Medi@W@tch

Help Fight anti-Independence bias in the media

STOP PRESS - September 24th 1996

Yesterday, 23rd September, in Edinburgh, the SNP raised an action against the British Broadcasting Corporation to try and ensure fair coverage of the forthcoming Party Political Conferences.

The SNP argued that the BBC have a duty to be fair and impartial and that the BBCs proposed coverage of forthcoming conferences is heavily unfair.

In one of the most blatantly undemocratic and shamefully anti-Scottish rulings ever by a supposedly independent Scottish judge (who appears wedded to maintaining the supremacy of the London system) Lord Gill ruled that the SNPs case was seriously flawed. By ruling that the SNP, with only 3% support in the UK overall, as opposed to 30% support in Scotland, in his opinion are fairly treated, Lord Gill has shown his contempt for all licence-payers, and appears to accept that BBC Scotland is not (as it adverts proclaim) a National Broadcaster. This is a judgement which should anger all Scots who believed they had an independent fair minded legal system.

Lord Gill also ruled that the SNP should have sought written assurances from the BBC well in advance. Well I have news for Lord Gill - personally speaking, as a fair-minded licence-payer, I have raised this very issue with the BBC continually since October last year - first with the Political Editor, then with the Controller BBC Scotland, then with the Chairman, and latterly after being totally ignored - with the Broadcasting Complaints Commission and the Scottish Broadcasting Council for Scotland. All would appear to be cosy-club poodle organisations that have no interest in conducting an independent assessment or reacting to valid criticism of the BBC.

Lord Gill should hang his treacherous head in shame. The fight has just begun.

These recent events have brought into question the supposed "independent" nature of Scotland's media. There was no greater demonstration of media bias against Independence and the SNP than the BBC's antics during the political parties conference season (1995 and 1996). If you want to help promote fairness in the media then write to hamish@rmplc.co.uk with any ideas. Better still, read on, and use all the information and addresses below to your advantage.

On these pages you can find useful contact numbers AND email your complaints direct.

Let me know how you get on. Why not save this page, and refer to it again when you are off-line ?

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

BBC TV reporting of party Conferences September 1995 and Spring 1996 was shamelessly biased, both in hours of TV coverage and in the tone of 'reporting'. Listed below is the TV coverage (for each party) transmitted in Scotland during the Annual Conference week and during the budget week (Nov 28th 1995). 
         Party       Support    TV Time in Scotland
        -------      -------    ------------------
                               Conf 1995/ Budget 1995 / Spring Conf 1996
   Liberal Democrats   ~10%     16+ hrs    3x10min      5hrs10min
   Labour Party        ~52%     20+ hrs    3x10min      4hrs50min
   Conservatives       ~13%     22 hrs     3x10min      5hrs15min
   SNP                 ~25%      4hrs      3x5min       ZERO-NIL-ZIP
The SNP WERE REFUSED coverage of their Spring Conference, and in a blatant attempt to upstage the SNP Conference, ALL the other parties were given Party Political Broadcasts in the days immediately following the SNP Conference.

Perhaps someone from the BBC could explain how this is serving democracy ? Why should our licence fees be used to distort the democratic process ? I suspect any enquiries will be ignored. Twice in recent months, I have written to Mr John McCormick (Controller BBC Scotland) on the matter - he has studiously avoided replying. I also wrote to Sir Christopher Bland (new Chairman of the BBC - former GLC Tory councillor (67-70), former Chairman of The Bow Group(69-70), and likewise got no reply. The truth hurts.

In a Points of View program, broadcast on 18th July 1996, Sir Christopher was pictured addressing a Conservative Party Conference in the 1960s. Perhaps he would like to address an SNP Conference, and let us in on the secrets of political appointees and their role in manipulating PUBLIC SERVICES ??

On the particular issue of balanced reporting, the BBC's SNP Conference Report on Saturday 23rd September 95, presented by John Foster, was one of the most snide and sneering "reports" I have ever witnessed. I always thought the BBC took pride in reporting facts and not acting as some pro-establishment, anti-independence mouthpiece. If you witnessed this, or wish to comment or complain then write to
You can also make a complaint by telephone. When phoning ask for the Duty Officer to log your complaint. BBC London is where the real decisions are made, so it is better to complain to them first.

