Referendum Blog: June 11

Referendum Blog: June 11

DID BBC FAVOUR ‘REMAIN’ IN VOTER REGISTRATION PUSH? The specially-extended deadline to register to vote in the EU referendum passed on Thursday night. According to the BBC, an extra 430,000 voters registered, approximately half of whom were under 35. The…
Referendum Blog: June 10

Referendum Blog: June 10

PRO-OSBORNE, ANTI-FARAGE BIAS: Two successive days, two key studio events in which the respective sides in the referendum debate put their respective arguments. One was George Osborne’s appearance (Wednesday) with Andrew Neil and the other, the ITV programme on Tuesday…
Referendum Blog: June 8

Referendum Blog: June 8

MORE BIAS BY OMISSION: The respected Pew Research Centre in the US released today a survey based on more than 10,500 responses in 10 of the main EU countries. At its heart were some very strong findings that suggest that…
Referendum Blog: June 8

Referendum Blog: June 8

MERTHYR TYDFIL BIAS: On this morning’s Today programme, BBC reporter Sima Kotecha visited Merthyr Tydfil. There were three features. In the first, she spoke to three locals whom she said were undecided, ‘leave’ and remain’ in the referendum debate. The…
Referendum Blog: June 6

Referendum Blog: June 6

‘ABOMINABLE BIAS’: Andrew Marr interviewed John Major and Boris Johnson on his show yesterday (5 June). The BBC has characterised in other commentary the battle now as a ‘blue on blue’ fight, and with only two Sunday shows to go…
Referendum Blog: June 5

Referendum Blog: June 5

FEEDBACK BIAS: Radio 4’s Feedback, presented by Roger Bolton, ostensibly examined on Friday listeners’ concerns that BBC coverage was favouring the remain side in the EU referendum debate. Michael Yardley from Colchester said: Now Roger Bolton – who was editor…
Referendum Blog: June 4

Referendum Blog: June 4

CORNWALL BIAS: Justin Webb is the latest Today reporter to go walkabout to get the perspective of the EU referendum ‘from different places’.  His destination was Redruth in Cornwall. Previous News-watch postings on BBC’ presenters’ handling of the topic of…
Referendum Blog: June 2

Referendum Blog: June 2

NAUGHTIE BIAS: On Tuesday, James Naughtie, now a roving BBC correspondent emeritus, assembled three Today features about the Scottish reaction to the EU referendum. They were seriously imbalanced towards the ‘remain’ side. In the opening sequence, at 6.42am, Naughtie explored…