Comments | ontd_political: Britain needs a bullshit news channel too?

mock_epic in ontd_political

Britain needs a bullshit news channel too?

Dec 18, 2010 00:27

Mark Thompson: Britain needs a channel like Fox News

BBC's director general says rules on impartiality on television are outdated in internet era and advocates opinionated journalism

( D: The Daily Mail could have it's own news channel... )

wtf, rupert murdoch, bbc

Comments 15

paulnolan December 18 2010, 01:32:09 UTC

As if Sky News wasn't bad enough already.

*sticking with Channel 4 News, tyvm*

paulnolan December 18 2010, 01:35:53 UTC

Also, I want to say with our news providers being so good and (mostly) impartial, a channel like Fox would fail over here due to how outré it would seem alongside C4, ITN and the Beeb. But then again I feel like my country would disappoint me. :/

bethan_b_bad December 18 2010, 02:54:52 UTC

I remember hearing at one point that we can get Fox News in the UK already? It's included with some of the Sky stuff or whatevs.

Like you, I'd like to think that it could never take off over here, but then look at the Daily Fail's sales figures...

bethan_b_bad December 18 2010, 02:53:34 UTC

I seriously cannot wait to be done with uni and get on with my master plan to take over BBC News and sort it the fuck out.

mephisto5 December 18 2010, 11:48:01 UTC

Please do. There coverage of the protests so far has been shameful.

spinnigold December 18 2010, 17:14:15 UTC

Ahahah, we have the same master plan!

kitschaster December 18 2010, 04:23:10 UTC

"The BBC and Channel 4 have a history of clearly labelled polemical programmes. But why not entire polemical channels which have got stronger opinions? I find the argument persuasive."

Because then, like with Fox News, some people wouldn't be able to tell the difference between facts and opinions.

It seems to me like very few news outlets value facts over opinionated fiction, and witch hunts are more favorable because people these days are already looking for any reason to fight. Though I don't like the fact that Fox has more viewers than CNN, even if CNN is mostly entertainment news these days. If CNN is entertainment news, then Fox is like TMZ for politics.

filbypott December 18 2010, 04:28:24 UTC

Was Thompson appointed by the Cameron ministry?

windy_lea December 18 2010, 07:16:17 UTC

I don't believe that necessarily means you get the dire consequences that some people see in America. Having a broader range of channels would actually strengthen that enduring tradition of impartial journalism across BBC, ITN and Channel 4. They would continue to be trusted.

What reason does he have to believe that it would play out all that differently?

There was a logic in allowing impartial broadcasters to have a monopoly of the broadcasting space. But in the future, maybe there should be a broad range of choices? Why shouldn't the public be able to see and hear, as well as read, a range of opinionated journalism and then make up their own mind what they think about it? The BBC and Channel 4 have a history of clearly labelled polemical programmes. But why not entire polemical channels which have got stronger opinions? I find the argument persuasive.On what grounds does he find it persuasive? How is watching opinionated news going to contribute more to "making up your own mind" about a subject than watching more impartial news ( ... )