Letter: Media harrying

For her the harrying of ministers in trouble, something which has been standard BBC fare since Thatcher's time, is intolerable if it is directed at the SNP.

For the past four years, Alex Salmond's news manager, Kevin Pringle, has been harrying news editors with angry phone calls and e-mails over similar issues.

And I think the party's media machine has obtained results, since there is plenty that the SNP gets up to just beneath the radar screen which the BBC is reluctant to explore. One test of the BBC's editorial values will be the extent to which it gives a voice to those who think that education minister Michael Russell's decision to single out English students for a massive financial levy is nothing less than racist.

Indeed, it was exactly this kind of thing that regimes hostile to particular ethnic and religious minorities got up to between the two world wars.

(Prof) Tom Gallagher

Dept of Peace Studies

University of Bradford

Bradford

Atholl Duncan of BBC Scotland says Scotsman readers and BBC viewers would judge the corporation on the accuracy of its reports (Letters, 16 December).

My judgment is that BBC Newsnight Scotland is not inaccurate - the reports are usually excellent - but the interviews are crass and littered with leading questions.

The asking five times for an apology from the Scottish transport secretary is an example. And on 16 December, BBC Newsnight's treatment of Julian Asssange only confirmed my view.

Iain W D Forde

Causewayend Main Street

Scotlandwell, Kinross-shire

I feel that Radio Scotland could have been doing a great deal more during the current weather for the community it is supposed to serve. With the resources at its disposal throughout Scotland, a really valuable and important service could have been provided.

Instead of merely reporting what had happened, normal programming could have been abandoned in favour of advice, local situation reports, available contacts and a phone-in service for the elderly and infirm, or indeed anyone worried or stranded.

What a missed opportunity this has been to enhance the reputation of the organisation.

Alistair McEwen

Cramond Brig Toll

Edinburgh