The BBC's pro-car, anti-cycling bias: here's the proof.

[Howard]

Blue Peter star in bias warning

BBC News
15 August 2007.

The BBC has warned Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq about political
bias after she took part in a press conference with London mayor Ken
Livingstone.

She appeared at an event to promote cycling despite the corporation
telling her agent she should not take part.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6947857.stm

 

[marc]

Howard wrote:
> Blue Peter star in bias warning
>
> BBC News
> 15 August 2007.
>
> The BBC has warned Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq about political
> bias after she took part in a press conference with London mayor Ken
> Livingstone.
>
> She appeared at an event to promote cycling despite the corporation
> telling her agent she should not take part.
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6947857.stm
>


You have an odd idea of what constitutes "proof". Here is a hint, just
because something agrees with your point if view, that doesn't make it
"proof".

 

[[email protected]]

On Aug 15, 6:17 pm, Howard <[email protected]> wrote:
> Blue Peter star in bias warning

Sounds like she took part in a press conference with a politician who
indulged in party politics. I can see why the BBC doesn't want their
presenters doing that.

You may be right about bias - I've never given it any thought - but
this is hardly circumstantial evidence, let alone proof.

Rob

 

[Matt B]

Howard wrote:
> Blue Peter star in bias warning
>
> BBC News
> 15 August 2007.
>
> The BBC has warned Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq about political
> bias after she took part in a press conference with London mayor Ken
> Livingstone.
>
> She appeared at an event to promote cycling despite the corporation
> telling her agent she should not take part.
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6947857.stm

In what way does that support the assertion in the title???

It appears to me that they were worried it might appear to be lending
support to one political party's attack on another.

--
Matt B

 

[Howard]

At the end of the day was this really a 'political event'? Here's one
view from that BBC report. (Albeit from Ken Livingstone).

"The Hovis London Freewheel is a new event to promote cycling and
London and supporting this event cannot in any reasonable view be
regarded as party political."

I also see that the The BBC argued that she shouldn't have attended
an event which was associated with 'campaigning'. I know that the far-
right seem to think that the BBC should only reflect the sort of
attitudes expressed in papers such as 'The Daily Mail', but this fear
of criticism from the political right for supporting entirely
praiseworthy causes is getting to be ludicrous.

Just look at the way BBC has barred its employees from making positive
references to campaigns such as the 'Make poverty history' on the
basis that doing so would show 'political bias'. What do those who
argue 'bias' want to see? 'Balance' being introduced by showing a
program in favour of third world starvation perhaps?

Apparently, the complainant, Brian Coleman is totally pro-car and anti-
cycling and was responsible for ripping out speed reduction measures
and cycle lanes in Barnet. Apparently his borough also has the lowest
spend in London on cycling facilities. By pandering to the complaints
of BBC 'bias' by such people, the BBC inevitably introduces a bias in
the opposite direction, which is the very clear aim of people like him
and Paul Dacre.

 

[Matt B]

Howard wrote:
> At the end of the day was this really a 'political event'?

Perhaps it wasn't meant to be, was advantage was apparently taken by
certain "attendees".

> Apparently, the complainant, Brian Coleman is totally pro-car and anti-
> cycling

Do you have evidence to support that? From what I've read he is
pro-road-safety, which is also pro-cycling, surely.

> and was responsible for ripping out speed reduction measures

Which we know cause more problems than they solve (if indeed they
actually solve any).

> and cycle lanes in Barnet.

Which we hear time and again are not wanted and not needed, particularly
in urc, so that is definately pro-cyclist (assuming urc is also
pro-cyclist ;-) ).

> Apparently his borough also has the lowest
> spend in London on cycling facilities.

They cana't win can they. If they install them they are a waste of
money. If they don't waste the money you also slam them!!!

> By pandering to the complaints
> of BBC 'bias' by such people, the BBC inevitably introduces a bias in
> the opposite direction, which is the very clear aim of people like him
> and Paul Dacre.

Not at all. If it was turned into a political event, even if _you_
support the politics being pushed, the BBC have no place there.

--
Matt B

 

[Rob Morley]

In article <[email protected]>,
Howard
[email protected] says...
> Blue Peter star in bias warning
>
> BBC News
> 15 August 2007.
>
> The BBC has warned Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq about political
> bias after she took part in a press conference with London mayor Ken
> Livingstone.
>
> She appeared at an event to promote cycling despite the corporation
> telling her agent she should not take part.
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6947857.stm
>
>

 

[Wally]

Matt B" <"matt.bourke wrote:

> ... If they don't waste the money you also slam them!!!

> ... If it was turned into a political event, even if _you_
> support the politics being pushed, the BBC have no place there.

He was quoting Ken Livingstone, ********...

Howard wrote:
> ... Here's one
> view from that BBC report. (Albeit from Ken Livingstone).
<snip>

 

[Matt B]

Wally wrote:
> Matt B" <"matt.bourke wrote:
>
>> ... If they don't waste the money you also slam them!!!
>
>> ... If it was turned into a political event, even if _you_
>> support the politics being pushed, the BBC have no place there.
>
> He was quoting Ken Livingstone, ********...

Not in the bit I was replying to.

> Howard wrote:
>> ... Here's one
>> view from that BBC report. (Albeit from Ken Livingstone).

Yes, then came a '"' to start the quote, then came the quote, then came
another '"' to _end_ the quote.

_Then_ came his commentary, including the bits that I commented upon.

--
Matt B

 

[David Hansen]

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 01:30:22 -0700 someone who may be Howard
<[email protected]> wrote this:-

>At the end of the day was this really a 'political event'?

No.

Those who wish to provide some feedback to the BBC may wish to use
the e-mail address [email protected]

In particular they might like to point out the hypocrisy of the BBC
encouraging viewers to, "Go green this summer and help your
environment!" and perhaps get a Green Peter Badge with their attempt
to prevent publicity for a cycling event.




--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

 

[Dylan Smith]

On 2007-08-16, Howard <[email protected]> wrote:
> cycling and was responsible for ripping out speed reduction measures
> and cycle lanes in Barnet. Apparently his borough also has the lowest
> spend in London on cycling facilities.

Sounds like they are pro-cycling, then. Better to have no facilities at
all than the "farcilities" that go in elsewhere.


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