It's commonplace on the left to say that the BBC is on the side of the right, and supports the government. It's not a view I have usually held, although I can get frustrated, like anyone else.
Emily Maitlis was not mincing her words on coronavirus when she said this. Sometimes we need to remember such things:
Emily Maitlis with powerful words that needed saying tonight. pic.twitter.com/yqNgxlHoJU
— Huw (@ed_son) April 8, 2020
Thanks for reading this post.
You can share this post on social media of your choice by clicking these icons:
You can subscribe to this blog's daily email here.
And if you would like to support this blog you can, here:
Does she write her own comments or are they written by the producer?
Whoever it was, it was on the nail.
I suspect this was her
Outstanding, but then Emily Maitlis and Newsnight have always been much more forensic and challenging. Eddie Mair on PM used to be the same until he (was) moved on.
I still find Today still pretty unlistenable with little detailed analysis or challenge from any of their team. A day or two ago, even broadcasting a Sarah Vine tweet…. It will be Hopkins or Hartley Brewer next…
I simply cannot listen to Today
It wasn’t just John Humphrys….
Good for her! What a breath of fresh air – politicians appearing on TV and radio have been rattling as to not answer questions that should be just ‘yes’ or ‘no’. They need to know the public is not fooled by their blathering.
Hopefully more in the BBC will get their Mojo back and sharpen up their interview skills.
Most likely her words and possibly her idea to start the programme like this but this would have been agreed with the editor – just like Andrew Neil’s piece to camera about Boris Johnson’s timidity before the election would have been. You can’t have solo runs when making television, news and current affairs in particular. The whole thing would break down pretty quickly otherwise, because you depend on too many others to get the thing made, ie, it’s a team.
My experience of teams like this is the presenter does have considerable influence – but this was scripted
No doubt she has a lot of influence as the senior presenter on the show. I, for one, think the left’s view of the BBC is exaggerated, to put it mildly. Everyone has their own view of what it should be and do, and the journalists and editors are under unbelievable pressure every day of the week. On the politics side alone, government and opposition press people bawling you out all day is not my idea of fun. Be careful what you wish for, is a pretty good place to start in any critique of the Beeb.
We agree Ralph…
Remember, the Tories hate them too, for being too left-wing
Sorry, but no. The BBC is, and always will be, a Govt. mouthpiece. Maitlis’ comment is down to cynical timing, rather than real concern. In 2017 and 2019, there was the opportunity to elect a chancellor, who might go someway to implementing some of the ideas she is now espousing. The BBC chose to assist in the prevention of this.
Now, of course, that threat has passed, the BBC are comfortable that which ever party is in power, nothing will change.
So they can relax.
Well said Emily Maitlis. And not before time. ‘We need to remember such things ALWAYS’.
The socio-economic impact of the virus cannot be understated nor underestimated. It will bring local and global inequality into the spot-light which the reactionary forces of Capitalism will do everything within their power to suppress. The future is looking more uncertain than at any time since 1945. Back then the Allied powers had a practical and well-focused plan for the reconstruction of the man-made damage wreaked on societies. Unfortunately the social (class) gains proved relatively short-term and not radically transformative in a progressive sense. Only time will tell if this crisis will prove to be the catalyst needed to rebuild a fairer and more sustainable society. But the opportunity is certainly being presented. I wonder what Marx and Engels would have to say!
“I wonder what Marx and Engels would have to say!”
Try this on for size John
“Hence Capital is reckless of the health or length of life of the labourer, unless under compulsion from society.” Capital Vol1 Ch 10
What she says is true, but of course the BBC allowed and helped the tories get in to power twice and even now do not hold the powerful to account. Also the stories of disabled people et al are being asked to sign a DNR forms just to “help the NHS” and their families is horrifying.
I am off to the doctors next week and i will state publicly i am very disturbed by the above and will refuse to sign “Do not resuscitate”form when and if it is asked.
I really do not agreed that the BBC agreed to this….
Be careful what you wish for. What do you want, a wholly private sector media?
A properly independant regulator, with actual enforcement powers, would be a start.
The words are quite true to be honest.
True or not however, I will not let the BBC off the hook. If they really were Left wing or even just trying to help, then those words would have been spoken during prime time TV and not (like so much good content these days) put on the grave yard shift. Sorry BBC – I will not miss you when you’re gone – hopefully soon (just get the last instalment of Wolf Hall done first though so I can have some happy memories in my BBC boxed set collection – aaahhh halcyon days).
Eddie Mair was just bitchy – couldn’t stand him – his bitchiness even extended to the more decent politicians – his bitchiness did not discriminate; John Humphreys thought his opinion was the news in the end and the current ex-IFS member Evan Davies has not got a clue and I’m sure comes to work everyday having had too many poppers the night before.
But to build on Richard’s valid point, the whole of British broadcasting needs looking at. Since Thatcher deregulated it, it’s been about soma for the masses – entertainment – and nothing else (going after ratings to get more advertising revenue in). The BBC is ill-equipped to compete really so some levelling needs doing of the market.
One of the things I would do is ban ex-politicians having jobs in the media – so goodbye Mathew Parris, Nick Robinson and Michael Portillo for starters. ‘Same for the others too – sorry!
She was simply stating the obvious. Did she say anything that a decent person was not already thinking.
The surprise is that the BBC is stating the obvious. Maybe it feels that now Corbyn has gone it can state the obvious wthout endorsing Corbyn’s policies.
But it’s all too late. We are where we are because of Newsnight and Maitliss.
Health and Social Care Act, Major’s PFI, Blair’s Foundation Trusts, Internal Markets, Outsourcing cleaning services, Social Care Privatised, Public Sector minimised, junior doctors villified, nursing bursaries removed, Britannia Unchained.
She supported all of it.
Oh come on…..they reported it
Are you saying Paul Mason supported all this stuff when he worked there?
Really?
For heaven’s sake get a grip…
And ask – what do you want instead? Because Fox is the alternative
Richard
My views on the BBC are based on lots if issues but central to my disliking of mainstream media is that it spends too much time shoving orthodox thinking down our throats that it does not matter which organisation does it because they are all at it. So what if BBC becomes Fox? It makes no difference because they are all competing over market share for the same content. I’m sorry but that is the way it is.
To the citizen who wants to walk around with their eyes open, the BBC is really no help whatsoever. Those of us who are genuinely heterodox and looking for new things should really be looking elsewhere – to your blog for example and – yes – others too.
But not on the BBC. It’s a shame but there it is.
Hah!
The BBC can make comments now there is a Tory government and Tory Labour party back in play.
It’s all a great con.
With respect, if you really want to make silly comments please got somewhere else
I am sure whatever is left of the SWP can accommodate you
I will be critical of the Labour Party when appropriate. But commentary at the level you made is really of no use too debate at all
FWIW, I think you’re one of the most radical writers anywhere at the moment despite your reticence to recognise the absurdity of our culture. I am not an SWP type but it makes no sense to me to pretend the political system has anything to offer human wellbeing.
Still, I come with utmost respect and think that your insights about money should be read by everyone and could ignite the revolution, whatever that means.
What I am saying is, understand that reform does not require anyone to be absurd
Common sense demands it
Simple observation does too
No one needs to overstate the case for a better world – it is all around us
The UKEng Gov have done a very clever thing in brainwashing people by dividing them into sections. Just two when it comes to the BBC. Those on the left believe the BBC is right wing, those on the right believe it’s left wing! Very clever, because at the same time, many people still believe the BBC is working for the public good, when in fact it’s a very effective propaganda machine for the Britnat state.
Excellently orchestrated, have to at least credit the powers that be up on high in government and those that work for them behind the scenes, for this wool pulled over the eyes of the people tactic, amazing.
Who is this Britnat state?
I have never seen it
I have no clue who populates it
And I know no one near power who has
There are undoubtedly homogeneric bodies of thought that have influence, of course. This is obvious. I often disagree with that thinking
But what is the Britnat state?
Just read a report sayingPritti Patel would like to get rid of people who are at present risking their lives to keep this country viable. do you suppose the offspring of the wealthy classes can be coerced into working in carehomes and training as plummers, cleaners, drivers and the like in their place?
No….
No different to what Corbyn had been saying for years now, but he was a mad man terrorist sympathiser according to the press. Remember the groans in the audience when he talked about the poor and inequality in the leader’s debate?
Corbyn did not invent debate on such issues
Just saying……
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_Media_Group
I regret to point out that says more about you than COMbbc, a blatantly partial state broadcaster with form all the way from founding; the facts are against you. I haven’t watched or listened to it for decades* but I hear about it from other people. I collapse into giggles pointing out that the only news broadcaster that provides the quality reportage that I took for granted on TradBBC in the 70s is RT and that isn’t a patch on the Russia Today of a few years ago.
* Copenhagen (2002), the last film by any form of BBC that was worth a damn, was only obtainable as a US import when I bought one.
Im assuming this is a parody account – the RT reference is a bit of a give away…
A fool and his assumptions are soon parted. I meant every word and I’m someone who began watching TV in the 60s. I have 50 years’ experience.
Robin is no fool…
My assumption confirmed – the alternative is worse!
I hear North Korean TV is also a pretty reliable source of news…
And Im a critic of current BBC news reporting – but to compare them to RT is hilarious.