HSBC Holdings Live Discussion

Eadwig 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 john.a.reeves: Nothing impartial about either. You’re talking about opinion pieces, not true journalistic reporting of the news. Yes, we all know the lines have been blurred far too much, especially in the right wing tabloid press, but that doesn’t make it journalism. That is probably why the UK has the lowest trust in their media than just about any country outside of those run by dictatorship cults. It is a danger to our democracy and has been all my voting life, but the drift has become much worse throughout the Brexit process and we appear to have shifted to a new low everyday standard. The BBC is far from immune. I remember the drastic change in tone during the Falklands War for example. The real question is was that the BBC being leant on by the government or just doing wht they thought the government would want. In such a case should a national broadcaster remain completely objective? Many programmes are now out-sourced to external production companies which i’m quite sure don’t hold themselves to the same standards which brings with it its own monitoring difficulties. I remember an interview with Richie Benaud when he first started as a cricket commentator for the BBC . He was absolutely lectured in the strictness of neutrality to both teams and he kept those standrds all his broadcasting life. Laughable to think anyone would take such things so seriously these days, but he was absolutely right, in my opinion.

john.a.reeves 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 Eadwig - of course!! Eadwig: all professional journalists are supposed to be impartial. Of course they are… Just like those of the Daily Express (well to the right), and Guardian (well the other way). Nothing impartial about either. JAR

john.a.reeves 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 J W - hi J_Westlock: that apply to ALL broadcasters… not just the BBC. Put the Greyhound on - I’ll almost certainly get more sense from your end. JAR

john.a.reeves 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 Eadwig - hi Eadwig: It might not be such a bad idea. Cheere m8! I think it’s a brilliant idea … up there with all my others. JAR

frog_in_a_tree 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 “… warnings have been sounded not to water down a review into the Windrush scandal after it was reported that a portion branding the Home Office “institutionally racist” was stripped out. The Times reported sources saying the phrase “institutionally racist” had been included in an earlier draft of the Windrush review led by the inspector of constabulary, Wendy Williams, but had subsequently been removed.” As if we didn’t know! And where is the report into Russian manipulation of the Referendum??? All this makes me think that we need an investigation into Home Office bias. Perhaps I should be able to unsubscribe from paying Priti Patel’s salary. Frog in a tree

Eadwig 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 john.a.reeves: The BBC has an obligation to be impartial (many people believe it is not) Don’t all news broadcasters? You know, ‘Free and Fair’, like Fox news?

Eadwig 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 J_Westlock: That’s gonna be a very large board monitoring all that. Believe it or not, there are people that do this … looking for brands. I had a friend at college whose uncle did exactly this job for some agnecy or other. My friend thought that being paid to watch TV must be the dream job from heaven. He failed his first year badly enough to be excluded and we lost touch, I saw him once subsequently, working behind a bar. I don’t know if putting TV on such a pinnacle and the false start to his career were in anyway associated. I suppose the job is now done by recognition software, so he’ll be out of a career. If such a group existed during the referendum campaign, as @john.a.reeves suggests should exist, imagine all the lies it would have turned up being reported blindly by the media. It might not be such a bad idea.

J_Westlock 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 john.a.reeves: I know this is stretching you brain beyond its normal narrow limits. I will say it again (for the last time),as something went missing between my words earlier and your understanding. The BBC has an obligation to be impartial (many people believe it is not) You have simply repeated what you want but you haven’t explained why it should only apply to broadcasters collecting via a license fee. Regulation should be independent of how an organisation is funded. Re: BBC has an “obligation”… I suggest you read OFCOM’s British broadcasting code as there are specific rules eg. 5.9, 5.11 and 5.12 that apply to ALL broadcasters… not just the BBC.

john.a.reeves 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 JW J_Westlock: Why should regulation be dependent on how an organisation raises money? I know this is stretching you brain beyond its normal narrow limits. I will say it again (for the last time),as something went missing between my words earlier and your understanding. The BBC has an obligation to be impartial (many people believe it is not) It has a unique position in that it gets a fee from the public as part of it’s charter. If it is failing in in 1(above) it should lose all or part of the license fee. Independent monitoring by OFCOM will establish the facts. If if fails the impartiality test it loses some or all of the license fee - the independent monitoring could continue in case the BBC improves it’s impartiality and could get some or all of it’s fee reinstated. Simples If this continues to be too difficult to comprehend, you could always ask one of your greyhound to help give an intellectual boost.

petethenovice 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 john.a.reeves: The BBC has an obligation of impartiality and ONLY the BBC gets the privilege of a license fee. Impartial thats a good idea for all the press and media or just the BBC???

