Originally Posted by PartTimePongo

Have the BBC been 'Anti-Forces'?

Several BBC journos who have travelled to both sandpits are members here, and their reports are invariably strongly pro-forces.
...

No, on the whole I don't think they have been. Although my perception is they* have definately been anti-war, not the same thing. IMO that stance has lead to a lot of reporting being done in a negative way which as a result reflected badly on the forces.

Recently though the BBC* and many other news outlets* seem to be backing the forces in quite a strong positive way. I hadn't noticed as much of that before.

*(caveat) By this I am talking about my view of the general trend of reports and not individuals opinions. Also it is pretty much perception rather than hard cold fact on my account and therefore I could be completely or slightly (or anywhere between) off-kilter.

As to the unbolded part I quoted. Totaly agree with that. I can't think of a single embedded reporter that hasn't shown admiration for the troops. Makes me wonder where some anti-war protesters get there incredibly low opinions of the forces from.

Make no mistake, BBC nationwide is NO friend of the armed forces.There maybe journos that are strongly pro-forces but all reporting has to go through news editors and producers (in the case of the BBC, several levels) before it reaches the screen.

The BBC runs a programme on Saturday mornings called Newswatch where viewers complaints are answered by the producer/director concerned. Recently, the BBC was taken to task for only showing a 10 second clip of the Grenadiers march through London wheras Channel 4 news gave about 10 minutes, including interviews, etc. Basically, the standard response is usually "the BBC is never wrong - how dare you criticise us".

However, I agree that locally (BBC South East in my case), the coverage is far more favourable.

Well, the's a programe on bbc1(ni) monday night 2315hrs, "no plan,no peace" which tells the story of how we went to war in iraq. Should be...interesting.

Originally Posted by spike7451

Well, the's a programe on bbc1(ni) monday night 2315hrs, "no plan,no peace" which tells the story of how we went to war in iraq. Should be...interesting.

Just seen the trailer for that. Might be good and informative. I hope so.

Don't we as tax payers pay for the BBC???? don't we have a right to decide what they broadcast????

Originally Posted by Dunc0936

Don't we as tax payers pay for the BBC???? don't we have a right to decide what they broadcast????

No basically. We pay a fee towards the right to watch rubbish.

Originally Posted by Dunc0936

Don't we as tax payers pay for the BBC???? don't we have a right to decide what they broadcast????

Please don't make this thread an anti-BBC rant. I was just saying that the BBC along with many other news agencies apear to be doing more pro-forces reports recently than in the last few years.

I also have issues about the way the BBC report news but this thread is not intended as anti. It was about my perception on tone and wether others agreed.

If you want to make an argument about what rights we have to decide on BBC content, please make a seperate thread about that issue.

I'm not sure about positive slants on HM Forces stories, but the 'Today' programme seems to have slowed down its non-stop propaganda for the Labour party. I have not heard the repellent Naughtie of late and maybe that is the reason - '....when we are re-elected....'! I have to pay that poridge gobbling sh!t's salary!

Originally Posted by scarletto

Originally Posted by Dunc0936

Don't we as tax payers pay for the BBC???? don't we have a right to decide what they broadcast????

No basically. We pay a fee towards the right to watch rubbish.

Well, I used to pay a lot more to Sky to watch even worse rubbish!

Just take all news reporting, whether TV, Radio, newspaper, magazine or whatever, with very large doses of salt, ask questions, be sceptical, and form your own opinion!

Originally Posted by Grownup_Rafbrat

Originally Posted by scarletto

Originally Posted by Dunc0936

Don't we as tax payers pay for the BBC???? don't we have a right to decide what they broadcast????

No basically. We pay a fee towards the right to watch rubbish.

Well, I used to pay a lot more to Sky to watch even worse rubbish!

Just take all news reporting, whether TV, Radio, newspaper, magazine or whatever, with very large doses of salt, ask questions, be sceptical, and form your own opinion!

At least you had a choice to pay
Nobody knocking on your door threatening you with a fine or prison because you didn't pay for your movies last month