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| Panel show? |
According to the UK Press Gazette, Ofcom is to review the depth of analysis and the impartiality of the BBC's news and current affairs output.
Especially interesting for me is their intent to look at "the “tools and techniques” the corporation uses to deliver impartiality". I'll like the BBC pinned down on that, given their constant equivocation over the matter. They deny the value of measuring ('counting') from sources they don't like yet measure like mad themselves over things like diversity, and they count party politicians on programmes like The Andrew Marr Show, Question Time and the like, and they cite 'counting'-style studies in their impartiality reviews (usually ones from Cardiff University, so they can't have it both ways - despite having been allowed to have it both ways for years.
Given the concerns many of us have about the composition of Ofcom's Contents Board, I'm not holding my breath just yet, but where there's life there's hope!
Incidentally, I'm not sure Rob Burley will appreciate Ofcom's voicing of concern that there's been an increase in the proportion of panel-style current affairs programmes shown on BBC TV. It said they “do not tend to reflect in-depth investigative journalism”. Are they thinking of his baby Politics Live?
