1 Topic by ☭ Fokker (edited by ☭ Fokker 07-May-2008 21:05:57)

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Topic: [UK] Is the BBC really free?

[Warning]This is NOT a place to discuss Cannabis, if you want to do that open a new thread.[/Warning]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7387695.stm

According to the title of this article the opinion on cannabis is split, however I see very little difference between the two examples given. Both are horror stories which leave out key facts or try to hide or twist the truth, for example the fact that the husband was already mentally ill and that cannabis use simply worsened his condition rather than causing it, or the fact that using an kind of drug while your brain is still developing can have serious ramifications later in life.

But anyway, what I want to discuss is NOT the content of the article (even though I did a little), but the layout, the presentation, the possibility that the BBC is still under government control after ten years of freedom, and is twisting what it can to make the news fall in line with the Government line.

[Edit]

Perhaps what I'm asking is: Is the BBC still a form of mind control?

"So, it's defeat for you, is it? Someday I must meet a similar fate..."

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Re: [UK] Is the BBC really free?

I agree that I don't think that is a balanced article in any way. It claims to look at "both sides of the debate" but only gives two negative examples.

However, I don't think the BBC is pro government at all. Just think back to the fact that it was the BBC who first broke the story of the accusations about "sexing up" the Iraq dossier and all the crap that went on after that with David Kelly and the public inquiry.

The BBC is sometimes accused of having a left wing, liberal bias, but this story seems to go against that as a more liberal view would usually be in favour of decriminalising cannabis.

The reason that a negative slant is put on cannabis is probably just because the BBC is a public service broadcaster, and as such can not be seen to in any way promote or endorse the use of an illegal drug which has documented mental health risks attached to it.

It would have been better if the "pro" example was say an MS sufferer who used cannabis medicinally. I believe that even with the moral responsibility of not promoting illegal activity, the BBC should still be able to be used as a forum for balanced, sensible, adult debate and in this case it has failed to do that.

In conclusion, I would say that this article does not indicate a cultural bias of the BBC, but is just a particularly badly written article and that the writer/editor has been over zealous in enforcing the responsibility of the BBC not to promote illegal activity.

Just an end note, I actually never really find bbc.co.uk to be very well written. Most articles are poorly put together and with typing and grammar errors which you would not expect from the BBC. It is something I think they should pay more attention to rather than just boshing together articles and sticking them up without really thinking about it.

tweehonderd graden, dat is waarom ze me mr. fahrenheit noemen, ik reis aan de snelheid van het licht, ik ga een supersonische man van u maken

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Re: [UK] Is the BBC really free?

"The BBC is sometimes accused of having a left wing, liberal bias"

the BBC actually came out and admitted that not long ago.

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Re: [UK] Is the BBC really free?

Well, it was highlighted in a BBC report on itself. In order to ensure impartiality, if any such bias exists it has to be identified in order to be dealt with. I am happy that the BBC does such soul searching reports and is so self critical, as that is the way to become as reliable as it can be. Although I have to say, I personally prefer channel 4 news.

tweehonderd graden, dat is waarom ze me mr. fahrenheit noemen, ik reis aan de snelheid van het licht, ik ga een supersonische man van u maken

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5 Reply by ThisYearsMostOpen

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Re: [UK] Is the BBC really free?

bbc is not free - it cost me like

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Re: [UK] Is the BBC really free?

that's pretty retarded, making you pay like that.

...God bless zhe U S A

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Re: [UK] Is the BBC really free?

What is worse about the Television license is that you pay extra money for things such as Sky!  So you end up paying twice..

I agree with SD on the BBC debate, as it has caused more arguments in my household than the actual piece of news.

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Re: [UK] Is the BBC really free?

"bbc is not free - it cost me like

"So, it's defeat for you, is it? Someday I must meet a similar fate..."

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