BBC Engages in Activism

RandFan · 23rd April 2005, 07:35 PM

Quote:

BBC sends hecklers to bait Howard

The BBC was last night plunged into a damaging general election row after it admitted equipping three hecklers with microphones and sending them into a campaign meeting addressed by Michael Howard, the Conservative leader.

hecklers, who were given the microphones by producers, were caught at a party event in the North West last week. Guy Black, the party's head of communications, wrote in a letter to Helen Boaden, the BBC's director of news, that the hecklers began shouting slogans that were "distracting and clearly hostile to the Conservative Party".

Mycroft · 24th April 2005, 09:52 AM

Wow. You're supposed to report the news, not manufacture it. That's a hard-core breech of ethics.

Baker · 24th April 2005, 10:06 AM

Quote:

The Sunday Telegraph says the Tories accused the BBC of "serious misconduct" after producers equipped hecklers with radio microphones.

But the corporation said it was making a legitimate programme on the history and art of political heckling.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politi...ge/4477901.stm

There doesn't seem to be an explanation on why they picked a Conservative party meeting instead the Labor party for there history and art of political heckling story.

Kerberos · 24th April 2005, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baker
There doesn't seem to be an explanation on why they picked a Conservative party meeting instead the Labor party for there history and art of political heckling story.

They flipped a coin.

Baker · 24th April 2005, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kerberos
They flipped a coin.

Are perhaps they just picked Michael Howard's name out of a hat full of names of every British politician.

Kerberos · 24th April 2005, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baker
Are perhaps they just picked Michael Howard's name out of a hat full of names of every British politician.

How did you know? It's suposed to be a secret.

aerocontrols · 25th April 2005, 05:57 AM

How outrageous.

Reginald · 25th April 2005, 06:01 AM

It could be argued that it's making the news in the same way as an undercover reporter who gets past various security checks at some vital installation and then makes a documentary about the lack of security.

It could be argued, but I'm not going to.

The BBC can get silly now and then. Knowing when it's being silly is half the art.

DaChew · 25th April 2005, 06:51 AM

I'm doing a report on the history and art of censorship. I'd like the British government to shut down the BBC for a period of time so that I can gather information on the effects.

asthmatic camel · 25th April 2005, 07:29 AM

It's no great secret that the BBC is mostly run and staffed by left wingers, but they generally do their best to be impartial. This story, if true, stinks and those responsible should be sacked immediately.

Cleon · 25th April 2005, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by asthmatic camel
It's no great secret that the BBC is mostly run and staffed by left wingers, but they generally do their best to be impartial. This story, if true, stinks and those responsible should be sacked immediately.

As long as they don't cancel Doctor Who.

23rd April 2005, 07:35 PM	#1
RandFan Mormon Atheist Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 53,128	BBC Engages in Activism Quote: BBC sends hecklers to bait Howard The BBC was last night plunged into a damaging general election row after it admitted equipping three hecklers with microphones and sending them into a campaign meeting addressed by Michael Howard, the Conservative leader. hecklers, who were given the microphones by producers, were caught at a party event in the North West last week. Guy Black, the party's head of communications, wrote in a letter to Helen Boaden, the BBC's director of news, that the hecklers began shouting slogans that were "distracting and clearly hostile to the Conservative Party".
	__________________ Ego, ain't it a bitch? It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion. --Adam Smith

24th April 2005, 09:52 AM	#2
Mycroft High Priest of Ed Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 16,105	Wow. You're supposed to report the news, not manufacture it. That's a hard-core breech of ethics.
	__________________ Surely Israel is the party to blame? -a_unique_person I do have Mycroft on ignore, he is pretty much the Matt Giwer of your side. -a_unique_person Palestinian Refugees

24th April 2005, 10:06 AM	#3
Baker Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,121	Quote: The Sunday Telegraph says the Tories accused the BBC of "serious misconduct" after producers equipped hecklers with radio microphones. But the corporation said it was making a legitimate programme on the history and art of political heckling. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politi...ge/4477901.stm There doesn't seem to be an explanation on why they picked a Conservative party meeting instead the Labor party for there history and art of political heckling story.
Baker Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,121

24th April 2005, 10:09 AM	#4
Kerberos Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,608	Quote: Originally posted by Baker There doesn't seem to be an explanation on why they picked a Conservative party meeting instead the Labor party for there history and art of political heckling story. They flipped a coin.
Kerberos Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,608	__________________ Bible code: A method for obtaining hidden messages from texts that contains none, for the purpose of predicting events after they happen. "When the facts are on you side, but the law is against you, stress the facts. When the law is on your side, but the facts are against you stress the law. When both the facts and the law is against you, pound the table and yell like hell". Laywer maxim

24th April 2005, 10:20 AM	#5
Baker Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,121	Quote: Originally posted by Kerberos They flipped a coin. Are perhaps they just picked Michael Howard's name out of a hat full of names of every British politician.
Baker Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,121

24th April 2005, 12:04 PM	#6
Kerberos Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,608	Quote: Originally posted by Baker Are perhaps they just picked Michael Howard's name out of a hat full of names of every British politician. How did you know? It's suposed to be a secret.
Kerberos Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,608	__________________ Bible code: A method for obtaining hidden messages from texts that contains none, for the purpose of predicting events after they happen. "When the facts are on you side, but the law is against you, stress the facts. When the law is on your side, but the facts are against you stress the law. When both the facts and the law is against you, pound the table and yell like hell". Laywer maxim

25th April 2005, 05:57 AM	#7
aerocontrols Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,445	How outrageous.
	__________________ Misunderestimated in 2000. Unredefeated in 2004. My dog does his tricks. My roomate's dog tries to escape the kitchen. We call you to be a people of manners, principles, honour, and purity; to reject the immoral acts of fornication, homosexuality, intoxicants, gambling's, and trading with interest. Source

25th April 2005, 06:01 AM	#8
Reginald Graduate Poster Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,641	It could be argued that it's making the news in the same way as an undercover reporter who gets past various security checks at some vital installation and then makes a documentary about the lack of security. It could be argued, but I'm not going to. The BBC can get silly now and then. Knowing when it's being silly is half the art.
	__________________ No one's in the dark, no one's in the corner and no one's in the wardrobe just waiting to pounce.

25th April 2005, 06:51 AM	#9
DaChew Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,043	I'm doing a report on the history and art of censorship. I'd like the British government to shut down the BBC for a period of time so that I can gather information on the effects.
DaChew Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,043

25th April 2005, 07:29 AM	#10
asthmatic camel ignoramus Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 4,540	It's no great secret that the BBC is mostly run and staffed by left wingers, but they generally do their best to be impartial. This story, if true, stinks and those responsible should be sacked immediately.
	__________________ www.stopsylvia.com

25th April 2005, 07:40 AM	#11
Cleon King of the Pod People Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 20,506	Quote: Originally posted by asthmatic camel It's no great secret that the BBC is mostly run and staffed by left wingers, but they generally do their best to be impartial. This story, if true, stinks and those responsible should be sacked immediately. As long as they don't cancel Doctor Who.
	__________________ "People like me are what stand between us and Auschwitz." - Newt Gingrich