If you listen to the BBC regular, you must have heard this quite a bit:
"Impartiality lies at the heart of public service and is the core of the BBC's commitment to its audiences"
im·par·tial: (m-pärshl) adj. Not partial or biased; unprejudiced.
I like! I like! Just what we need; straight forward, honest...
According to the BBC itself: "The Agreement accompanying the BBC Charter requires us to do all we can to ensure controversial subjects are treated with due impartiality in our news and other output dealing with matters of public policy or political or industrial controversy. But we go further than that, applying due impartiality to all subjects. However, its requirements will vary." (source)
"impartiality" now changed to "due impartiality"....
The Beeb itself again: "The term 'due' means that the impartiality must be adequate and appropriate to the output, taking account of the subject and nature of the content, the likely audience expectation and any signposting that may influence that expectation." (source)
Sorry?... Tell the people what they want to hear?...
(like: "Impartiality lies at the heart of public service and is the core of the BBC's commitment to its audiences" ... )
And what the hell do they mean with " signposting"?... Who's 'posting' those signs?...
due (d, dy) adj. (among other)
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3. In accord with right, convention, or courtesy; appropriate: due esteem; all due respect.
4. Meeting special requirements; sufficient: We have due cause to honor them. (source)
There is talk of 'an agreement. That implies we should really look at the legal definition:
"Just; proper; regular; lawful; sufficient; reasonable, as in the phrases due care, due process of law, due notice".
"The term due is essentially contextual in nature and has various legal applications, all of which involve the sufficiency or reasonableness of an action or obligation". [emphasis added] (source)
...
3. In accord with right, convention, or courtesy; appropriate: due esteem; all due respect.
4. Meeting special requirements; sufficient: We have due cause to honor them. (source)
There is talk of 'an agreement. That implies we should really look at the legal definition:
"Just; proper; regular; lawful; sufficient; reasonable, as in the phrases due care, due process of law, due notice".
"The term due is essentially contextual in nature and has various legal applications, all of which involve the sufficiency or reasonableness of an action or obligation". [emphasis added] (source)
"sufficiency or reasonableness of an action or obligation"
'Sufficient' is just enough.
'Reasonable' is either rational or fair, or both.
The Beeb again: "Due impartiality is often more than a simple matter of 'balance' between opposing viewpoints. Equally, it does not require absolute neutrality on every issue or detachment from fundamental democratic principles." (source)
An 'action or obligation'... 'Action', in the case of the BBC is the broadcast. So does it have any 'obligations'?
"Royal Charter for the continuance of the British Broadcasting Corporation"
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3. The BBC’s public nature and its objects:
- (1) The BBC exists to serve the public interest.
- (2) The BBC’s main object is the promotion of its Public Purposes. [emphasis added]
- (3) ...
Doesn't it makes you wonder What the definition of "the Public Interest" would be...
sus·tain: (s-stn) tr.v. sus·tained, sus·tain·ing, sus·tains (among other)
1. To keep in existence; maintain.
2. To supply with necessities or nourishment; provide for.
3. To support from below; keep from falling or sinking; prop.
4. .....
1. To keep in existence; maintain.
2. To supply with necessities or nourishment; provide for.
3. To support from below; keep from falling or sinking; prop.
4. .....
rep·re·sent (rpr-znt) tr.v. rep·re·sent·ed, rep·re·sent·ing, rep·re·sents (among other)
1.a. To stand for; symbolize
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3. To present clearly to the mind.
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6.a. To serve as the official and authorized delegate or agent for.
b. To act as a spokesperson for.
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1.a. To stand for; symbolize
...
3. To present clearly to the mind.
...
6.a. To serve as the official and authorized delegate or agent for.
b. To act as a spokesperson for.
...
re. point 1 a and 6a-b: I understand that an organisation that broadcast information with "due impartiality", and who's main object is "sustaining citizenship and civil society" is representing the UK. But can it really be entrusted to 'represent' its nations, regions and communities?
"Impartiality does not necessarily require the range of perspectives or opinions to be covered in equal proportions either across our output as a whole, or within a single programme [sic], web page or item. Instead, we should seek to achieve 'due weight'. For example, minority views should not necessarily be given equal weight to the prevailing consensus." (source)
So what would be the opposite of impartial journalism?... propaganda?...
"Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed towards influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position by presenting only one side of an argument. Propaganda is usually repeated and dispersed over a wide variety of media in order to create the chosen result in audience attitudes.
As opposed to impartially providing information, propaganda, in its most basic sense, presents information primarily to influence an audience. Propaganda often presents facts selectively (thus possibly lying by omission) to encourage a particular synthesis, or uses loaded messages to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented. The desired result is a change of the attitude toward the subject in the target audience to further a political, religious or commercial agenda." (source)
As opposed to impartially providing information, propaganda, in its most basic sense, presents information primarily to influence an audience. Propaganda often presents facts selectively (thus possibly lying by omission) to encourage a particular synthesis, or uses loaded messages to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented. The desired result is a change of the attitude toward the subject in the target audience to further a political, religious or commercial agenda." (source)