Impartiality is in the BBC’s DNA. So said the head of BBC News a decade ago. You would not get this impression watching the organisation’s news coverage today. This is a serious problem for a broadcaster, whose world-renowned reputation was painstakingly built on providing reliable and informed reporting free from political bias.
For BBC News producers and presenters, not allowing their own political views to become known to viewers and listeners used to be a point of pride. Creating challenging and stimulating programmes and conducting combative interviews without making obvious a presenter’s opinion was central to the role of a BBC journalist. The reasoning behind this was to enable viewers to form their own opinions.
But today the political beliefs of BBC employees are often blatantly obvious. The distinction between analysis and opinion has been eroded. The age of social media also encourages people, including BBC employees, to air their views at the click of a button.
The result has been a steadily increasing stream of complaints over one-sided BBC coverage, most notably in the way the broadcaster presented Britain’s withdrawal from the EU and stories like the Black Lives Matter movement.
This has prompted Tim Davie, the BBC’s new director general, to take action. Last month, he issued new guidelines to staff, particularly those working in news, warning them against publicly expressing personal views on contentious subjects. Davie also warned staff not to attend marches and demonstrations that were controversial or political in nature as this could risk creating the perception of institutional bias. He stressed it was unacceptable for high-profile BBC presenters to earn large sums working for private companies in their spare time while working for the organisation.
Some BBC journalists have criticised these new guidelines. Journalistic trade unions have attacked them as a breach of the human right to free expression. Davie’s response made clear that producers and reporters had the freedom to be campaigners on social and political issues but not while working for the BBC.
Despite the outcry in some quarters, what Davie has is trying to do is revive the spirit of the Producer's Guidelines, a booklet traditionally handed to new recruits of the BBC to remind of them of their special responsibilities when working for the national broadcaster.
Some media commentators have portrayed Davie as capitulating to government pressure. It is true that British governments of all political colours have historically had an antagonistic relationship with the BBC. In many ways this is a good thing, given the BBC’s responsibility to interrogate and hold those in power to account on the public's behalf.
But complaints of biased reporting also come from beyond Whitehall. Now, the BBC itself is acknowledging the truth of much of this criticism. Perceived bias in the coverage of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU caused the former head of BBC News, Fran Unsworth, to admit that the broadcaster needed to work much harder to reflect the views of all sections of British society, not just the “London bubble”.
The BBC needs to reflect the views of all sections of British society, not just the 'London bubble'
It is not government pressure, but rather failure by the BBC to intervene earlier which now poses the biggest threat to its future. Many in the BBC understand this. Veteran political interviewer Andrew Marr sees the responsibility he has as presenter of a high-profile weekly political programme to address a wide range of political views in the country. Marr says of his feelings of responsibility: “Every time I step into the studio on a Sunday morning, I remind myself that the people who are paying for it and who are watching include people who voted for UKIP (a eurosceptic party) to members of Momentum (left-wing pressure group) and everything in between.”
The BBC’s new director general understands that if the corporation fails to defend its reputation for impartiality, it risks losing not only its national and global reputation but also its income. All citizens in the UK who watch or records programmes on any TV channel must pay the annual TV Licence. This unique system funds the BBC and is precisely why the corporation is obliged to reflect a diverse range of opinions, tastes and cultures.
There are many private media companies that would love to replace the BBC with a US model of competing private broadcasters each with their own political outlook. If the BBC abandons the impartiality at the heart of its identity and appeals only to certain sections British society, it will lose the argument for publicly funded, impartial journalism. This would be a disaster not only for the Britain but also for those that admire the BBC across the world.
David Powell is a media analyst and former journalist with a range of pan-Arab broadcast media, including BBC Arabic
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
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%3Cp%3ESix%20of%20the%20eight%20fast%20bowlers%20used%20in%20the%20ILT20%20match%20between%20Desert%20Vipers%20and%20MI%20Emirates%20were%20left-handed.%20So%2075%20per%20cent%20of%20those%20involved.%0D%3Cbr%3EAnd%20that%20despite%20the%20fact%2010-12%20per%20cent%20of%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20population%20is%20said%20to%20be%20left-handed.%0D%3Cbr%3EIt%20is%20an%20extension%20of%20a%20trend%20which%20has%20seen%20left-arm%20pacers%20become%20highly%20valued%20%E2%80%93%20and%20over-represented%2C%20relative%20to%20other%20formats%20%E2%80%93%20in%20T20%20cricket.%0D%3Cbr%3EIt%20is%20all%20to%20do%20with%20the%20fact%20most%20batters%20are%20naturally%20attuned%20to%20the%20angles%20created%20by%20right-arm%20bowlers%2C%20given%20that%20is%20generally%20what%20they%20grow%20up%20facing%20more%20of.%0D%3Cbr%3EIn%20their%20book%2C%20%3Cem%3EHitting%20Against%20the%20Spin%3C%2Fem%3E%2C%20cricket%20data%20analysts%20Nathan%20Leamon%20and%20Ben%20Jones%20suggest%20the%20advantage%20for%20a%20left-arm%20pace%20bowler%20in%20T20%20is%20amplified%20because%20of%20the%20obligation%20on%20the%20batter%20to%20attack.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CThe%20more%20attacking%20the%20batsman%2C%20the%20more%20reliant%20they%20are%20on%20anticipation%2C%E2%80%9D%20they%20write.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CThis%20effectively%20increases%20the%20time%20pressure%20on%20the%20batsman%2C%20so%20increases%20the%20reliance%20on%20anticipation%2C%20and%20therefore%20increases%20the%20left-arm%20bowler%E2%80%99s%20advantage.%E2%80%9D%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
The Farewell
Director: Lulu Wang
Stars: Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Diana Lin, Tzi Ma
Four stars
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Day 1 fixtures (Saturday)
Men 1.45pm, Malaysia v Australia (Court 1); Singapore v India (Court 2); UAE v New Zealand (Court 3); South Africa v Sri Lanka (Court 4)
Women Noon, New Zealand v South Africa (Court 3); England v UAE (Court 4); 5.15pm, Australia v UAE (Court 3); England v New Zealand (Court 4)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
T20 World Cup Qualifier fixtures
Tuesday, October 29
Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE
Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman
Wednesday, October 30
Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one
Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two
Thursday, October 31
Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four
Friday, November 1
Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one
Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two
Saturday, November 2
Third-place playoff, 2.10pm
Final, 7.30pm
MATCH INFO
Day 1 at Mount Maunganui
England 241-4
Denly 74, Stokes 67 not out, De Grandhomme 2-28
New Zealand
Yet to bat
THE BIO
Favourite author - Paulo Coelho
Favourite holiday destination - Cuba
New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field
Role model - My Grandfather
Dream interviewee - Che Guevara
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group B
Barcelona v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight
Most match wins on clay
Guillermo Vilas - 659
Manuel Orantes - 501
Thomas Muster - 422
Rafael Nadal - 399 *
Jose Higueras - 378
Eddie Dibbs - 370
Ilie Nastase - 338
Carlos Moya - 337
Ivan Lendl - 329
Andres Gomez - 322
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16 second leg
Paris Saint-Germain (1) v Borussia Dortmund (2)
Kick-off: Midnight, Thursday, March 12
Stadium: Parc des Princes
Live: On beIN Sports HD
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Way It Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra by Eliot Weisman and Jennifer Valoppi
Hachette Books
More coverage from the Future Forum
More about Middle East geopolitics
Brief scores:
Newcastle United 1
Perez 23'
Wolverhampton Rovers 2
Jota 17', Doherty 90' 4
Red cards: Yedlin 57'
Man of the Match: Diogo Jota (Wolves)
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
