You seem obsessed by how many reporters the BBC commits to various stories. If ever there was a story that needed reporters on the ground, this is it.
Lightening this thread and returning to GBNews. Another reason to watch GBN... The Sports reporter is Aiden McGee, a fervent QPR fan....and you could tell his disgust when reporting on the Chelsea fans who ignored the support for Ukraine to sing to Abramovich. He also remarked that the price put on the club is ridiculous and is designed to scare nearly everyone off, He thinks Abramovich has no intention of selling
I actually think that the BBC has been excellent in it's coverage of the war. Very balanced imo, apart from the likes of Naga and Victoria Derbyshire of course.
I wouldn’t say obsessed. Genuine journalists who are investigating, interpreting and analysing, no problem - Bowen, Doucet, Guerlin, Rainsford all in Ukraine, all doing that, as were Doucet, Kermani and Limaye in Afghanistan. It’s the ‘presenters’ that get on my wick, the ones that read an autocue, which they can do just as well from a studio. They just take up scarce resources and add no value. The first time it really wound me up was when James Naughtie went to Japan to present the Today programme when the tsunami had hit. If the role doesn’t require you, and your entourage of camera and sound people, producers etc, to be in a place, then stay in the studio. I think the quality of the BBCs foreign correspondents, especially the ones who put themselves in harms way, is generally very good, and I like the newish policy of employing local journalists, from the country or the region, in these roles. Some of the people who do stay in the studio, especially a couple on the Today programme, have been shockingly bad though, embarrassing in their tunnel vision interviewing, watching the clock more than listening to responses. Nevertheless, when you multiply the BBC presence by the other news networks and press, and add in the same for all the other countries with active media, you have to wonder whether they are all providing a distinctive, perspective adding voice, or simply duplicating each other.
The BBC World Service is respected around the world. That can be distinguished from its domestic service. The current DG of the BBC is admittedly trying to regain impartiality and hence presenters like Maitlis and Sopel leaving, so they can openly share their left of centre views. The difference between the BBC and Murdoch, is that if you want to avoid Murdoch media, but want to read another newspaper or watch other TV channels, you don't have a legal obligation to pay Murdoch for the privilege.
I enjoy him too. And he references most sports stories back to QPR. This morning. for example, when asked about the likely winner of the City/United match, he said, who can predict anything in sport? I thought QPR were nailed on for a play off place, but we lost yesterday and now I'm not so sure. Carry on getting your priorities right, Aiden...
Great article. I think he somewhat downplays the Russian “dislike” of the Ukrainian “hero” Stepan Bandera”……who was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine (later rescinded) and has a street named after him in Kiev, along with many monuments and a museum to his memory in Western Ukraine. In 2019, Lviv city council named it the “Year of Stepan Bandera” A Ukrainian ultra nationalist, second in command of the OUN, who was a Nazi collaborator, fascist and anti-Semite who openly stated that Jews and Poles had no place in a sovereign Ukraine state. He was later imprisoned in Sachenhausen concentration camp after falling out with the Nazis when they failed to recognise an independent Ukraine. He was assassinated by the KGB in 1959. Of course I expect everyone on here knows of his history and legacy.
Said this a while back - if true, could be good news for the world dependant upon how desperate he is to leave a legacy, and who they have lined up to replace him
Well I didn't. I found Hitchens's piece very informative. As you've said, the situation is far from black and white.