BBC journalists are being sent on courses to stop them inviting so many cranks onto programmes to air ‘marginal views’
The BBC Trust on Thursday published a progress report into the corporation’s science coverage which was criticised in 2012 for giving too much air-time to critics who oppose non-contentious issues.
The report found that there was still an ‘over-rigid application of editorial guidelines on impartiality’ which sought to give the ‘other side’ of the argument, even if that viewpoint was widely dismissed.
Some 200 staff have already attended seminars and workshops and more will be invited on courses in the coming months to stop them giving ‘undue attention to marginal opinion.’
“The Trust wishes to emphasise the importance of attempting to establish where the weight of scientific agreement may be found and make that clear to audiences,” wrote the report authors.
“Science coverage does not simply lie in reflecting a wide range of views but depends on the varying degree of prominence such views should be given.”
The Trust said that man-made climate change was one area where too much weight had been given to unqualified critics.
You know if this has an effect it might be nice to ask the BBC if America can send their "journalists" to the courses as well.
I would also suggest a similar program for public schools in the south to keep them from "teaching the controversy" when it comes to science instruction.
I would also suggest sending the Fox News folks there as well, but since this is an educational course it is unlikely to have much of an impact.
It is awful to hear "the other side" of the climate change issue on NPR. I think ABC does a better job covering climate change than NPR. I think your cartoon explains it very well. The deniers don't have much to offer other than "Al Gore".
ReplyDeleteDuring the Bush years, PBS/NPR became so frightened of losing funding that they bent over backwards to appease the right. That seems to mean that, for every ten words spoken by a liberal, twenty or thirty need to be spoken by a conservative.
DeleteAnd "balanced" news shouldn't mean having to give at least 50% of the time to the wing nuts who are lying and/or stupid. It should mean getting your facts straight (facts, not opinions) and presenting them so that the audience will understand. God only knows what passes for journalism courses now!
Beaglemom
Meanwhile, it 'How Stupid Can They Be' Land...
ReplyDeleteConservatives Intentionally Making Their Cars Spew Black Smoke To Stick It To Obama, Liberals
http://www.alan.com/2014/07/06/conservatives-intentionally-making-their-cars-spew-black-smoke-to-stick-it-to-obama-liberals/
Good luck with that in NJ - unless the laws have changed.
DeleteWhen I was living there any smoking vehicle was pulled over and given a warning. If pulled over again a ticket was issued. They were serious about getting your vehicle repaired!
"I would also suggest sending the Fox News folks there as well, but since this is an educational course it is unlikely to have much of an impact."
ReplyDeleteAlso, it would probabbly be necessary to send them to several years of true science courses before they could even understand the difference between FACT and Faux fact!
Cutting Through The Conservative Lies About The Hobby Lobby Ruling
ReplyDeleteThe idiom “scratch the surface” generally means just beginning to find out about something, or only superficially examining what could be a very complex issue. The complexities of the Hobby Lobby decision are far deeper than just giving a corporation religious freedom, or allowing religious corporation to withhold contraceptives from their organization’s healthcare prescription plans. Those two issues alone will have a devastating affect on any religious business or corporation’s employees, but after doing a cursory reading of the Hobby Lobby et al complaint, the High Court decision will immediately affect more than just their employees.
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/07/06/cutting-conservative-lies-hobby-lobby-ruling.html
Otherwise known as Journo 201, although training on this starts in 101.
ReplyDeleteThe state of the "news" business is a far cry from what it once was. The fifth estate, including the news and some blogs, have failed miserably and lost sight of what REAL integrity means. I don't mind seeing a program that discusses both science and creationism, it's when they're considered interchangeable or equally acceptable is where my problem lies.
ReplyDeleteThe BBC should be applauded for doing this, and I hope everyone follows suit.
Speaking of "not news", Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham appeared together on Face the Nation and unleashed the hounds of war and bashing that President Obama for not sending MORE troops, MORE money, and MORE blood to spill in Iraq, Afghanistan and for not fixing the middle east.
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/07/06/cbs-john-mccain-lindsey-graham-beat-war-drums-iraq-israel.html