Audience panel criticises BBC indy coverage

Body says programming failed to fully engage with campaigns

The BBC should review its approach to the coverage of “controversial political issues” in Scotland in the wake of last year’s referendum, according to an audience panel.

In the corporation’s annual review, the Audience Council Scotland said some network programmes had appeared to adopt what was described as an “Anglified perspective” during the independence debate and focused too much on the official campaigns “at the expense of the wider civic and community engagement”.

The council, which advises the BBC Trust, said BBC Scotland should be given greater authority and resources to commission programmes for Scottish audiences.

And it said it should review its approach to the coverage of controversial political issues “to ensure that perceptions of impartiality remain strong across all audiences”.

Analysis from audience councils and focus groups found 48% of people in Scotland think the BBC is good at representing their life in news and current affairs content, compared with 61% in England, 61% in Northern Ireland and 55% in Wales.

The BBC annual review read: “The BBC has a key role to play in ensuring it represents the nations in news, drama and entertainment, and our research shows that over half feel the BBC represents their nation or region in its content, and supports minority languages.

“Nonetheless there is still some way to go, particularly in Scotland. People are accessing content using a variety of platforms where only around 50% of the audience feel that their nation is effectively represented.”

The Audience Council Scotland praised a series of documentaries on the referendum and the online resources which were available.

But it added: “Members questioned whether, overall, the coverage had captured the popular nature of the campaign and the increased role played by social media.

“The council also felt that BBC network programmes, overall, did not engage with the issues until too late a stage, and that some had been less well informed, and that this diluted the value of the coverage.

“There was some audience perception that network correspondents were increasingly used in place of BBC Scotland correspondents in the final weeks of the campaign.

“Some council members believed BBC coverage had focused too much on the official campaigns, at the expense of the wider civic and community engagement; and certain network programmes had appeared to adopt what was described as an ‘Anglified’ perspective.”

A spokeswoman for the BBC said: “As we have stated previously, we stand by our coverage of the referendum which was fair and impartial.

“No complaints about impartiality were upheld by the BBC Trust and there were no complaints of bias from the leaders of the opposing Better Together and Yes campaigns.”

Yes campaigners outside BBC HQ in Glasgow before the referendum.