# 354 - WAR - Is the BBC bias? Is the Pope Catholic?!

Those who watch and monitor the BBC's bias must, like me, want to rip your hair out at times!!

If you can believe it those IN the BBC currently think because the Conservatives won the General Election that proves they are NOT bias!!!

Trouble is the bias has for so long been ingrained it has become INSTITUTIONALISED and the last people who will see this are those working for and in the BBC.

Fortunately for us the odd person breaks free form the BBC bubble, usually when they retire, and spectacularly spill the beans and the latest is Roger Mosey who was former head of BBC news and Second-in Command to the Director General. Roger has just written a book called "Getting Out Alive" and one review says this:-

Delinquent presenters, controversial executive pay-offs, the Jimmy Savile scandal… The BBC is one of the most successful broadcasters in the world, but its programme triumphs are often accompanied by management crises and high-profile resignations.
One of the most respected figures in the broadcasting industry, Roger Mosey has taken senior roles at the BBC for more than twenty years, including as editor of Radio 4’s Today programme, head of television news and director of the London 2012 Olympic coverage.
Now, in Getting Out Alive, Mosey reveals the hidden underbelly of the BBC, lifting the lid on the angry tirades from politicians and spin doctors, the swirling accusations of bias from left and right alike, and the perils of provoking Margaret Thatcher.
Along the way, this remarkable memoir charts the pleasures and pitfalls of life at the top of an organisation that is variously held up as a treasured British institution and cast down as a lumbering, out-of-control behemoth.
Engaging, candid and very funny, Getting Out Alive is a true insider account of how the BBC works, why it succeeds and where it falls down.

I haven't read it yet but I've read in the papers that he brilliantly exposes the subtle way the BBC can often be bias in their vox pop broadcasts. This is where members of the public are interviewed to add some authenticity to a report. The trouble is the members of the public in say matters of immigration are often fairly strident in their views and far too right wing for the leftie/PC BBC and so if they broadcast a vox pop on immigration it is invariably someone saying they are happy and support immigration.

This 'News manipulation' is of course PURE propaganda and far from being innocent is actually stoking up trouble as the BBC refuses to give a voice to what the public really think on sensitive issues like immigration, home grown terrorism,  sex abuse and much more.

In comparison to the above the following observations of bias, waste and political correctness are just your usual daily diet of what goes on at the BBC.

1. Political Correctness - Clare Balding, who admits to being use too much, is to replace John Inverdale, to cover Wimbledon, apparently because of his sexist remarks last year.

2. Waste - The BBC only spends £2.4 of its £5.1billion budget on programming, which is less then half. Also their new Broadcasting House cost £1billion was 4 years late and £107million over budget.

3. Corruption - £369 million in pay offs to staff over eight years.

4. Hypocrisy - Despite frequents laments and government bashing over the NHS 364 top BBC executives enjoy private health care costing £700,000 a year.

5. Arrogance - Danny Cohen, Director of Television recently warned that he would have to cut entire services if non payment of the TV licence was non criminalised. How about cutting waste first!

6. Question Time - a couple of weeks ago the audience was, more than usual, clearly left of centre given the applause for all the left wing comments and near silence for any mildly right wing views expressed by the panel or audience.

Still this is the Institutionally bias BBC we are talking about but then don't forget they are not really bias as the Conservatives won the election!! And speaking of the election I still remember the look of shock on the faces of the likes of Dimbleby when the Exit Poll was announced on the night - Most BBC journalists' looked as if they had taken a large bite out of a lemon - absolutely priceless!!

 

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# 353 - WAR - Update on myTV Licence - Part three

Well a Clare Buck, Court Administrator, from TV licensing  has just written to me stating :-

"We operate the TV Licensing system in accordance with the legislation passed by Parliament and under those laws may take proceedings against people using television equipment without the appropriate TV licence.

A summons will shortly be issued by the local Magistrates Court and you will have an opportunity to explain your circumstances/mitigation to the court accordingly."

And that folks is exactly what I will be doing and I'll let you know the date when known and will post a copy of my plea in mitigation when appropriate.

   

# 352 - WAR - Update on my TV licence - Part two.

Following on from post #348, against all expectations to the contrary, I did have a Search Warrant issued on me by TWO TV Licence Inspectors accompanied by TWO Police Officers to ensure I did not cause a breach of the peace!

The four of them were with me for about 40 mins, all very affable and friendly, during which time they established that I had a TV able to receive 'LIVE' broadcasts, filled in a form, left me a copy and then departed. My parting shot to the four was that I had considered going to prison over this issue but had absolutely no desire, as in Shawshank Redemption, of being buggered which made the two Police Officers smile!!

While I am now awaiting a court case in the magistrates court I have, after seeking legal advice, done everything in my power to reduce the potential fine and leave me to carry on my protest in other ways.

My protest was always based on the assumption that I would never have a Search Warrant served on me and would therefore still be able to get away with NOT paying my licence fee and keep my protest, about their bias, rolling on and on!

However after the Search Warrant was served I sought advice and thought about what I would actually achieve by continuing to protest and my conclusion was that I had far more to lose than gain. As a result I decided that a tactical withdrawal, in the face of over whelming superior forces in the form of the BBC and 'Establishment', was the most sensible course of action. So like every good terrorist, when faced with being overpowered, they 'shoot and scoot' to return at a time of their choosing to fight another day.

I actually sought the advice of a criminal lawyer for an hour and the key factors that assisted my decision to tactically withdrawal were :-

1. To get to a Crown court, where political issues can receive a better hearing, I would need to plead not guilty in the Magistrates court but in any event this category of crime would not be heard before a jury but before 'Establishment' judges who would view the issue as a simple non payment of a legal obligation.

2. The amount of time one could reasonably expect in a Crown court would be the absolute maximum of one day which would not really give sufficient time to explore 25 years of bias and prove the point conclusively.

3. My projected cost for pleading guilty in the Magistrates court (which least we forget I am) were around £1000 rising to around £10,000 + in a Crown Court.

4. Any media publicity I was luckily enough to receive would be short lived and soon forgotten.

On this basis, and with the single aim of reducing my fine to the absolute minimum, I bowed to the inevitable and brought a TV licence on-line and wrote to TV licencing to explain my protest was over and asked them to consider not taking me to court.

If TV licencing accept my position I will have saved my self a court appearance and I will give you and update when I next hear from TV licencing or the court as could still be the case.

My monitoring of the BBC's bias of course goes on with also an attempt to develop an active Twitter account under bias_bbc but this is very much work in progress and I don't yet understand exactly how to get the best out of Twitter - if anyone actually does!!!???

I will of course let you know the final outcome.