Open primaries and the BBC's bad journalism

Today did a feature on way the new model Conservatives are using proper open primaries to decide who gets to be the next MP for Totnes - the first time it's been done in Britain. 

The report focused on the irrelevant;  The fact that the local Association chairman had apparently thought they'd not use one a few weeks ago, or that reporter Martyn Oates found the process a surprise.  Yawn.

Nowhere in the report did Today attempt to convey the fact that this is a serious and credible attempt to create a new system of open source politics.  Not once did it explain what the implications of this process could ultimately be on the power of party whips, or the relationship between the legislature and the executive.  Or that this is the sort of consumerist politics ideally suited to the age of YouTube.

Perhaps it was all a bit too much of an effort to do any serious background on the subject?  Or examine how and why this idea came about?

UPDATE: Just been listening to Dimblebey blabbing away about the politics of anti-politics.  Same thing.  No recognition that there might be a body of thought on this outside his producer's attention span. 

We are as badly informed by the unaccountable BBC, with its smug media-ocracy, was we are poorly served by the unaccountable House of Commons, with its safe seats syndrome. 

Posted on 25 July 2009 by Douglas Carswell

Comments

Or the BBC just reflects the bias of most left-liberal institutions, and finds a plebiscite uprising something to be mourned and/or ignored rather than celebrated. And to think, at school I was taught that left-wing thinking held a more optimistic view of mankind!

Posted on 25 July 2009 12:09 by Michael

I agree - I pricked my ears up at the item, but was none the wiser at the end of the piece, which was extremely poor. It didn't even say how it was being done, why the local association changed its mind. Very, very lazy journalism and I was left wondering why it was even in the programme at all.

Posted on 25 July 2009 13:09 by Ruth

Are you really that surprised?

The standard of reporting from 'Brown's Broadcasting Corporation' over the last year has deteriorated at an alarming rate. Even in the aftermath of the by-election victory yesterday, the BBC saw fit to push the line that it was Labour's loss, and that they merely needed to reconnect with the voters to regain the much needed momentum. The Tories must quickly realise that the BBC will not support them, and instead actively attempt to undermine from day one.

Posted on 25 July 2009 13:59 by paracelsus

Whilst the BBC are plainly open to cricicism and redicule, so is the main-stream media - who are just as guilty of 'sloppy journalism' - of which this edition of Today is but a prime example!

Posted on 25 July 2009 15:28 by WitteringsfromWitney

There is only one answer to the arrogance of the BBC and its determination to ram their opinions down our throats against our wishes.

Do as I have done and refuse to pay the licence fee.

Are you really willing to pay to watch continual Labour Party Political Broadcasts, (because that is what the BBC output has become)?.

Posted on 25 July 2009 15:46 by Nick Wilson

This will be the biggest single danger facing the next Conservative Governement

Control of Information gives complete control of society - and democracy.

The people who currently have the power to control the flow of information have failed and misused that power - they must lose that power. New providers of information must be allowed to come forward to give many more points of view.

There must be no more monopolies - for they can be easily controlled, or bullied into silence.

In spite of the internet, broadcast news will remain the most important source of political news for most people, and so the broadcasting infrastructure must be opened up to very many more news providers.

The way is to open the digital broadcast infrastructure to multiple news providers - just like the Conservatives did with BT.

This is the application of Localism to broadcasting.

Posted on 25 July 2009 17:33 by Marcellus

Douglas, it's a deliberate ploy of the BBC's - particularly of the Today programme.

They can't have the Tories coming up with popular initiatives, wrong-footing club-footed McDrone and his obedient mouth-pieces.

I'm finding it harder by the day to listen to the shrill vitriol of that Montague woman. Puts my teeth on edge!

Posted on 25 July 2009 18:28 by Faustiesblog

Honestly, just because they didn't interview you about it. Try to reign in the self-promotion, dude.

There's a good, though brief piece on the BBC website about it. What I'd really like to see is a live webcast of such an event - I want to get a feel for how it works.

Posted on 25 July 2009 19:30 by STB2

No one expects to get the real news from the BBC on any contentious issues, in spite of their Charter requiring them to show balance. Not only politics, where if you think the conservatives are getting a poor deal, UKIP are getting even worse. UKIP didn't get a mention in any BBC program about the Norwich election results but the Greens, who did far worse, did did.
Look at the BBC's attitude to climate change; never a mention of those who believe it is all a fallacy.
So I have to pay for something I don't watch, and as far as I am concerned the sooner some of the licence fee goes elsewhere, the better.
It's worth looking at this site:
http://biased-bbc.blogspot.com/

Posted on 25 July 2009 23:54 by Brian E.

Is there any evidence that the BBC understands anything beyond the utterly superficial, these days? Expecting serious journalism may be hoping for too much, unfortunately.

Posted on 26 July 2009 10:21 by Elliot Kane

The BBC and Sky have ceveloped a suspiciously cosy relationship in the past year. It is important that ITV, easily the best and most balanced TV news at the moment, should survive.

Posted on 26 July 2009 11:38 by Tom Maynard

Just listened to it. You're right piss poor coverage.

Looking forward to see how it goes as well. It's the perfect place to trial this in as it'll help defuse the anger with the current occupant.

Doubtless the associations will have temper tantrums about it but they'll just have to get used to it.

Posted on 26 July 2009 23:10 by David

It's high time the BBC was put out to pasture because it's been unfit for purpose for years. Does Cameron have the guts to wield the axe?

I won't be holding my breath.

Posted on 27 July 2009 08:22 by Gnostic

Why not just abolish the BBC (and Channel 4, the state-owned channel for political correct propaganda)? Let the market take charge. Few people choose to pay for what we are obliged to fund. But if the Guardian-readers can fund their own news channel, let them. If not, why the hell should we do so?

Posted on 27 July 2009 10:56 by Roger Pearse

I've not paid the TV tax for 717 days.

Posted on 27 July 2009 14:14 by DominicJ

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