BBC finds its happy place inflicting latest round of self-harm | John Crace

1 day ago7 min read3 comments

The BBC found itself once again in its natural habitat—the political arena of self-inflicted scrutiny—as Chair Samir Shah faced MPs with the grim demeanor of a campaign manager whose candidate is trailing in the polls. This wasn't just another parliamentary hearing; it was a masterclass in political deflection, with Robbie Gibb operating like a seasoned spin doctor redirecting every critique with the precision of a targeted attack ad.The BBC's obsession with self-analysis isn't merely institutional navel-gazing; it's a strategic maneuver in a media landscape where every misstep becomes ammunition in the culture wars. Historically, the BBC has weathered storms from government pressure to public distrust, but this latest episode reveals a deeper institutional schizophrenia—simultaneously championing impartiality while employing internal critics whose roles mirror opposition researchers in a political campaign.The corporation's recruitment of figures like Gibb, whose background ties him to partisan media operations, underscores a calculated gamble: to pre-empt external attacks by internalizing the conflict, much like a political party adopting its opponent's rhetoric to neutralize it. Yet this strategy carries profound risks.As with a campaign that loses its core message, the BBC's identity becomes diluted, eroding public trust in its journalism. Expert commentators, like media analyst Claire Enders, warn that such inward focus distracts from the BBC's foundational mission—to inform and educate—while emboldening competitors like streaming giants and partisan outlets who capitalize on the chaos.The consequences ripple beyond Broadcasting House: a weakened BBC undermines the UK's soft power globally and creates a vacuum in reliable news, mirroring the decline of public broadcasters in polarized democracies like the US and Italy. In the grand theater of media politics, this hearing wasn't just about accountability—it was a battle for narrative control, with the BBC's future hanging in the balance like a swing seat on election night.

#BBC

#media criticism

#self-analysis

#governance

#featured

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