impartiality clip

The BBC Is required to ensure all subject matters are treated with due impartial due to it being an international public broadcaster which means the public pay for it through TV licences. This means the BBC has to be impartial because they must treat various different views and opposing viewpoints equally and not be biased towards one viewpoint so that it does not offend the audience watching it. A quote to support this Eric Barendt (2002, pp 108) states “In contrast, Television and radio are required by law to be impartial in their treatment of political and industrial controversies”. This quote shows that subject matters concerning political and industrial controversies should be dealt with due impartiality when it is being discussed on television and on the radio as it is the law. An example from the BBC is a programme called ‘Question Time’ which I analysed to see how the BBC are impartial. This topical debate show deals with issues and debates which the members of the public pose questions for guests which are on both sides of the panel. The Question Time I analysed dealt with Nick Griffin from the BNP who debated with the people who oppose his political ideology and questions from members of the public. The host David Dimbleby is impartial due to him giving both sides of the debate the opportunity to voice their opinions without giving his opinion or siding with one side of the debate which would mean he is not being impartial if he sided with one side of the debate, David Dimbleby is also impartial throughout until the end which shows that the quote “Trust is the foundation of the BBC: We are independent, impartial and honest” is true when  it comes down to the BBC being impartial due to hosts on the BBC such as David Dimbleby being impartial.