BBC bias

[james armstrong]

The BBC are as thick as two short planks. Either that
or  propagandists.  

-what Franz Fanon calls , ‘bewilderers’

Helen Marks on ‘Open country’ BBC Radio 4 , 14th April, said ,in the
context of the plan to

build 1000 new houses near Newbury 

“Agricultural  land is
scarce. ”  without any qualifications, (or
source)  

The truth is that of the UK’s
total 60 million acres, 46million are agricultural use.

Some 77%. 

These figures are 
derived from Annual Abstract 
after converting  square
kilometres into

Hectares – (but why should I give sources when BBC doesn’t?)


Three members of Council 
for Protection of Rural England opposed the plan on air .

Without declaring 
their interest as landowners? As multiple houseowners, as well-housed
people?  Only one acknowledged his
membership of CPRE.

(I suggest that CPRE engineered the whole BBC programme  as NFU regularly do) 

None identified or suggested a  specific alternative site for the new houses.


No homeless people were interviewed .

Fictional characters, rabbits,  from Watership Down  were 
quoted at length.  

 A planning officer
stated the case for developing  this
site- it adjoined houses and it was near a new 
shopping precinct. 

 

The ignorance of the BBC is breathtaking - of  the unqualified statement that ‘agricultural
land is scarce.’ (no mention of that agriculture uses 77 per cent of all UK
land, or of the 1million acres of pony paddocks, or 1million acres of set
aside  etc. )

Also interests should be declared -  the interest of the CPRE people was not, so   we
don’t know  if those interviewed are
well-hoiused or multiple housed and in no  need of new
houses . They  should  detail exactly where the alternative sites are for each of
the 1,000  houses if not on Watership Down’ 

  

A Radio 4  ‘ Open Country ‘ programme devoted to housing  gave  no
background to the issue, not the  2million
backlog of unbuilt houses needed as identified by Barker nor the record low
numbers  built since the Barker Review,
nor of out of reach prices…... 

 

It was  wrong to cast
the  planning officer as an advocate for
new houses –  the planning decision represents
the views of   CPRE members as well as of other people
including  those needing housing.

The voice of the homeless , and of the house-needy , of
selfbuilders seeking sites,  and of those  informed of the national housing issues and
of  those advocating  repopulating the deserted English countryside
 is needed and was missing .

 

Such  programmes as
this  demonstrate institutional bias , by
the public services broadcasting medium. 
And  the influence of  lobby 
groups  to mould the public  policy. 

 

But what can you expect from a programme which quotes Hazel
and Fiver , two fictional rabbits,  and
the   people who need houses were not heard?   

 

TLIO AND DIGGERS  absolutely need to focus on  Open Country, Country File , Farming Today etc
with a view to  creating  opportunities for and being heard on  programmes  which better inform people about  land matters and  which expose lobbyiong  by powerful interests.  

I feel another leaflet coming on.   James 
 		 	   		  
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