'One of the things that astounds me in the UK is that the Today programme is seen as a sober objective news programme when in fact it is both arrogant and highly politicised. For some time, I have suffered this in silence, but I am nearly at the point where I become a regular complainant to the BBC complaints board.
'The Today program uses a more or less sober and measured presentation and this masks the fact that they have abandoned the basics of fair journalism. They seem only ever to get an opposing view when a speaker says something with which they disagree. So, if George Bush (whom they loathe) is defended in some policy debate, such as recently, on the environment, they will get someone to counter this view. However, when the Bush government is attacked for human rights violations, no one is invited to defend him.
'They also frequently refer to so and so "being right of centre" or a
"right-wing think-tank"". They never do this on the left. An example of this egregious behaviour is how they continually invite George Monbiot to comment on the environment. He is always introduced in a context which leads the listener to believe that he might be a scientist when in fact he is not. It is never mentioned that he is (pretty much by his own admission) a dedicated anti capitalist campaigner and well to the left.
'Today, they slyly tried to report indirect speech as direct speech. They quoted the Guardian and the Independent saying that George Bush said he was told by God to invade Iraq. I am pretty sure that these newspapers would have reported that this was according to someone on a Palestinian delegation (who would be biased in the matter). I have no doubt that the Today program knew that this was an indirect quote, but they presented it in a direct way. Further, the White House has denied this. Do you think this denial will be reported on the Today programme?
'The irony for me is that I grew up in South Africa and as a child
listened to a transplant of the Today program - that was indentical in form to the UK version. This was essentially used to support the
policies of the then South African government. The Today program in the UK reminds me of the South African version in the way in which the same sleazy tricks are used. Amazingly, both versions used the "Thought for the Day Slot" as a propaganda slot. I am struck by how most participants on "Thought for the Day" mention scriptures as little as humanly possible. "Thought for the day" was meant to be religious but it is now an opportunity for left wing or at least "right on" commentary. Time after time commentators will say just one sentence mentioning a religious text or theme. I wait for the day when someone just editorialises with no religious content at all. We should campaign to remove this toxic editorial slot (another complaint perhaps to the BBC board).
'I am a consumer of a radio news programme in the morning and it is a great shame that there is not another competing news programme. (Of course, the BBC is so smug about American news, but at least in the US you have some choice of political discourse on the radio). Often, in frustration, I just have to change to Virgin Radio and just listen to music.'
