Mitsub.Corp Share Discussion Threads

[pizzaman] 22/7/2003 05:42

BBC shake-up

ONE major consequence of the David Kelly tragedy must be a complete overhaul of the shambles that is the BBC news department.

The Andrew Gilligan blunder was a disaster waiting to happen.

It was certain one day to come to this - born as it was out of a culture that has become relentlessly more arrogant and out of touch with real Britain.

It is one thing for newspapers in a crowded market to campaign for a cause.

That's what we are supposed to do.

It is quite another for the nation's overwhelmingly dominant tax-supported news outlet to be allowed to become a propaganda machine for causes cooked up in the ivory tower of Broadcasting House.

The BBC produces some magnificent television.

Its news staff includes fine journalists.

But in the last few months blinkered news management has allowed its airwaves to be hijacked by anti-war propagandists.

On top of that, through sheer incompetence, it allowed Gilligan to go on the air to make an earth-shattering charge based on ridiculously flimsy evidence.

Now its reputation for news coverage lies in shambles.

This is the time for a root-and-branch reorganisation of the news department of the BBC.

A deep cultural revolution must be mounted now.

The British taxpayer deserves nothing less.