BBC journalists do not grasp basic economics, says review
BBC journalists “lack understanding of basic economics” and are putting the corporation’s impartiality under threat, an independent review has found.
A mixture of ignorance, “uninformed groupthink” and a temptation to hype stories runs through the BBC’S economics coverage, the review said, with data sometimes presented in “the most alarming” way possible.
The thematic review was commissioned by the BBC Board into the broadcaster’s coverage of taxation, public expenditure, government borrowing and government debt.
Its authors, economics experts Michael Blastland and Sir Andrew Dilnot, were tasked with assessing whether due impartiality was being achieved in these areas.
They said: “We think too many journalists lack understanding of basic economics or lack confidence in reporting it. This brings a high risk to impartiality.
“In the period of this review, it particularly affected debt. Some journalists seem to feel instinctively that debt is simply bad, full stop, and don’t appear to realise this can be contested and contestable. Several general assumptions seem to lurk like this either unnoticed or uncorrected.”
The authors said that their criticism was not aimed at the BBC’S specialist economics reporters, suggesting that general news, politics and business reporters were the ones who did not fully understand the subject.
One anonymous BBC journalist told the authors: “We’re a sort of team of arts graduates, basically.” Another said a lack of “wise heads” in the newsroom had led to the BBC commissioning popular journalism stories based “on what people are searching for on Google”.
The review also highlighted a tendency for journalists to tell a “clear, simple story” rather than explain that economics can be uncertain.
Coverage is not biased towards the left or right, the review concluded, but there can be a “naivety” in accepting the government line.
“Politicians like saying their latest act or thought is a big deal. BBC journalists should not buy it just because it seems to make a better story… It borders on policy endorsement. They could ask themselves if they’re being played,” the authors said.
Responding to the review, the BBC Board said: “This has provided new insight for us in how we understand and deliver due impartiality in this vital area of public policy.”
For good or ill, much of the political debate in this country is filtered through the BBC. The Radio 4 Today programme seeks to set the daily agenda, while regular news bulletins can promote a particular item over and over, reflecting editorial priorities that are not always shared by other media outlets. The reach of the BBC gives it enormous power to move the news agenda. This is particularly so when it comes to financial matters, as well as spending and taxation policies.
It is, therefore, somewhat alarming to learn that many of its journalists “lack understanding of basic economics”. An independent review of the corporation’s coverage has concluded that its vaunted impartiality is at risk because some make assumptions and have gaps in their knowledge.
The inquiry was commissioned by the BBC Board to look at coverage of taxation, public expenditure, borrowing and debt. Two economics experts, Michael Blastland and Sir Andrew Dilnot, were asked to assess whether due impartiality was being achieved but found a lack of understanding or of confidence in reporting on such matters.
The BBC has been criticised in the past for a perceived anti-business bias, which was alleviated by bringing in journalists such as Jeff Randall to give a new dimension to the coverage. It now has good City reporters. This review was concerned more with day-to-day journalism than specialist teams.
This isn’t another piece of “BBC bashing” but a serious point made by independent scrutineers about a key aspect of the corporation’s remit: to inform in an unbiased way. Given the influence the BBC can wield in setting the tone for public debate, Tim Davie, the director-general, and his managers should take it seriously.