"BBC Is NOT Institutionally Biased": Author of Explosive Memo Defends Report in Fiery Hearing | APT - video Dailymotion

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The author of a controversial internal memo, Michael Prescott, told UK lawmakers on November 24 that the BBC is not “institutionally biased”, pushing back against allegations that have fueled one of the broadcaster’s biggest political storms in years.  Speaking before the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Prescott defended the memo he wrote as an independent advisor, stressing that it highlighted “incipient problems” and systemic issues, but not institutional political bias.  Lawmakers pressed him on his personal bias, his assessment of the BBC’s Westminster coverage, and the accuracy of his memo compared to the David Grossman report. Former BBC independent advisor Caroline Daniels also weighed in, saying the memo was “a personal account, not a comprehensive review.”  #BBC #UKPolitics #BBCBias #Parliament #MichaelPrescott #CultureCommittee #MediaBias #DavidGrossman #UKNews #Broadcasting #Journalism #PublicMedia #BBCNews

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00:00In her resignation statement, Deborah Turnis said that the recent allegations that the BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.

00:08Do you think the BBC is institutionally biased?

00:10No, I don't, and I'm sure someone's going to correct me pretty quickly if I'm wrong,

00:14but I just re-read the memo yet again outside the door here.

00:17I don't think I use that phrase anywhere in the memo, and I do not think it's institutionally biased.

00:22Let's be very clear, tons of stuff the BBC does is world-class, both factual programming and non-factual programming.

00:30I was a political correspondent at the Daily Mirror, Sunday Times, other places for 14 years.

00:34I think the standard of BBC Westminster is exemplary, and that's why I keep saying these were incipient problems.

00:41We were finding the odd problem here, the odd problem there, and the crucial thing was,

00:45when I say odd problem here and there, every single thing we spotted, as per my memo, seemed to me to have systemic causes.

00:53And the root of my disagreement, and slight concern even today, is that the BBC was not, and I hope they will change, but will they,

01:03treating these as having systemic causes. There's real work that needs to be done at the BBC.

01:07...of hours of coverage. So, there was a healthy debate, I mean, you've heard from Michael's,

01:12but in my view, was the BBC willing to have a proper conversation, debate, and actually take action?

01:18And in my view, yes, they were.

01:21Thank you, Chair. Mr Prescott, you've just said that the BBC is not institutionally biased.

01:29What is your bias, if you have one?

01:33It's always a tough job, isn't it, spotted your own biases? I mean, you know when you read about these centrist dads,

01:39I think I'm a centrist dad, that would probably cover it. I mean, actually, you know what, to that question,

01:44there are a lot of people. I know you folks haven't gone here so far, but there's been a lot of stuff

01:51in some of the papers about Robbie Gibb, and the Chair was asking, was one personality more dominant

01:59than another? You're asking about my preferences. I am no ideological soulmate of Robbie Gibb, for example.

02:04I'm a centrist dad.

02:06Have you seen David Grossman's report? Have you read it?

02:12Yes.

02:13Have you read Michael's memo?

02:18Yes.

02:19And would you agree that Michael's memo was an accurate reflection or response to that Grossman report?

02:29I would say that Michael's memo does not provide a comprehensive view of what was in the David Grossman report.

02:35What do you think was missing?

02:36I think the David Grossman report covered a lot of ground, significant areas like the coverage

02:44of the election and the use of polling, issues like who was being represented on programmes,

02:51issues of impartiality. There was obviously a BBC response to it as well, which was also significant.

02:57They did engage with each of the details of the David Grossman report.

03:00I don't think Michael's account is a personal account rather than a comprehensive review

03:06of everything that was covered in the committee.

03:07You describe it as biased?

03:10I would not choose to characterise it that way. I think it's a personal account of what

03:15Michael wanted to bring before the board.

03:18It was meant. I think Caroline's remarks may well be fair because I'm...

03:30...

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03:37so

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"BBC Is NOT Institutionally Biased": Author of Explosive Memo Defends Report in Fiery Hearing | APT

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