View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
March 30, 2011

BBC responds to anti-cuts march complaints

By admin

The BBC’s director of news, Helen Boaden, has defended the corporation’s coverage of the TUC anti-cuts march last weekend.

It comes after the broadcaster received complaints from both sides claiming bias – some have accused the BBC of siding with protestors while others say journalists were too hard on the demonstrators and their cause.
Boaden wrote on the BBC editors’ blog: “This past weekend has highlighted just how difficult it is for an impartial broadcaster to please all the people all of the time.

“The extensive BBC News coverage of the TUC rally in central London featured interviews with major figures on the march, protestors and critics.

“Supporters were challenged regularly – and robustly – on their alternative to the Government’s programme and the Cabinet Office Minister Frances Maude featured prominently throughout a day of rolling news.

“We also tried to set in context the relatively small scale of the violent demonstration and to put across the views of the vast number of peaceful marchers.”

She added: “It is perfectly true that it is sometimes difficult to strike the correct balance and I hold my hands up when we don’t get it right. On this occasion, though, I think the BBC did serve its audiences appropriately and thoroughly.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network