Poor news Coverage - switch off or complain?

Thanks for the replies. I am a devotee of C4 News and avoid BBCTV news. I do listen to the radio news - especially PM as I think Eddie Mair is great. I also listen to Feedback which sounds like a radio version of Newswatch.

I generally only watch the BBC New Channel at 9.00 pm for the World news which is quite good and presents stories which are generally missed by the standard news programmes.

Gibby
I couldn't agree more. I had an email from Waitrose yesterday begging me to order my Christmas Turkey to avoid the rush! Who exactly is rushing to buy a Turkey in early October. The John Lewis Christmas email arrived earlier in the week. Aaaaaaaaargh. There, I feel better now.

On Newswatch readers' complaints are aired and then a producer or editor responds by justifying everything. There is never a hint of "I see why you're complaining. You might have a point". It is always a case of " our judgement is perfect - beyond criticism"

The political reporting is inevitably a reflection of the views of the commentators - Andrew Neil, Jeremy Paxman, Nick Robinson, Laura Kuenssberg -check out their true blue credentials.

Maryeliza54 Newswatch is a BBC programme where they respond to people's complaints about their news coverage. You will find it on BBC iPlayer. It is on TV on Saturday morning but it doesn't usually come up separately on the programme list to the news so it is easy to miss it.

My big issue with all the News channels and programs now is they don't report the news they try to make the news- they think they are opinion forming which is also wrong - but they are hoping to stir up a public reaction to whatever they are reporting. I don't admire modern news journalism I want the news reported not made. However I think complaining is pointless and only encourages their controversial efforts as they know people are watching - I switch off. I get a headline only feed on my phone I can then follow up on anything that happens that I want to know more about... which frankly is very little.

What is Newswatch?

Blinko. I used to like Newswatch but they do nothing now but try to excuse the inexcusable. There is no point to it.

Marieeliz Have a look at the backgrounds of the BBC's political team. You would be hard pressed to find one who doesn't have a background in the Tory party.
Kuenssberg applied for the job as David Cameron's press secretary and was given the BBC job as a consolation when she lost out to Andy Coulson.

It’s certainly true that the Beeb constantly defends why they did such and such (Newswatch) now, but in the not so dim and distant past, they would sometimes apologise, or say they got it wrong.Not any more!

We only watch the BBC news once a day because what ever time it's on its the same. It's as if nothing newsworthy happens in the country after breakfast!!!

I emailed Newswatch about the beeb's coverage of the TM speech. Nothing on policy and everything about the cough, the idiot prankster and the letters falling off the board behind her.

To my mind, the BBC is jumping on the bandwagon of deriding the PM at every opportunity. I'm not a Tory, but
sometimes I think that reporters are so enmeshed with the Westminster 'village' that they lose sight of the real world altogether.

And don't get me started on the apologists who turn up on Newswatch defending their choice of 'news' items. they are never wrong, it seems. They treat the viewers as uninformed fools.

Angry, moi?

I can't agree with you spabbygirl. The BBC is so left-wing it's almost falling over! They are supposed to be unbiased but I think they don't know the meaning of the word - and we have to pay for the privilege.

The morning presenter of our local radio station is just as bad. In the past when he has interviewed Theresa May he has really 'cozied up' to her, but now he is mocking and so rude - mostly paying attention to the malfunction of the lettering behind Theresa May at the conference - as if it was her fault. I have written to this presenter on a number of occasions but he is so full of himself that I doubt if he would ever consider himself wrong.

Our news stations have become nothing more than political mouth pieces of late and I think the standard of interviewing has become aggressive and lacking in intellectual questioning. They prefer to stick with reporting on a cough, a bacon sandwich or wearing a suit rather than having to ask in depth questions of substance or interest.

I couldn't agree more.
I am appalled by the standard of journalism which passes for 'news' of late.

The news is driven by bias and the topics lazy, intellectually dim reporters choose to focus on. They are colouring our views with their own political allegiance and voice.

