As Reform rises in the polls and GB News becomes a legitimate competitor to news broadcasters, UK media must not repeat the same mistakes as the Americans.
More Raymond Snoddy articles
It’s harder to argue against the Centre for Media Monitoring report, which says the BBC is “constructing a moral universe where Israeli suffering is inherently more tragic”.
The Beeb is facing accusations that it is altering content to win over Reform voters. At a time when there was never a greater need for proper journalism, the BBC cannot make another serious misjudgement.
If Reform is claiming, as it is, to be a party capable of governing this country, then the media must subject it to the same kind of scrutiny applied to Labour or the Conservatives.
From The Guardian’s positive results to the sale of the Telegraph and National World, UK media brands still make sound business sense and can attract significant investment.
Apart from being a bulwark against fake news and lies, the BBC World Service is a valuable arm of British culture and influence around the world. Cutting funding will bring irreparable damage.
News outlets must properly interrogate Farage and Reform on how effectively they run things, not report uncritically on the social division they stir.
Cardinals would do well to watch Conclave on their trip to the Vatican, argues Ray Snoddy. It is important someone of Francis’ moral worth is chosen to counterbalance growing populism in society and the media.
Judging by the numbers from Trump’s podcast interviews, there is a risk that politicians could increasingly bypass the tough accountability in broadcast interviews in favour of softball sessions with sympathetic podcasters.
While the Beeb trumpets its role in delivering trusted, impartial news around the world, it’s difficult to see the way it handled the axing of HardTalk as anything other than an act of vandalism.