Cal Thomas: The biased broadcasting corporation
In a recent email exchange between two friends in London, the focus was on the significant editing scandal that led to the resignation of two high-ranking officials at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). This controversy erupted after it was revealed that the BBC had spliced together two segments of a speech by former President Donald Trump delivered on January 6, 2021. The edits distorted the original message, making it appear as if Trump was inciting his supporters to violently storm the Capitol, which sparked outrage and accusations of bias against the BBC. One of the emailers expressed that the first “B” in BBC should stand for “bias,” drawing a parallel to how some conservatives labeled CNN as the “Clinton News Network” during the Clinton administration due to perceived political favoritism.
The discussion highlighted the broader implications of media bias, with one writer dismissing the edits as a mere “mistake.” However, the other argued that this was a deliberate act aimed at shaping public perception of Trump negatively. This incident raises concerns about the integrity of journalism, reminiscent of previous instances where news outlets, such as CBS, have been accused of editing interviews to fit a liberal narrative. The email exchange also commended the London Daily Telegraph for its commitment to uncovering the truth behind the BBC’s actions. Historical context was provided, noting that during World War II, the BBC was a reliable source of information, but its credibility has waned in recent years. A survey revealed that trust in the BBC is significantly influenced by political affiliation, indicating a growing divide in public perception of the broadcaster.
The BBC’s credibility has faced scrutiny before, particularly regarding its coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and climate change. Additionally, a Wall Street Journal editorial pointed out the existence of a dedicated LGBTQ desk within the BBC, which purportedly ensures favorable coverage of transgender issues while suppressing dissenting views. Compounding these issues is the controversial TV license fee, which mandates viewers to pay annually for access to BBC services, raising questions about the fairness and accountability of the organization. The recent resignations at the BBC, including that of director general Tim Davie, reflect a growing acknowledgment of the challenges facing the broadcaster in maintaining its integrity. As media outlets grapple with perceptions of bias, the call for more diverse viewpoints within their ranks becomes increasingly urgent, particularly for institutions like the BBC, which are expected to serve the public with impartiality and accuracy.
Two friends email from London about theÂ
editing scandal
 that led to the resignation of two top officials from the British Broadcasting Corporation. The resignations followed exposure of the splicing together of two parts of a speech by President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021.The edits made it look and sound like the president was urging his followers to violently attack the Capitol.
One emailer said the first “B” in BBC should stand for bias. That reminded me of what some conservatives called CNN during the Clinton administration (the Clinton News Network), because of their perceived bias.
The second writer said the edit was only a “mistake.” It wasn’t a mistake. It was deliberate and it was made with the intention of having viewers accept their desired negative opinion of Trump. In another country and in another era, this would be called propaganda. If this sounds like the editing of the CBS “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris to make her sound articulate, it should. Both flowed from the same liberal worldview.
Kudos to theÂ
London Daily Telegraph
 for practicing real journalism and exposing the edit of the Trump speech.
During World War II the BBC was a trusted source of information. It sent coded information to the French resistance and took other actions in support of the war effort. This was accurately depicted in the film “The Longest Day.” In recent years, the BBC has seen its level of trust decline.
A survey conducted by David Pickering ofÂ
The Conversation
, a news organization that calls itself “dedicated to facts and evidence,” noted that “Trust in the BBC is heavily conditioned by political identity.” The survey of 11,170 people in the UK “showed striking differences between how people with left-wing and right-wing party affiliations felt about the broadcaster.”
The editing incident isn’t the first time the credibility of the BBC has been called into question. Several internal studies have found the organization to have reported unfairly on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The studies changed nothing as the pro-Palestinian bias has continued. It is the same when it comes to their reporting on “climate change.”
AÂ
Wall Street Journal
 editorial notes the BBC has had an LGBTQ desk within its London headquarters to make sure stories were favorable about transgender issues. Stories that did not reflect the BBC’s “liberal orthodoxy” were suppressed, notes the Journal.
On top of this, streamers and owners of television sets are required to pay an annualÂ
TV license fee
 of £174.50 (about $230) per year for a color license and £58.50 ($77) for a black-and-white license, a compulsory payment used primarily to fund the BBC’s television, radio and online services.
Does anyone still own a black-and-white TV? And on top of this, viewers must watch endless commercials, some of which are more entertaining and creative than the programs.
Efforts by some conservative members of Parliament to eliminate the TV license fee have failed. As in America, politicians are reluctant to give up money.
Tim Davie
, the now-resigned director general of the BBC said in a statement: “This narrative will not just be given by our enemies. It’s our narrative. We own things.”
Right there you have the reason so much of the media in the UK and the U.S. are held in low regard. They think they “own things,” instead of exercising a responsibility to serve the people fairly and accurately. As with other exposures of bias, I suspect little will change within the BBC unless it follows the example of the new president ofÂ
CBS News
 and begins hiring reporters with a conservative worldview who will presumably report conservative ideas fairly and accurately.
Readers may email Cal Thomas atÂ
tcaeditors@tribpub.com
. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (HumanixBooks).
