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At the risk of harping 
on about James Naughtie, his contributions to the first paper review of this morning (6.12 am) began with the Lord Ashcroft story. He started with The Times (yes, not The Guardian for once!). The Times has been heavily critical of Lord Ashcroft, so Naughtie read its headline, then a short extract from the accompanying article, then a longer extract from its condemnatory main leader. Then he moved on very briefly to The Daily Mirror (anti-Tory) and The Sun (pro-Tory). His second appearance mentioned the FT's report on the falling pound. Naughtie adopted an incredulous tone and said "It makes the assertion that this is entirely because of the shrinking Conservative lead in the opinion polls." The way he emphasized the word "assertion" showed what he thought of the idea.
on about James Naughtie, his contributions to the first paper review of this morning (6.12 am) began with the Lord Ashcroft story. He started with The Times (yes, not The Guardian for once!). The Times has been heavily critical of Lord Ashcroft, so Naughtie read its headline, then a short extract from the accompanying article, then a longer extract from its condemnatory main leader. Then he moved on very briefly to The Daily Mirror (anti-Tory) and The Sun (pro-Tory). His second appearance mentioned the FT's report on the falling pound. Naughtie adopted an incredulous tone and said "It makes the assertion that this is entirely because of the shrinking Conservative lead in the opinion polls." The way he emphasized the word "assertion" showed what he thought of the idea. *
In the second paper review (6.44), after John Humphrys had dealt with The Daily Telegraph's support for Lord Ashcroft, Naughtie reviewed the anti-Ashcroft papers, The Guardian, The Mirror, The Independent and The Times, dwelling this time on the Independent's leader column.
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In the third paper review (7.40) The Telegraph's (and Sun's) support vanished, leaving us merely with a litany of anti-Ashcroft opinion from of The Guardian, The Independent, The Mirror and The Times, read out by by John Humphrys. Naughtie, following on from John Humprhys, moved on to another story altogether. Could he not bring himself to read out something supportive of the Tories from, say, The Telegraph? He was soon to find time for Greg Dyke in The Guardian though.
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BBC letters page on Ceefax yesterday - 3 or 4 letter all attacking the Tories. 'Looking after themeselves', 'Typical Tories scum expect more of the same', 'how dare they talk about patriotism' etc.
ReplyDeleteToday, will there be any letters attempting to redress the balance? No of course not. No letters pointing out he didn't break any laws, no mention of the Labour non-doms and their donations to Labour. Just one letter on the subject - another thinly disguised attack on the Tory party.
The BBC simply don't do balance. Ever.
They don't seem to be reminding us of Mandelson's mortgage fraud either.
ReplyDeleteThe photo doesn't look like James Naughtie to me.
ReplyDeleteLlew, that seems to be pretty standard practice at the BBC, doesn't it? I'm still grimly smiling at Paddy O'Connell's shameless use of just pro-Labour e-mails on Radio 4's 'Broadcasting House'. As HYS provided a means for people from the real world to evade such 'moderation', it clearly had to be changed, especially with an election coming.
ReplyDeleteGrant, I promise to feature a photo of Jim soon - though this is a politician's promise!!!!
Craig, For once I like politicians' promises !
ReplyDelete