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Wednesday 12 March 2014

Ken MacQuarrie and John Robertson- Bias at the BBC? – Education and Culture Committee 11th March 2014

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2 comments:

  1. Thank you Peter, I missed the live broadcast.

    For what it's worth, my observation would be that Professor Robertson came across as a sincere, self-effacing, academic who has a genuine interest in the FACTS. As he said, he allowed the facts to emerge from his and his team's research. He admitted that there is inevitably an element of subjectivity in his work, which is why the methodology involves as robust a checking mechanism as possible, and of course it was peer reviewed.

    His critic on the committee were trying to attack the man and not the report. A sorry state of affairs, but one, regrettably, common among a certain type of MSP. There is an obvious political split in the committee with one side (the "Nos") refusing to eve countenance that their favourite broadcaster is biased (according to the Professor).

    In contract the BBC representatives came across to me as shifty, evasive, and unwilling to give open and honest answers. They responded more like politicians than media managers. (Maybe there is a close similarity?)

    Of the two discussions, I would believe and trust the Professor, and remain highly sceptical of the BBC. But in the words of Mandy "I would say that, wouldn't I?"

    Thanks again Peter, you do us all a great service.

    Best,

    Tony

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