:: Bashing the Beeb ::

The screechy right-wing press is having a field day. Rupert Murdoch's arch-enemy, the Venerable Beeb, has come under severe criticism from the Hutton Enquiry Report. After rushed resignations of the Chairman (Gavyn Davies) and Director General (Greg Dyke) replacements had to be found quickly...

...let's cut the frivolity. It is a sad day when a Government-sponsored Enquiry lashes out at one of our most prized institutions. Apart from achieving b3tan Front Page Status, the talented Taxloss has also given this matter some thought. He refers to Rod Liddle's article. It should of course be noted that Liddle resigned from Today because he had expressed his political views too overtly in The Guardian.

The sorry naivity of those who believe a law lord's report is hardly remedied by the reportage in Mr Murdoch's ego-media. For me, Mr Hutton and his syncophantic report can be boiled down to a series of regrets:

- I deplore the duplicity of this powerful government, which has lied in order to gain public support for the War In Iraq.
- I am deeply unsettled by the political influence the Government has attempted to wield over non-partisan civil servants.
- I am outraged by the way in which a single exaggeration in a BBC news report was blown up to such an extent, and ultimately led to the tragedy of Dr Kelly's death.
- I am horrified at the prospect of the BBC being unjustly discredited, downgraded or dismantled at the behest of Tony Blair's friend, Rupert Murdoch.
- I mourn the lack of critical scepticism in the public at large: if the gullible masses are prepared to believe every word they read without critical consideration, our education system is failing.

This is the government's ultimate exercise in spin.

Fortunately I'm not the only one who thinks this way. Bloggerheads has set up a simple web-based campaign. The logo in the top right of your screen shows that I believe in the BBC: in its role as a public service, as detached as possible from the political sphere; in its encouragement of the talented in society, whatever their background; in its role as a trusted news provider in the UK and internationally; and for keeping at least some of our channels free of mind-numbing lard-lifestyle-promoting commercials. I hope others will also take this simple act of solidarity - the public must fight for its public service.

Rant over for now. On a lighter note, the clown at b3ta have come up with the best photoshop comp in ages. Get 'shopping, kids!