Please excuse BIAD's giggling.
Quote:BBC faces probe over 'biased reports and pointless stories' after both political sides claim it's not impartial.SOURCE:
*The Ofcom probe comes amid fears that serious news coverage is 'in retreat'
*Allegations from rival news providers say the BBC uses too much 'clickbait'
*The BBC said it takes 'providing impartial and accurate news seriously'
'Regulators have launched an inquiry into the impartiality and 'depth' of the BBC's news and current affairs coverage.
The Ofcom probe follows bias claims from both sides of the political divide –especially over Brexit.
It also comes amid growing fears that serious news coverage is 'in retreat' and allegations from rival news providers
that the BBC uses too much 'clickbait' –celebrity or frivolous stories with little public service value –to lure online readers
In the last year, articles published on the publicly-funded broadcaster's website included
'How to win at rock, paper, scissors' and 'Does your name match your face?'.
Launching its investigation yesterday, Ofcom warned: 'We will look at the range and depth of analysis in... news and current
affairs, across all platforms, and how this compares with other UK news providers.' It said the BBC has a 'central role to play
in providing trusted, impartial news'. In 2017, 70 MPs from all parties accused the broadcaster of failing to 'break out of
pre-referendum pessimism'.
The Corporation faces regular claims from Momentum, Jeremy Corbyn's hard-Left backers, of bias against the Labour leader.
Insiders have also raised fears that the BBC's news coverage is weakening.
Former head of TV news Roger Mosey said the decision to cut the running time of the Ten O'Clock News has prompted
'seething resentment' from producers.
Writing in the Spectator, he added that a senior editor had said they 'can't disagree' that news at the BBC is 'in retreat'.
Ofcom will also test whether the BBC is serving all licence fee payers, especially those that 'typically engage with it less'.
The watchdog has criticised the BBC for appealing to London-based viewers at the expense of those elsewhere, and
of older women.
The BBC said it takes 'providing impartial and accurate news... seriously'. Referring to clickbait, a spokesman said
'entertainment and showbiz news is of great interest to our audiences'...'
Quote:Is a Pancake Day quiz REALLY news?
*BBC News UK tweeted a short video yesterday titled 'How to get on with someone you hate at work'.
*A charity's appeal for used mascara brushes to groom injured baby animals appeared in a story on
BBC News Scotland's website on Monday.
*A quiz on 'What do you know about Pancake Day?' was shared on the BBC News UK Twitter feed
yesterday.
*Do you live in a social bubble? was the title of a story posted on the BBC World webpage on Monday.
The article also encouraged readers to take a quiz to see if they have similar backgrounds and outlooks
to their friends.
*A video posted on the BBC News World webpage yesterday focused on young Iraqis practising their karate
moves in the snow in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Quote:'Tokenism' accusations at the BBC
The BBC is facing accusations of 'tokenism' after a radio station said it will mark
International Women's Day on Friday by taking male presenters off air.
BBC Radio Newcastle will also restrict some playlists to female-only artists.
The BBC said no staff had complained about the move.
Edith Head Gives Good Wardrobe.