Blogging the Beeb

Governors publish tests

The BBC Governors have today published their proposals for determining the case for investment in BBC services and the agreed content of services. There is now a consultation on these proposals.

No product placement

The BBC has cleared the makers of Spooks of product placement but says there were examples of too much 'product prominence.'

English schools (updated)

BBC News still doesn't get devolution. Most of the reporting I have heard and seen over the weekend, including yesterday's World This Weekend on Radio Four, reported the Government's schools proposals as though they applied to the whole UK rather than just to England. This BBC News online story has now been changed however to reflect the fact that it is England only. It certainly didn't say that earlier!

Race and Britain

In the Indie (subscription site), Yasmin Alibhai-Brown comments on the Darcus Howe/Joan Rivers row:

For a couple of days, Britons discussed the state of race relations in this country, a rare foray into a theme that appears to have been buried in a heritage site. We talk incessantly about multiculturalism, faith battles, Islamophobia, integration, assimilation, segregation, immigration, terrorism, the British identity, inner- city problems and ethnic tensions, but not race - even though it colours every one of the above

Trafalgar Day

Speaking of Trafalgar, the Sunday Telegraph tells the BBC to be proud to be British, complaining it is treating the events as a commemoration, not a celebration:

This was the battle that kept the flame of freedom burning in Europe and established our maritime nation as a world power. It laid the foundations for our empire, for our multicultural society and eventually for the good old BBC. Come along, Auntie. Lighten up, be proud to be British - and rejoice!

In fact, the BBC's Trafalgar web pages clearly refer to 'celebrations':

Thousands of people throughout the UK are expected to be involved in this month's Battle of Trafalgar bicentenary celebrations over the anniversary weekend.

Manchester Move going ahead

The BBC's move of some staff and sservices to Manchester appears to be going ahead, following the Governors' endorsement of the feasibility study yesterday.

Lords to Oppose BBC Trust?

The Guardian says that the House of Lords Committee on the BBC will criticise the creation of the BBC Trust.

It's exhausting as a BBC boss....

Apparently

The strains of "crisis management" and "creative exhaustion" among high-flying BBC executives is driving them into the independent production sector

Nothing to do with the higher salaries on offer, then?

Oh sorry, it's hidden away at the end of the article:

The market value the indies put on creative people is entirely out of kilter with the market value the BBC puts on creative people

Empire State

The BBC has an interactive site about the Sceptred Isle series on the British Empire.

Midweek Punch-up

The broadsheets are having a field day over yesterday's encounter between Darcus Howe and Joan Rivers on Radio 4's Midweek - without getting into any of the arguments and their merits themselves of course. Here is the transcript in question:

Darcus Howe: I have been persecuted by everyone. I have to educate my wife about black people.

Joan Rivers: I’m so bored with race.

DH What are you talking about?

JR Race doesn’t mean a damn thing. It’s about people.

DH There are thousands of . . . let’s say “Caribbean” children since “black” offends Joan . . .

JR Just stop right now. Black does not offend me. How dare you? How dare you say that? Black offends me? You know nothing about me, you just sat down here, how dare you?

DH The use of the term black offends you.

JR The use of the term black offends me? Where the hell are you coming from? You’ve got such a chip on your shoulder. I don’t give a damn if you’re black or white.

DH I do.

JR I couldn’t care less, it’s what the person is. Don’t you dare call me a racist. I want an apology.

Libby Purves I don’t think he meant it personally.

JR I think it was.

DH (to Rivers) You have a language problem.

JR No I don’t. You had a child, you left them. Your wife said you weren’t there. You deserted them. Now your son comes back, you got problems. Where were you when he was growing up?

DH May I continue?

JR Don’t you dare call me a racist. How dare you?

LP I have great sympathy with both sides but I’m starting to feel like Oprah.

JR Both sides?! I abhor racists. Don’t you dare call me that . . . son of a bitch. (Pause)

LP Right, Darcus . . .

JR Yes, please continue with this wonderful father who left his children.

LP Darcus, can we just say that you don’t think Joan is a racist?

DH I don’t know whether she is a racist or not. I don’t care. Normally I wouldn’t ever meet you in my life.

JR No, normally I wouldn’t choose to meet you.

DH No, she’s not a racist.

JR Now we can talk about his stupid film.

DH I don’t think you brought me here to be insulted.

JR Nor did I come here to be insulted by someone, to be called a racist.

LP Andrea, shall we talk about plant photography?

Andrea Jones Please.

Here's Libby Purves' own account. Here's the Telegraph leader. This is The Times report. This is the Guardian's. This is the Telegraph's, and their review.

You can listen to the whole show here. Or just the clip, via the Guardian, here.

Later - now BBC News has got in on the act.