BBC (London) TV TEL - 0181-743-8000
BBC (London) Radio TEL - 0171 580 4468
BBC Scotland TEL - 0141-339-8844
Scottish Television - 0141-300-3000

You could also try Serious Programme Complaints, if you believe that a BBC Broadcast has contained a specific and serious injustice or inaccuracy or a serious breach of accepted standards. Write with brief details to :

Fraser Steel, Head of Programme Complaints, BBC Broadcasting House, London W1A 1AA

The Programme Complaints Unit will reply in 10 days or will advise if it takes longer. If you are not satisfied with their reply you can ask for your complaint to be considered by the Complaints Appeal Committee of the Governers.

The Committee will consider certain categories of programme complaints which raise important issues in which public interest are involved. A regular complaints bulletin is published and includes an account of the Programme Complaints Unit and findings of the Complaints Appeal Committee.

If you don't trust the BBC to be impartial, then for completeness I include other organisations who might take your complaint more seriously.

The Broadcasting Complaints Commission, PO Box 333, London, SW1W 0BQ, TEL - 0171 630 1966

The BCC will investigate complaints from those who feel they have been treated unfairly or that their privacy has been unjustifiably infringed by a radio or TV programme.

Broadcasting Standards Council, 5-8 The Sanctuary, London, SW1P 3JS, TEL - 0171-233-0544

The BSC will investigate complaints about violence, sex and matters of taste and decency on radio and television.
I believe when it comes to Scotland, the supposed integrity and political neutrality of the BBC is a joke. For enlightened comment and further evidence of the BBC's political stance, read Colin Campbell's regular columns in the Scots Independent newspaper.

Newspapers

The daily press too (with the possible exception of The Herald and The Sun) can hardly hold themselves up as impartial. The opening day of the SNP Conference 1995 saw a 'leaked' internal memo (written like a press release) from Labour's Scottish spokesperson trying to link the SNP with terrorist connections. Sadly the Scotsman considered this news and actively went along with this deliberate attempt to smear the SNP. Funny how when the SNP are rising in the polls the mud-throwing starts. The plan backfired though, because the opinion polls in Oct 95 had the SNP up 4 points at 30% support, and Labour at 46% (down 11 pts since January). Surprisingly, The Daily Record (a well-known Labour supporter) didn't even mention this opinion poll !!

Currently (July 1996), the sycophantic pro-Union papers are less interested in the Labour Party's abject betrayal of Scotland over their recent U-turn on devolution, and more interested in how the SNP would vote in Labour's rigged referendum. The inappropriately named 'Scotsman' is taking the lead. It says very little for the standard or initiative of Scots journalists that they choose to ignore a genuine investigation of the soul of the Labour Party in favour of quick anti-SNP soundbites.

I do not recall the newspapers lining up in 1992, 1987, 1983 and 1979 to ask the Labour Party how THEY would vote on Tory policies IF the Tories won. So why ask the SNP how they will vote on what is afterall Labour Party policy ? I think the question should be turned around and put to Labour and the Lib/Dems - "If the SNP win, how will YOU vote ? Independence or the Status Quo ?".

If the Tories win then we can be sure that Labour will not oppose Trident, reduce VAT on fuel, retain student grants, increase pensions or reintroduce benfits for 16 and 17 year olds. But then again IF Labour win, they won't do any of things either - because they are now just as Tory as the Tories.
Are you fed up with media bias ? Well, take part in Medi@W@tch. If you see anything that bugs you, why not write to the papers or TV Stations concerned ? Remind them that statistically up to 30% of their readers are SNP supporters, and that in the interests of democracy and free-speech their views should be considered too.

In the interests of democracy, I offer a pint for the best pro-SNP letter to get in the Daily Record !!

BUT REMEMBER, KEEP IT SOBER, DON'T RANT AND MOAN - IT ONLY MAKES US LOOK LIKE WHINGERS AND DOESN'T FURTHER THE CAUSE.

Here are a few emails to get you started. Remember, whether emailing or FAXing, include your address and phone number.

eMail the letters page.............NOW !!

technology defeats them ......


If you have any comments (good or bad) on these pages contact hamish@rmplc.co.uk.
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