British News Broadcasting:

Objective and Impartial?

By 余怿

Outline

• Definitions and Rules

• Objective and Impartial Broadcasting in Britain

• Challenges

Definitions

Objective: not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; unbiased, fair.

Impartial: not favoring one person or thing more than another; fair or neutral

Fair: treating each person, side , etc equally and according to the law, rules, etc.

--Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary

Rules “…the corporation

(BBC)is required to draw up for the treatment of controversial subjects with due accuracy and impartiality…”

--Royal Charter for the Continuance of The British Broadcasting Corporation

…

Objectivity

The news story is free of the reporter’s opinion or feelings. It contains facts collected by a impartial and independent observer.

Impartiality--Balance and Fairness

During political campaigns, editors try to balance—the second of air time or the inch of copy of candidates.

Objective and Impartial Broadcasting in Britain

• Independence•Political Election Broadcasting•Diversity in News Broadcasting

Independence

• BBC—TV & radio

ITC—commercial TV services

Radio Authority—commercial radio services

• Media vs. Government

？ BBC—Belgrade Broadcasting Corporation

Baghdad Broadcasting Corporation

Election

The Broadcasters’ Liaison Group:

“It was appreciated that all parties needed to be treated fairly and given an opportunity to express their views. It was agreed that the three main political parties …would be met for 45 minutes each.”

Diversity• The BBC is committed to reflecting the diversity

of the UK and to making its services accessible t

o all…aiming to be inclusive of those groups who are often under-represented—older people, women, disabled people, people from ethnic minorities, those of all faiths and social classes, lesbians and gay men.

• Off air, the BBC is on course to meet its current target of 10% of its staff coming from ethnic minorities by the end of 2003.

Challenges

• False news

• Close relation with political parties

False News

• BBC criticized ITC

• Gossip:Pop stars and sportsmen

Media and Political Parties

Murdoch Conservatives

Labour

Reference:News Reporting and Writing (5th edition)

Focus on Britain www.bbc.co.uk

www.sina.com.cnwww.sohu.com.cn

Thank you!