BBC: the case for survival in 2023
BROADCASTER tom Mangold, an auntie lifer, says: ‘It is not hard to posit a case against the BBC.’ the Beeb has to make its case to its viewers, listeners and most of all the channel chasers, those of us who drop in and out on a whim.
It overplays truly wretched, unhappy cases, supposing its viewers want more of the same rather than positive, uplifting shows. emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel were once stars of the BBC, but have moved to Global to present a joint daily podcast where they feel more able to voice their own views.
Counsel for the defence of the BBC wants far less politicised journalism. We want more of the forthright factual reporting from the likes of hugh Schofield in Paris; Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondent; and hugh Pym, winner of the 2020 Charles Wheeler award for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcast Journalism for his coverage of the pandemic. Wheeler left an indelible mark on the BBC and distilled the Reithian credo to educate, inform and entertain.
With the BBC World Service amassing a weekly audience of 364 million people, long may the whole BBC continue to garner our respect.
Professor KIT THOMPSON, Cambridge. CaN the monolithic, unaccountable, bloated BBC explain to tV licencepayers why it was prudent at this time of extreme pressure for many to spend £7 million on a revamped logo that looks barely different?
I hope the person responsible can explain their decision to splash public funds on a vanity gesture.
B. CHANNING, Pembroke.
It WOULD have been better for the BBC to spend £7 million on nonsinging, non-dancing, non-cooking and non-sports programmes.
MALCOLM ALLEN, Heanor, Derbys. I’M SURe the over-75s who lost their free tV licence are happy to help out with the cost for a logo.
J. M. CALLISTER, Harrogate. WIth all the repeats, tV stations should be paying us to watch.
ANNA BROOKS, Tarporley, Cheshire.