Beyond Faith In The BBC – Public Purpose, Democracy And The Future Of Media Policy
The recent Beebwatch discussion with Professor Lee Edwards of the Media Reform Coalition is useful because it reopens questions that are too often treated as […]
BBC
BBC Charter Renewal and the Liberal Questions We Are Not Asking
The debate about BBC Charter Renewal is already becoming familiar. The BBC says it needs stronger constitutional protection, a more secure funding settlement, lighter regulation, […]
The BBC Charter Renewal Needs Wider Public Voices
The BBC’s Charter renewal is not a technical exercise. It is a decision about what the BBC is for, who it serves, and how it […]
Local Trust, Public Accountability and The Limits of Regional Broadcasting
Robert Thompson, Interim Director of BBC Local has published a blog arguing that, in a divided world, local news brings communities together. That is an admirable […]
Beyond Protectionism – What the Bolton–Riley Conversation Reveals About the Future of Radio
The recent conversation between Roger Bolton and Phil Riley on Beeb Watch was a welcome and timely contribution to a debate that has been oddly […]
The BBC’s Portrayal and Representation Review – Why the “Model” Matters as Much as the Metrics
The BBC’s independent thematic review of portrayal and representation is not simply a debate about fairness in casting, or whether particular audiences feel “seen”. It […]
Shifting Accountability – Our BBC as Civic Infrastructure
From the standpoint of an advocate for a decentralised civic society model rooted in independent, federated organisations, the new Demos report Our BBC (Padania et […]
From Price Controls To Media Controls – What Does The BBC Charter Renewal Really Protect?
In much of Eastern Europe during the 1970s and 1980s, governments attempted to make daily life affordable by setting prices for essentials. The stated intention […]
Frequently Asked Questions – BBC Charter Renewal and the Future of Public-Purpose Media
Better Media and Decentered Media are collecting views about BBC Charter Renewal. Here are our Frequently Asked Questions. Complete the survey here: https://forms.gle/URnPgckbYbFPkPFQ8 What is […]
BBC Ratings Decline – Problems for Strategy or Sign of the Wrong Metric?
This article argues that Christmas TV ratings cannot be used as a definitive measure of the BBC’s success or failure. Reflecting on the contrast between […]
BBC Charter Review 2025 – A Green Paper that Invites Serious Public Deliberation
The UK Government’s Green Paper on the BBC’s Charter Review is now published, and it is welcome. Whatever one’s preferred settlement, Charter Renewal is one […]
Evaluating the BBC – Systems, Anecdotes, and the Problem of Closed Feedback Loops
Ofcom’s Annual Report on the BBC’s activities presents a picture of steady compliance, careful monitoring, and procedural attention. The tone that Ofcom adopts is measured […]
When a National Broadcaster Starts to Look Like British Leyland
The BBC’s leadership turmoil signals a deeper, systemic failure. This post compares today’s BBC to British Leyland’s decline: centralised control, weak product discipline, factional culture, […]
BBC Leicester’s “Only Station Made in Leicester” Claim – and What Came Next
BBC Radio Leicester’s claim to be “the only station made in Leicester for Leicester” has been challenged, with the BBC now admitting the promotion overstated […]
The BBC, Editorial Independence, and the Question of Gendered Reporting
The BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit recently rejected complaints about its use of gender identity terms in coverage of the trial of Joanna Rowland-Stuart. By following […]