That there is no one editing such sloppy, dreadful TV reporting is very worrying. Our news should be delivered impartially. It should be factual, not fanciful or aggressive.

Others have noticed it too. I fear that everything, even the news, is being dumbed down and sensationalism, trivia and character assassination (it's happened to Corbyn and now it's May's turn) is the norm.

We should be worried.

I agree with most GN s, the coverage some things get is atrocious, the terror attacks for example which are dreadful things happening, I think terrorists thrive on the coverage given, we need news, not what TV channels want us to hear.

Try also Wikitribune

No. There is no point. I let out a few choice words and switch to another channel. We have the choice with the amount of programmes available.

Great posts! The news, especially BBC, seems to descend to new depths of 'journalism' every day. Have decided not to watch it again after last night's unbelievable piece on T.M. showing a butcher slicing pork chops and some senior citizens at an art class!!!!!!

I agree radicalnan, what happened to the watershed?

We look after 4 of our grandchildren (ages 6-2 - have them for 'breakfast/after school club' and take and collect from school 2 days per week. They are usually collected by Mummy or Daddy at 5-6pm. During the height of the Syrian War the 6pm news coverage became very graffic, and still is. We do not have any tv/radio news programmes on whilst they are present as the subject matter (war, acid attack, stabbing, terrorise attacks, child abuse) is not suitable for them at their age.

I agree with previous posts, what has happened to happy/positive news? I think it would be very good for our mental health to always end on a positive and uplifting subject.

And another thing - think I've got the complaining bug now. ? ? so please forgive me but I need to have a rant and hope fellow Gransnetters may be of the same opinion, or is it me?

A well known supermarket has a toy sale at the moment so whilst shopping I decided to browse the shelves as Christmas is on the horizon and I have 7 grandchildren.

I was so shocked to see the choice of toys for boys the vast majority of which were aggressive/war theme and for girls pink, pink,pink everything, make up/hair styling kits, sexualised dolls etc, etc. I know there is a lot about gender stereotyping in the press and now I know why!

Our young grandchildren are being bombarded on all sides by marketing, advertising, tv and media and I do fear for them in their formative years. I know I am showing my age and sound very simplistic but my generation were lucky to have grown up without all these pressures.

So there rant over I feel better for that, and thanks for reading my post. In conclusion I feel the role of us Grandparents is more important now than ever, so keep up the good work everyone. I'll end on a positive note ??

I think there are equal numbers of complaining viewers who think the BBC is left leaning as right leaning - they must be doing something right!

If you want to see really bad news coverage try watching it in the US or indeed Canada

spabbygirl! You must be joking. Their all Labour supporters how far left are you?

BBC news is hopeless, I remember watching about 10 minutes of coverage when Bowie died and 2 mins with Brucie. Last night they had a piece on this wonderful new scheme that helped people whose risk of having their children taken into care. This new scheme looked good, but they failed to mention that this gov't had been shutting down sure start centres that did the same thing. The BBC won't criticise the tories

Depends on the time of month Imperfect25. I agree about your news comment wholeheartedly. As for complaints, sometimes I’ll switch off, but other times I can and do complain-to the BBC, the newspaper, the gas board, the surgery, tripadvisor, and don’t even get me started on those endless surveys you get when you’ve bought something or had a service provided. On the other hand I make a point of sending positive feedback if there’s something good to say. If we say nothing, then we can’t expect changes.

There is no point in complaining. I watched BBC Newswatch for ages in the hope that it will make a difference. Every time there is an adverse comment or complaint they get the Editor/Producer on and they always support the reasons why they did what they did. They just don't take any notice. I don't know why Newswatch is on personally. I don't watch it any more.

Thankyou CardiffJaguar. I don't want to hear the opinion of the interviewer/newsreader either - it's often very evident by the tone of the voice. Fiona Bruce is my least favourite newsreader because of this.

Sometimes a significant thing has happened in Northern Ireland (where I live). We watch the main news expecting to see a news report and there's nothing. Much less interesting things are reported because they happen in England.