Details

Written by: Kamran Mofid

Published: 04 June 2012

Hits: 4853

Photo:buzzfeed.com

Following on from my recent Blog, “Can the Media be for the Common Good?” (Sunday 27 May 2012), I now wish to shed some light on why I love the BBC, as well as my love for the Guardian that I had highlighted in that earlier Blog.

Given the values I believe in, I have always loved the BBC. However, recently this appreciation has become deeper, reflecting on what might have happened if Murdoch had won over the BBC.

I got to respect the BBC more than ever, when I heard James, son of Rupert, making the statements noted below:

"The only reliable, durable and perpetual guarantor of independence is profit." 

"…a “dominant” BBC threatens independent journalism in the UK.” “The expansion of state-sponsored journalism is a threat to the plurality and independence of news provision.”      

“The scope of the BBC’s activities and ambitions was “chilling, and organisations like the BBC, funded by the licence fee, as well as Channel 4 and Ofcom, made it harder for other broadcasters to survive”- James Murdoch, Edinburgh Television Festival Lecture

Now I wish to invite the young James to be good enough and listen to words of wisdom below:

As it has been noted by many, “Because of the unique way the BBC is funded by the taxpayer, the BBC is able to some extent to focus their news on what is important rather than simply what would be the most populist news…

The BBC therefore has an ethos where they are responsible to the nation, not the shareholder, and certainly not the owner or the government of the day. They see themselves as answering to the nation. Of course, like any organisation, they also have a degree of loyalty to the organisation itself, but you’re not going to get a situation where the BBC’s political reportage is slanted in favour of one particular party because the director general wants to see them elected. The BBC does not have any axe to grind in this manner. They can — and will — tear down anyone from any political party if they have the relevant information about them…

…but for me the key points are trustworthiness and quality. I trust the BBC. I presume they will get it wrong from time to time, but I trust that their intention is to lay out the facts in a plain and clear manner, and not present things with a bias that suits their own political agenda. Compare this to Fox News which has been accused of bias. I don’t want to hear the news that News Corporation wants me to hear.” 

In short, the BBC is brilliant and I love it. It’s not perfect, but it is far better than any of the alternatives, especially Fox News. And whilst at it, James should also read the following and then compare it to the profit- only-driven mumbo jumbo:

“The only reliable, durable and perpetual guarantor of independence is not profit, nor who you know. It is integrity.”— Mark Thompson, Director General, the BBC

Read more:

20 reasons why I love the BBC

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/tvandradioblog/2007/oct/18/20reasonswhyilovethebbc

Why I love the BBC

29 Very Good Reasons To Adore The BBC