30 Sept 2010

Semantics

The BBC always comes under fire whenever there is a change of Government, and usually more so when the Tories (and by extension their vested interests) are involved. This time is no exception, with the Murdoch dominated media calling for all manner of cutbacks and the repeal of the licence fee. As a consequence you may be forgiven for thinking that the BBC is a left wing inclined organisation, when in actual fact it is very balanced. A small example of this balance swinging the other way has been their coverage of the election of Ed Millibrand as the new Labour leader, and the subsequent shenanigans involving the defeated sibling, Dave. Reporting the decision of the elder Millibrand to take a back seat and let his brother get on with the job, last night's Six O'Clock News said David had "rejected" a place in the Shadow Cabinet. This is simply untrue, as the five o'clock deadline was for prospective Shadow Cabinet members to put their names forward. No posts had been offered, so they could not have been "rejected". That word makes the whole episode sound like Dave had snubbed his brother when nothing of the sort transpired.

This morning on BBC Breakfast, the time between Ed being elected and Dave deciding to withdraw from frontline politics was described as "indecision" on Dave's part. This makes him sound like he was dithering, when he had every right to take his time on deciding an important career move for himself, and the effect it has on his brother and his party. I would call it consideration not "indecision".

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