NEW figures have confirmed what we all suspected about the BBC’s coverage north of the Border... that it covered far fewer stories about Scotland this year compared to 2015 and devolved politics outside England represented only one per cent of the overall news agenda.
A two-week study of BBC television and radio news coverage found that while the corporation had improved labelling of devolved stories, reporting from Scotland more than halved.
Cardiff University academics analysed the BBC’s coverage compared with independent networks for four weeks in 2015 and two weeks in 2016.
The report found: “The combined proportion of reporting about (or in) Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland fell significantly across BBC outlets. So, for example, on BBC television news outlets there were more than twice as many items from Westminster as items about any topic reported from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“Although the BBC communicates news about the four nations with greater regularity and clarity than commercial television, overall devolved politics continues to represent a fraction of UK network news.”
Items about Scotland, excluding Westminster and UK-wide items, increased in 2015 to 14.4 per cent but have since more than halved to 7.1 per cent of output, with English items increasing from 78.4 per cent to 85.8 per cent A total of 78 per cent of stories on devolved issues made clear what part of the UK they applied to, the highest level to date and ahead of other broadcasters.
The BBC Trust commissioned the analysis to look at coverage of the nations and regions.
Bill Matthews, BBC Trustee for Scotland, said: “Throughout this charter period the Trust has monitored the BBC’s reporting of an increasingly devolved UK, recognising that audiences expect their news to be relevant, accurate and representative.
“Whilst the BBC has clearly made improvements, it is disappointing that there is still work to be done.
“I welcome the increased obligations placed upon the BBC for audiences in the nations and regions by the new Charter.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel