The opening bars of Beethoven’s fifth symphony was the prelude to countless broadcasts as the Corporation transmitted, tempered perhaps with a spoonful of propaganda, essentially accurate news to a war-torn world during WWII. Despite being banned by fascist regimes, the BBC became the defining source of news. Globally, for many, this reputation continues and represents effective soft power way in excess of its cost.
During the recent Covid lockdowns, the BBC excelled itself by plugging the gap in children’s education with some exemplary programming. What other publisher/broadcaster is such a patron of national culture? Who else can boast The Proms season, the Natural History Unit, challenging drama, documentaries and entertainment, along with an impressive back catalogue?
Conceived at a time of scarce airwaves and monopolistic broadcasting, it can be argued that the Corporation has moved with the times and provides an output that addresses the needs of most of our nation with its attendant diversity. Oft criticized for a failure to reach certain demographics and socio-economic groups, the BBC does try, even if it produces embarrassing failures along the way.
Beware loud voices
Despite its many failings, what we used to know as Auntie delivers far more than its detractors would wish. Those detractors have very loud voices that drown out public affection.
There is no doubt that the cack-handed edit of the Trump speech for Panorama was an error of judgment. For those lacking the energy to listen to the entire January 6th 2021 speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vXEWBenMJY the BBC edit will be a relief. The Hitlerian call-to-arms to the Proud Boys and Maga yobs condensed by the Corporation might be considered licence fee value-for-money just for sparing us!
Despite the claims of its critics, the editorial culture of the BBC remains robust. This is reassuring for those of us, like me, who benefitted from exemplary training in our formative careers at the BBC. We don’t all hark back to a golden age but we take seriously what the likes of long-time radio host Libby Purves say about representing a broad and diverse public – not just culturally, but generationally and regionally: if the BBC wants to remain a trusted institution it must do this.
Probably the prevailing orthodoxy is socially liberal but that does not necessarily colour the output. The fact that detractors on all extremes of the political spectrum can find similar grounds for complaint suggests that the BBC is essentially delivering the goods.
Support programme making
In common with the NHS, the BBC shares a merited reprimand of its management culture. The resignation of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness may be regrettable but may also be welcome: too often a minor bureaucrat would be required to fall on his or her sword to save the BBC’s face. This bloated management requires culling.
Having worked for most broadcasters in my career, I have found BBC culture too often mitigates against programme making. The independent sector, not reliant on public money, lives by its wits and a can-do attitude.
The BBC maintains a substantial newsroom and does its best to deliver impartial news. The attitude of individual presenters and their confrontational styles may irritate, but the UK is in danger of following the American model where respected news organisations have been systematically hollowed out. Who seriously values the sycophantic infotainment of GB News or Fox News for impartial information?
Currently ITN, LBC and Sky News are a massive drain on their parent organisations while the global media landscape is dominated by the streaming giants with absolutely no public service remit.
Navigating the stormy waters for a long time to come
The current litany of woes besetting our beloved Auntie has led to increasing numbers of subscribers choosing to think of the licence fee as somehow optional. This does beg the question of future BBC funding, as the renewal negotiations are not far off. As Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy seems to accept that the current model is now unenforceable.
The argument for a national broadcaster is, in my opinion, critical but Lord preserve us from meddling politicians. The temptation to advocate advertising may be strong but take one look at Channel4 and the rest of our media landscape to witness how thin those pickings are nowadays. The resignation of Sir Robbie Gibb from the BBC governing board should be a prerequisite to any negotiation, given his undoubted personal bias and conflicted interests.
Our domestic media landscape is dominated by right-wing views: the megaphone voices of Boris Johnson (one-time Prime Minister of these benighted Isles) and Nigel Farage (putative PM of said Isles), their tech bro blood brothers and that thin-skinned narcissist across the pond shouting from the pages of The Daily Telegraph merely demonstrate how hard it is for the beleaguered Channel4 news, The Guardian, indeed Sussex Bylines itself, to attempt to redress the balance.
For all its faults, may the good ship BBC navigate the stormy waters of our global media landscape for a long time to come, accompanied by Eastenders, the boom, boom, boom theme tune, the ghostly strains of the Archers’ Barwick Green, and the anachronistic cadences of The Shipping Forecast.
Auntie, please, do not go gentle into that good night.
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