Dundee Liberal Democrats back improved BBC coverage of Scotland (Dundee Liberal Democrats)

Dundee Liberal Democrats <info@dundeelibdems.org.uk>

Dundee Liberal Democrats back improved BBC coverage of Scotland

June 15, 2008 10:15 PM

Dundee LibDems back improved BBC coverage of Scotland

Dundee Liberal Democrats today (Sunday 15th June) backed the thrust of a report by Professor Anthony King which indicates that the BBC must improve its coverage of Scotland and the other nations and regions of the UK in its news coverage.

The report said that the BBC was "falling short of its own high standards and failing to meet its core purpose of helping inform democracy."

The BBC management released a statement in response to the report, saying, "While there have been improvements in performance, and the report states that BBC News upholds high standards of impartiality and fairness in its reporting of politics and policy in all four nations of the UK, we accept that we can and must do better."

Scottish Liberal Democrat Culture spokesperson, Iain Smith MSP, said, "The BBC has still got a lot of work to do to catch up with the post-devolution landscape of Britain.

"Liberal Democrats welcome the commitment by BBC management to bring forward a detailed action plan in July and we will study their proposals very carefully to ensure that the high standards which viewers and listeners expect are applied in a changing environment."

Here in Dundee, LibDem City Councillor for Strathmartine, Cllr Helen Dick, added, "It is vital that the BBC properly and fully covers Scottish news and current affairs. I hope Professor Anthony King's recommendations will be quickly and fully implemented by the Corporation."