Greg Philo: Broadcasters often end up going for the safest option

Published on Friday 10 February 2012 00:00

THE BBC’s decision not to include Alex Salmond in their coverage of the Scotland v England rugby match was, for them, the correct one.

For broadcasters covering politics, the first rule is that they reflect the balance between the government and the opposition – that is the core of our parliamentary democracy.

If they had approached him because he happened to be at the match, there would have been no problem.

But if Mr Salmond initiated the contact, then it would have triggered the BBC’s editorial rules about balance. The subsequent outcry from SNP figures highlights the difficulties broadcasters have in covering the political arena.

The need to ensure impartiality, something all broadcasters are obliged to uphold, is paramount in the minds of broadcasters.

They know they will have to deal with a welter of complaints for perceived bias this way or that. It means the political coverage in the crucial main news bulletins and in contentious areas will often end up going for the safest option.

Broadcasters go with their natural instinct and will often avoid anything particularly controversial. In the case of the independence referendum, there are numerous controversial issues that could be examined.

Take, for example, the issue of racism against English people living in Scotland? Or who is going to discuss the possible effects on an industry such as tourism if Scotland were to become independent. What about sectarianism in Scotland?

Broadcasters’ content is also limited by the way broadcasters are forced to select their speakers. While newspapers can allow more space for independent comment, the broadcasters are duty-bound to give balanced air-time to the politicians.

The broadcasters need to be a bit more brave and to see part of their job as being to upset cosy relationships between politicians, and to bring in more and varied comment from people who are not afraid to ask the difficult questions.

• Greg Philo is professor of communications at Glasgow University.

Comments

There are 6 comments to this article

Order by:

• Newest first
• |
• Oldest first

Page 1 of 1

• 1
• Show all

6

JPJ2

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 08:51 PM

I am sure that Pravda have a good line in self justification that they can pass on to the MSM MacPravdas in Scotland.

• Report Unsuitable

5

Broon Bairn

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:57 AM

4. Yes, one can spot the start of the dis-information campaign a mile away. And, usually before an election here, there's an upsurge in "Tartan Terror" stories, with non-existent, or laughably miniscule, so-called "groups" of swivel-eyed rabid nationalists, just waiting to set off deadly weapons of mass-destruction (ie, tuppeny bangers or jumpin-jacks) against the dastardly English. Tactics like this have been used before around the world - risible efforts really, which most Scots chortle at over their cornflakes each morning.

• Report Unsuitable

4

Goodbye London Labour

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:29 AM

Talking of programme balance, a few years ago we were shown a documentary about anti-Englishness in Scotland. I know for a fact that we were never shown a similar documentary about anti-Scottishness in England. Why not? Is it because the latter documentary would have had to be at least three hours long?

• Report Unsuitable

3

Broon Bairn

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:38 AM

It's surely not a question of what's good for the BBC, but what's good for the public, and for democracy generally. When a publicly-funded organisation has, as its first priority, its own interests and its own survival, then it's time to overhaul the whole structure. We must improve accountability here.

• Report Unsuitable

2

Brit-free

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:57 AM

this chancer once worked out of Glasgow Uni monitoring the every pronouncment of the Thatcher ascendancy , to check for media bias ....once his party ....the vile labourites , attained power and used their new found influence over the media to smear and lie and generaly misrepresent the S N P .....the authors commitment to a balanced media proved to be wafer thin ....labourite placemen ...like Dunnion etc ....are winkled deep into the fabric of Scottish life .....it will take a long time to to remove them

• Report Unsuitable

1

Angus McLellan

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:44 AM

"[T]te broadcasters are duty-bound to give balanced air-time to the politicians". Complete stuff and nonsense. The Greens have 2 seats at Holyrood, the Lib Dems 5 and yet any panel will almost always have a Lib Dem and never a Green. The same could be said for overall balance. The SNP and Greens, the pro-independence parties, have half of the seats and yet any panel will have one pro-independence representative and two or three unionists.

• Report Unsuitable

Order by:

• Newest first
• |
• Oldest first

Page 1 of 1

• 1
• Show all

Logged in as:

Comment here. Start typing your comment here:

Post comment

Please adhere to our Community guidelines

Your view

Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.