Biased Broadcasting Company ?

[That Ruddy Squirrel]

Here we go again - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6146442.stm

I have lodged an official complaint over the article, I urge you all to do so here

You might wish to refer them to their own editor's comments here


Trev

[CaptainBeaky]

Having now wiped the spittle from my screen, I have just posted a complaint:
Quote:
"Once again, the BBC uses their shorthand "4x4" when they mean "high-polluting vehicle" - perhaps you should take note of your own editors' replies to previous criticism (here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs...00/5324718.stm )
A good many diesel 4x4s can and do run quite happily on vegetable oil, and are thus carbon neutral - i.e. a net carbon emission of 0g per kilometre for the numerically challenged. The number of users would no doubt increase greatly should HM Revenue & Customs rethink their current (somewhat illogical) stance on road fuel duty. However, the number of times this has been trumpeted from the rooftops by the BBC can easily be counted on the fingers of one foot!
On the other hand, the BBC repeatedly casts 4x4s in a negative light in the same manner as the rantings of circulation-hungry tabloid hacks, and it does the BBC's reputation for impartiality no good whatsoever."
Unquote.

Now doing the breathing exercises and trying to find my happy place again...

[BUSHWHACKER]

Personally, I think they want 4x4 owners to get 'wound up' and complain so the Government can see how many of us are out there and that we read/listen to the media hype, and work out how much they can shaft us for.
They're gonna tax us for our choice of vehicle wether we complain or not, it's just that I feel that when we do voice our opinion they just snigger and give themselves a payrise from the income. As long as they are seen to be doing something, thats all that matters to the 'mentalists'

[BUSHWHACKER]

.Now doing the breathing exercises and trying to find my happy place again...

Just type 'screen cleaner' into the search box.

jockthelad posting.

[CaptainBeaky]

Thanks for that, Vince - nice clean screen now...

[NFC]

Already complained.

Even Ken didn't say (according to the article) that this was aimed at 4x4 drivers, but at drivers of the most heavily-polluting vehicles.

Who'd have thought the BBC to be so set against a portion of its readership?

I do echo CaptainBeaky - complain. It's not the case that the government wants to work-out how many of us there are (they already know that), but they might want an idea about how passive we are.

Remember: politicians need your vote. If they know something's going to upset you, they don't do it.

[Mike Fraser]

Yes, I've just complained too. This is yet another example of lazy journalism. Sling enough mud & it'll stick!

[laser_jock@work]

I've stuck my complaint into the BBC about the usual sensationalist anti 4x4 headlining they've used.

Once again I see the BBC have blatently mis-reported on the London Congestion Charge as being some kind of "anti-4x4 Tax".

PLEASE, PLEASE GET IT RIGHT!!!

IT IS FOR ALL HIGH EMMISSION CARS AND NOT JUST 4x4'S!!!!

This kind of headlining really makes utter nonsense of the policy.

I suggest anyone else who thinks the BBC are complicit in giving 4x4's in general a bad press also e-mails their thoughts.

[Diezel Weazel]

[QUOTE=CaptainBeaky] Having now wiped the spittle from my screen, I have just posted a complaint:

Ya got my Vote Captain Beaky ...... For Yonks now I've believed the only thing that should of bin Privatised (my oppinion) was the (Biased Blaggers Club) BBC, they then could pay for their own cockups instead of robbing us all blind & wastin it in payin lip service to somebody or other.
They go on spouting their Populas opinion, instead of a unbias View!!!!!!!!!!
But then they've had some good teachers NOT
All I can say is God help em if they ever go Pay to View !!!!!!!!!!!!
Had my Say...

There's always a Payback.... You just can't see it Comin !!!!

[PDR]

How much do new cars cost to produce and how long do they last?

Surely it is better for the environment to own a good reliable vehicle (such as many Japanese models) and to keep it running for as long as possible, rather than to pay for new small cars that only last 10 years or so before they are fit for the scr@p yard.

In 2002/3 I totally rebuilt from the ground up a Series IIA Land-Rover, using many reconditioned or re-cycled parts and then running it on LPG…. Surely that was a much “greener” way of doing things. That vehicle is 35 years old so how many “normal” cars has it outlasted?

Until recently I was driving a Japanese 2-seater sports car….. the amount of times that I had people cut me up in traffic or tail-gate me on the motorways was getting silly. Since owning my Surf I have noticed a total change in the way people treat me and I feel so much safer in my big truck….

I can’t claim that my truck runs on environmentally-friendly bio-diesel, it doesn’t….
it runs on petrol and guzzles it at the rate of 17 mpg….. but I pay for the privilege and the additional revenue I raise must please the Government fat cats.

As regards, driving into London, no thanks, I’ve no desire to go to that over crowded place on a regular basis.

[andycook]

what annoyed me on BBC website today was talk abotu increasing london congestion cars - in band G, based on CO2 output.
people complaining that it would not only effect 4x4 owners, but family car owners in MPV's etc

To me this suggests people think it should just apply to 4x4's, and they dont see that its a blanket charge based on CO2 output = pollution.

I cant see why they think its not acceptable to charge same for a non-4x4 that produces as much CO2 as a 4x4.

just cements my opinion that there is a mass anti-4x4 campaigain being waged in uk, and media spoonfeeding mass public with this opinon,
scary how powerfull the media is these days

[Predictable Bob]

Job jobbed !

"Yet again the BBC have taken the easy option rather than be factual in their reporting of Ken Livingstons proposals for increasing the London Congestion Charge. The vast majority of high polluting vehicles are NOT 4x4's but ordinary family cars and MPV's.

The BBC's habit of singling out 4x4's has been commented on before and in a previous response on this issue Simon Waldman stated "... it has become a bit of a shorthand but I would say that we ought to be a bit more careful in the future" So where can you demonstrate that you have taken any more care to avoid repeating your errors ?

It seems to me that you are only prepared to publicise the negative aspects of 4x4's - have you EVER reported on the fact that substantial numbers of 4x4's (and other diesel vehicles) can actually run on vegetable oil ? This means they would actually be carbon neutral - most do not run on vegetable oil because the Revenue and Excise insist on charging duty at the same rate as fossil fuels thus removing any incentive to take the green option !!!!!

How about trying to portray a BALANCED view in future ? After all you're supposed to be professional reporters NOT tabloid hacks !!!!!!"

[Sancho]

As I've said before, I totally accept being charged more tax for driving a more heavily polluting vehicle. When I made the choice to buy it, part of the decision was based on the running costs, including road tax, fuel duty etc etc.

But

It is getting a bit stupid now when people just refer to 4x4s rather than all highly polluting cars. MPVs are just as bad, take up as much room, flatten as many kids and so on, but people are allowed those for some reason.

It does annoy me, but on reflection, does it really matter that 'the media' wage this campaign? The fact is that we are not actually going to get charged more than the mercs and jags so the people's perception of us is all that's left, and that's not important.

By the way, interesting site:

http://www.4x4prejudice.org/index.php

[laser_jock@work]

VICTORY! WE GOT THE HEADLINE CHANGED!!!!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6146442.stm

[Sancho]

VICTORY! WE GOT THE HEADLINE CHANGED!!!!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6146442.stm

That restores a little faith in the ways of the world.