nation of the US. Even if it means losing Britain's sovereignty (and their biggest ally in the process).

The Guardian and the BBC are downright offensive to any American and many of you Brits may not even realize this. We do not have the equivalent of anti-British media. Those of you who deride FoxNews obviously don't get your news from them because FoxNews is pro-British just the same as the NY Times is pro-British. The reason being is that America in general is staunchly pro-British! Stop this foolishness before it is too late.

[chris]

Apparently the bbc now want to teach their politics to british schoolkids
Here it comes.
The windmill powered,great british,
caliphate of euristan.
I`m off! any room left in the states?

[This is utter crap...]

Oh, puuhhhleeeaasee.. Are you expecting anyone to take this seriously ? The reason that the Beeb advertise in the Guardian is that it specialises in media jobs. Do you run down, say, Orange or Sky for advertising in that medium ?

This is scaremongering for the hard-of-thinking. Just because the Beeb is willing to tell a few home truths about Israel and Christian fundamentalists from time to time does not mean it is biased.

It means it tries to give a level playing field to the views of Palestinians, and to people of other religions and of none.

If you are too thick to realise that there are people in this world who don't share your moronic, one-sided, superficial 'Daily Mail' of the world, then you might as well go and make films for the commercial sector, and then see how long you last.

The BBC as the 'Trojan Horse' ? Don't make me laugh...

[Thomas]

You really are a bunch of total lunatics.

[Mund]

Can't believe some of the comments. Left wing BBC? Seriously? They are objective and in todays media where money rules all thank god for that.

Nobody mentions Sarkozy in this.

The biggest piece of crap was that 90% of American wealth belonged to the democrats. What nonsense do you have any facts or figures or just more drivel that can rundown your chin?

[Mund]

Can't believe some of the comments. Left wing BBC? Seriously? They are objective and in todays media where money rules all thank god for that.

Nobody mentions Sarkozy in this.

The biggest piece of crap was that 90% of American wealth belonged to the democrats. What nonsense do you have any facts or figures or just more drivel that can rundown your chin?

[Karen]

In the US, if you look at the media as a whole, it's mostly left wing. You can read more about it here:

http://www.mrc.org/biasbasics/pdf/BiasBasics.pdf

The Conservatives are constantly complaining that they don't have enough exposure in the states.

[theculturedredneck]

the video was a bit over-the-top, but the BBC certainly slants leftward. when i travel overseas, my main television news sources are the BBC and CNN International. after taking in that coverage for a week or so, i'm no longer surprised by some anti-americanism. if that's the information i was given on a daily basis, i might come to the same conclusions. the bias is there and i think it is doing real (and unnecessary!) damage to our vital shared interests.

[Jessica Bigham]

I totally agree with Sean Cross.

[Jessica Bigham]

Sorry, I meant Tony Hannon! Thought the author was the name on top at first!!