Without Fear or Favour?

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The BBC at the moment seems to be heading in a direction that the founders of the institution would frankly be horrified by. Not content with the ridiculous suspension of Gary Lineker and its subsequent fallout over the small boats bill, we now hear that Sir David Attenborough's new - and probably last - offering: "Saving Our Wild Isles", is to be effectively sidelined, not to be shown on mainstream TV, but to be aired on BBC iPlayer only. The reason proffered by the Beeb management, is that it fears that aligning itself to the evidently non-political organizations linked to the programme - the RSPB, National Trust and the WWF - would somehow attract flak from the Conservative Party and the farming & hunting lobbies [read the wealthy land-owners and investment bankers of this benighted realm]. It would seem that nothing changes, as the world continues to turn just as its ecosphere turns against the species that seems hell-bent on its own self-destruction: the greatest act of self-denial imaginable.

So it would seem that the appointment of a significant Tory supporter and enabler to the helm of our national public broadcaster is starting to have a material effect on its operations, and not to the good. If this bastardization of what was once a great institution is allowed to continue, there will be few media bulwarks on the side of the angels to stem the tide of right-wing extremism which will inevitably, subtly ensue from this insidious tinkering with morality and reality via their media outlets. Again, the lessons of the 1920-30s should be well heeded. But as for effectively choking off climate and environment disaster debate, words fail me: it's just plain wrong. In both cases, the Beeb management is actually acting politically, and by default, in favour of a Tory government they either fear, or more likely, now, favour. Change is needed. Now. Freedom of speech works all ways up, and is directionless. Political influence is always pecuniary in nature at the level these people operate, masquerading as morality and probity. It's a sham...

Postscript: judging by the trailer we've just seen, someone might have recanted on the Attenborough thing at the last minute, goaded by the negative coverage in The Guardian and The i, so watch this space. Another U-turn?

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