We all know that certain media, especially newspapers, are bias, with reporters, editors and the like promoting their own viewpoint. However, there is a requirement for institutions such as the BBC to remain politically neutral, but in fairness, this is often breached. As a Liberal Democrat, I frequently find myself very angry at their coverage of the news.
The basis for this blog, as the issue of bias media is not a new one, is the recent reporting of Iraq and opposition political leaders calling for an increase in helicopters. Nick Clegg raised the problems caused by helicopter shortages first, however, on most of the news reporting I have heard – it has been David Cameron who has been associated with raising the issue. Furthermore, if you cast your mind back to the Ghurkhas, David Cameron was also seen to receive more media coverage than I believe he should have, given that the Liberal Democrat’s had been fighting for their right to settlement for many months, and that as a party, were the ones to call for the motion to be debated.
The bias reporting of the media is subtle, but does damage to the Liberal Democrat’s standings. It reinforces the unfair adversarial system, making out that the race is only really between the two main political parties. What needs to occur within institutions such as the BBC, which needs to aim at being political neutral, is an attempt at providing the Liberal Democrats a more serious voice, and provide them with more credit for the many key debates that we often lead.
