When a state creates state sponsored and sanctioned media, it must hold up to the populace’s sniff test. It must appear neutral and unbiased, without any contradiction and true. The issue is, there is no such thing as unbiased news. An unbiased news source would have to report on everything that has ever happened at all times. The mere choosing of the topic you write on is a product of bias. This is not an issue though, as there is no way to ignore that fact. The problem is that by presenting yourself as unbiased, you are actually telling people that your view is the only acceptable view
I need not tell you this, dear disciples, as you have seen it. The most obvious example is the coverage of the Palestinian genocide, the nature of facts were distorted. It’s the difference between “IDF soldier killed” and “Palestinian child dies” – the use of active and passive voice, or the fact that one of these stories would be written about and the other, forgotten.
One of the facts I believe is that stories have no facts. You are an accumulation of stories you tell yourself about who you were. The truth is, none of you that exists now was even there to witness your past self (you change atoms every 8 years). Your relationships are based on the stories you tell yourself about the other person. And your view of the world is based on stories you invent with your own experience, mixed with the stories you are told. At least acknowledging a bias in the story you tell would be a simpler way for a story to be less biased.
But the BBC cannot acknowledge bias. There is no saving a system that tries so hard to do the impossible, and cannot acknowledge failings in time.
But I don’t think the BBC news is really trying to give unbiased news. In systems thinking there is an idea that states “the purpose of a system is what it does”. There is, after all, “no point in claiming that the purpose of a system is to do what it constantly fails to do” said Stafford Beer, creator of this term. If the BBC cannot provide unbiased news reporting, then it doesn’t do unbiased news reporting. What does it do?
Let’s look at the new’s homepage. At any given day, there’s probably something about America, something about the Middle East, murders and tragedies, and a lil’ happy little funny or heartwarming story. There is often the sense of banality, the watered down tone of reporting can frame absolutely insane events as part of the normal order. It gives the sense nothing too important is happening.
So what is the purpose? I think the BBC, by hook or by crook, normalises extreme events to the point that it just blends in. The desensitisation to extreme events is important if you want to control a narrative. A numb population feels no pain, and thus cannot be prodded to action by anything.
You may avoid mainstream media for IG reels. Short video content is becoming a leading form of news intake. You yourself have probably learnt of major events through a content creators post, or a random video of an incident (charlie charlie kirkie). But here, the problem is what is serving you content. The algorithm will push you content it thinks you want, and will hand you whatever it thinks will keep you engaged (Wow Mad Prophet, THANKS for this NEW and NOVEL information !!!1!). The algorithm is the opposite of what the BBC is. The maintainers of the app have little control of the stories that are made, but the output is 100% biased to you. There is no one content creator creating all your news, but the amalgam of them all creates a narrative that feeds into your biases and ill beliefs.
So we are stuck at an impasse. The unfortunate truth is, relying on someone else to tell you the truth is impossible. People don’t remember facts, we remember stories. Even if someone could tell you just facts, the story they choose to tell you reveals their bias. So what can you do?
Go outside and feel the stories that happen around you. Watch what the politicians say, and watch what they do. Talk with others about politics, religion, sex, the human condition. Do not let someone tell you who’s important to listen to and who’s not, make that up for yourself.
But you can trust me though. I would never lie to you.
