Second ‘bias’ protest earmarked for BBC Scotland HQ

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Saturday, 07 June 2014 15:49

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  By a Newsnet reporter
 
Organisers of a protest that took place outside BBC Scotland’s Glasgow HQ last week, have announced plans for a second demo.
 
The group, who are protesting against anti-independence bias in news and current affairs programmes broadcast by the BBC, have revealed a second protest is to take place on Sunday, June 29th at 2pm.

The demonstration follows the success of a similar event that took place one week ago that saw hundreds turn up with banners and placards angry at BBC coverage of the independence referendum.  The initial snap protest followed the beginning of the official monitoring period for the campaign.

Around 350 people were estimated to have attended the initial event.  The official Facebook page set up by organisers suggests that around three times as many may attend the second demonstration.

On their official Facebook page, a statement reads: “The BBC’s coverage is ruining the run up to the biggest decision in our history.  People are suitably sickened by the BBC & other mainstream media and their one sided conveyor belt of scare stories portrayed against our economic prospects, EU membership and the currency of an independent Scotland.”

Questioning the BBC’s claim that it is impartial, demo organisers have listed the following examples of what they say are evidence of bias, they include:

• Make up of Question Time panels.
• Irish & Luxembourg EU ministers views misrepresented.
• UKIP promotion during EU elections.
• University of the West of Scotland report on bias on evening news programmes (BBC & STV).
• University of the West of Scotland report on bias on Radio Scotland Good Morning Scotland show.
• The BBC’s membership of the CBI which opposes independence.
• Different styles of questioning for Yes/No with frequent interruptions of Yes representatives from interviewers.

Billed as a ‘peaceful, silent protest’ the first demo had no official speakers in attendance.  However, organisers have revealed that musician/songwriter and campaigner Citizen Smart will be performing at the June 29th demo.

The musician has already compiled a special song highlighting the pro-Union nature of much of the BBC broadcasts in relation to the independence referendum.

The protest comes in the wake of increasing anger at the BBC’s handling of the independence referendum with figures, some openly pro-Union, being parachuted in from south of the border to front programmes.

The claims were reinforced this week when BBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor held up a Better Together campaign leaflet after comments were made by US President Barack Obama in response to a question from the BBC.  It later emerged that Downing Street had asked the US President to make a statement on the independence referendum. 

There was further criticisms of BBC Scotland last week when it emerged that the broadcaster plans to replace the popular radio show ‘Headlines’ with a new programme which will be jointly-hosted by a serving Labour MSP and a former SNP MSP.

It is believed the June 29th protest is to be filmed by Russian news channel RT.