J_Westlock 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 john.a.reeves: The BBC has an obligation of impartiality and ONLY the BBC gets the privilege of a license fee. And why because the BBC is funded by a license fee does that mean it should uniquely be monitored more than other broadcasters who broadcast, stream or publish material in UK? Ie. Why should regulation be dependent on how an organisation raises money? If it scrapped the license fee then would it no longer need the regulation you want?

john.a.reeves 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 J_Westlock: JW - ji Are you suggesting that some board should sit and monitor every channel of BBC output 24 hrs per day (including internet and radio)… and continuously adjudicate on that? And then why just the BBC? Looks like you’ve read it again and understand it … at last. Monitor and report. The BBC has an obligation of impartiality and ONLY the BBC gets the privilege of a license fee. JAR

petethenovice 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 Uncle_Doug: Yes. I aim to retire to Spain in 5 years. I speak the lingo. I’ll try Cadiz - beautiful area and fewer Brits. Brexit has (I suspect) ruined the healthcare rights but we’ll see what “deal” if any gets done. If the deal is bad then I will reluctantly apply for Spanish citizenship. Doug Hope this works but if not Google “why Spain hates the UK” Funny banter but shows what we are losing… [link]

J_Westlock 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 john.a.reeves: But doesn’t monitor and report on bias - or can’t you read? The regulator monitors complaints made, makes decisions on whether they break any Charter (or other) rules/guidelines and regularly reports on those including concerning bias (political or other). Are you suggesting that some board should sit and monitor every channel of BBC output 24 hrs per day (including internet and radio)… and continuously adjudicate on that? And then why just the BBC? What about ITV, C4, Sky… in fact every single broadcaster and all the channels that they stream or broadcast? That’s gonna be a very large board monitoring all that.

jackdawsson 22 Feb 2020

Brexit Wars 3 Eadwig: I wonder if it has anything to do with soaring salaries within the BBC? Hi Eadwig, Possibly to a degree. I also recall the roots of the BBC’s transition over recent years to diminish any risk of being accused of left-wing sympathies seem to have started with former BBC director general, Mark Thomson. He, rightly or wrongly, was quoted in 2010 as saying; “There was massive left-wing bias at the BBC”. Then later in 2015, Cameron was quoted by Nick Robinson of all people, mindful that Robinson once worked for the Tory Party & certainly exhibited pro-Tory biases, which suggested Cameron might also seek to close down the BBC. The arrogant Cameron of course denied it, but a brief article about it appeared in the Daily Telegraph. IMO, the Tories have been trying to undermine the BBC from well before Johnson’s Premiership. - Regards. By Peter Dominiczak, Political Editor12:41PM BST 21 Jun 2015 "Conservative Party’s war with the BBC stepped up a notch yesterday after Nick Robinson claimed that David Cameron threatened to “close down” the Corporation. Mr Robinson, the BBC’s political editor, said that Mr Cameron had made the incendiary comments to journalists while travelling on his “battle bus” ahead of the general election. Downing Street yesterday described the claims as “nonsense”. Mr Robinson said he was unsure whether the Prime Minister was making a “joke or a threat” – but claimed it was seen as “yet another bit of pressure” by BBC employees. Mr Robinson said that while travelling on the bus, Mr Cameron dismissed a BBC story claiming that he had told Nick Clegg that the Tories would not win a majority as “rubbish” before adding: “I’m going to close them down after the election.” Telegraph.co.uk David Cameron threatened to 'close down' BBC, Nick Robinson claims The Prime Minister is said to have said that he would "close [the BBC] down after the election", according to BBC political editor Nick Robinson