It feel likes time for a recap and reassessment of Kowledge Politics' ongoing campaign in defence of public service broadcasting. Why do we think it's so important?
Well, it's not just about the BBC as an institution, but growing up in Britain, I do feel strongly about the BBC. It is one of the few UK institutions that makes me proud to be British. Not in some narrow minded ‘Little Englander’ sense, but as part of something that helps binds us together as an inclusive multicultural nation.
In the multi-channel multimedia world of ‘narrowcasting’ to ever more focused demographics, the British Broadcasting Corporation transmits to as broad a demographic as possible, an entire nation.
Furthermore, the BBC presents a positive aspect of Britain to the world in its reporting; that of openness, objectivity, and self-criticism. As Will Hutton has recently said:
‘what goes on in the minds of the BBC’s overseas listeners and viewers is highly complex. To the casual observer it appears that they are being presented with a Western, and indeed specifically Britsih, view of the world. In a sense this is true, but over a period they come to appreciate tht this view which is alos both consistent and honest. As a result, in many countries in the Middle East, for example, the BBC is trusted more than local news services. People know that the corporation is prepared to give bad news as well as the good news about Britain; because of this, they trust it to tell the truth about their own societies.’
It is in this way that an organisation created in the 1920’s can play a role in 2007 and beyond.
JS
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment