BBC Scotland - A Corporation on Trial

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

For some, myself included, the announcement by BBC Scotland that they were going to undertake a formal investigation into the circumstances leading to the current furore with their reporter Jim Spence, came as something of a surprise. I use the word surprise because in committing themselves to such a course of action, BBC Scotland are very much putting themselves on trial.

I wonder if myself or any of the thousands of other Rangers fans who several months ago on BBC Sportsound heard the aforementioned Jim Spence declare "I don't care what the Rangers fans say - this is a new club" will be cited as witnesses in this investigation ? Of course there is no need - it’s all there in the BBC Scotland archives.

Funnily enough on this point I agree with part of what Spence says. It doesn't really matter what the Rangers support say about this matter - we have neither the authority or legal expertise to pass conclusive and objective opinion. Neither does Jim Spence for that matter - his job is to report the conclusions of those who do possess such authority and expertise. The fact he has failed to do so represents considerable professional failings on his part (which are compounded considerably by the fact his own employers have previously reported on Lord Nimmo Smith's legal conclusions and the SFA's decision to transfer licence)

But before a very vigilant Rangers support BBC Scotland's investigative process and its conclusions will be subject to the closest of scrutiny. The corporations standing not only with our support, but the club itself, is at an all time low, and I would hazard a guess that the widespread animosity shown by BBC Scotland in the last few years towards Rangers has been a contributory factor in the lack of confidence Scots have in the corporation. I'm not for a minute suggesting there is sympathy for us by non-Rangers Scots, just that a club with a support the size Rangers have means that any survey of Scots society would result in a fair number who cast a favourable eye towards Ibrox being surveyed.

But its more that BBC Scotland's popularity which is on trial. It's journalistic integrity is in the dock, the very heart and soul of the press and media is going to be subjected to the closest of forensic examination. For a regional corporation already lagging behind its peers in terms of public confidence this could well be a watershed.

And it should come as no surprise that it will be far more than just the Rangers support maintaining a watching brief on events. For the BBC Trust who have already had cause to intercede in this battle between the Rangers support and BBC Scotland there will be both a sense of foreboding and déjà vu. For barely a year has passed since the BBC were savaged for their failures in light of the Jimmy Savile scandal. Both their investigative processes and their ability to challenge the behaviour of one of their employees has caused the corporation massive damage. Some suggest perhaps fatal damage. The true extent cannot be gauged however until politicians sit down to discuss whether the corporation should be awarded the right to demand a licence and the subsequent public reaction to this. The problem for the BBC is that politicians have a tendency to do what is popular with voters rather than what is necessarily the right thing to do.

And whilst the Leveson enquiry dealt with the behaviour of the written press it nevertheless has resulted in considerable change across the entire spectrum of the press and media irrespective of whether it is the written or spoken word.

And what of the individual who was the catalyst to all this ? Is he displaying remorse or regret for the position he has forced his employers into ? Regretfully not instead he is busy playing to the gallery of "usual suspects - that intrepid band of Rangers hating individuals who just happen for convenience sake to carry an NUJ card - and have been too happy to squeal about "abuse of journalists" and "freedom of speech".(It is entirely co-incidental of course that this group only make an appearance when a journalist is challenged about anti-Rangers rhetoric)

But let's stick with the word abuse here because it is pivotal to this whole debate. It appears the fact that the truth has been abused seems, sadly, to be of little consequence to many.

But for those of us who wish to protect and maintain the ethos of a BBC whose accuracy and impartiality once earned world renown, perhaps the gravest abuse in all of this is a maverick journalist using the BBC as a platform to espouse not only his disdain for a football club - but expressing that disdain in a manner which is both inaccurate and misleading.

[tam57 698]

I suspect that there would not be an investigation if they thought it was going to find against Spence.It will be a cover up to try and make us look bad again.

[Clunge 864]

Spot on, as per D'art!

[Big Al 55 9,249]

In my humble opinion there will be absolutely no action taken against Jim Spence.

[sprotson11 147]

Great job

[wombatdropping 182]

Who is carrying out this investigation ? If it is BBC Scotland employees then i wouldn't hold out too much hope of it being anything other than a paper exercise.

"BBC Scotland find themselves not guilty of anything and are now free to carry on with their Rangers hating agenda "

I really hope that the findings of this investigation are made public. All in the name of transparency of course..

[Agoram1 42]

Excellent read but I truly believe this 'investigation' is purely for show. The result will come back as us being in the wrong.

[woodvale1690 43]

again, sound stuff d'art, how transparent will this investigation be or will it be closed door and we might hear in a year or two the outcome?

[cushynumber 25,178]

I suspect that there would not be an investigation if they thought it was going to find against Spence.It will be a cover up to try and make us look bad again.

I dont think there will be a cover up but if you look at the recent BBC trust case with us, they upheld the complaint, but rejected parts of the complaints which alleged that use of the terms was a result of "anti-Rangers bias".

It will be interesting to see if they go down that route again, with a man who is a repeat offender. How many times does it have to happen before the BBC Trust see that bias and bigotry are at the core of all this?

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

For some, myself included, the announcement by BBC Scotland that they were going to undertake a formal investigation into the circumstances leading to the current furore with their reporter Jim Spence, came as something of a surprise. I use the word surprise because in committing themselves to such a course of action, BBC Scotland are very much putting themselves on trial.

I wonder if myself or any of the thousands of other Rangers fans who several months ago on BBC Sportsound heard the aforementioned Jim Spence declare "I don't care what the Rangers fans say - this is a new club" will be cited as witnesses in this investigation ? Of course there is no need - it’s all there in the BBC Scotland archives.

Funnily enough on this point I agree with part of what Spence says. It doesn't really matter what the Rangers support say about this matter - we have neither the authority or legal expertise to pass conclusive and objective opinion. Neither does Jim Spence for that matter - his job is to report the conclusions of those who do possess such authority and expertise. The fact he has failed to do so represents considerable professional failings on his part (which are compounded considerably by the fact his own employers have previously reported on Lord Nimmo Smith's legal conclusions and the SFA's decision to transfer licence)

But before a very vigilant Rangers support BBC Scotland's investigative process and its conclusions will be subject to the closest of scrutiny. The corporations standing not only with our support, but the club itself, is at an all time low, and I would hazard a guess that the widespread animosity shown by BBC Scotland in the last few years towards Rangers has been a contributory factor in the lack of confidence Scots have in the corporation. I'm not for a minute suggesting there is sympathy for us by non-Rangers Scots, just that a club with a support the size Rangers have means that any survey of Scots society would result in a fair number who cast a favourable eye towards Ibrox being surveyed.

But its more that BBC Scotland's popularity which is on trial. It's journalistic integrity is in the dock, the very heart and soul of the press and media is going to be subjected to the closest of forensic examination. For a regional corporation already lagging behind its peers in terms of public confidence this could well be a watershed.

And it should come as no surprise that it will be far more than just the Rangers support maintaining a watching brief on events. For the BBC Trust who have already had cause to intercede in this battle between the Rangers support and BBC Scotland there will be both a sense of foreboding and déjà vu. For barely a year has passed since the BBC were savaged for their failures in light of the Jimmy Savile scandal. Both their investigative processes and their ability to challenge the behaviour of one of their employees has caused the corporation massive damage. Some suggest perhaps fatal damage. The true extent cannot be gauged however until politicians sit down to discuss whether the corporation should be awarded the right to demand a licence and the subsequent public reaction to this. The problem for the BBC is that politicians have a tendency to do what is popular with voters rather than what is necessarily the right thing to do.

And whilst the Leveson enquiry dealt with the behaviour of the written press it nevertheless has resulted in considerable change across the entire spectrum of the press and media irrespective of whether it is the written or spoken word.

And what of the individual who was the catalyst to all this ? Is he displaying remorse or regret for the position he has forced his employers into ? Regretfully not instead he is busy playing to the gallery of "usual suspects - that intrepid band of Rangers hating individuals who just happen for convenience sake to carry an NUJ card - and have been too happy to squeal about "abuse of journalists" and "freedom of speech".(It is entirely co-incidental of course that this group only make an appearance when a journalist is challenged about anti-Rangers rhetoric)

But let's stick with the word abuse here because it is pivotal to this whole debate. It appears the fact that the truth has been abused seems, sadly, to be of little consequence to many.

But for those of us who wish to protect and maintain the ethos of a BBC whose accuracy and impartiality once earned world renown, perhaps the gravest abuse in all of this is a maverick journalist using the BBC as a platform to espouse not only his disdain for a football club - but expressing that disdain in a manner which is both inaccurate and misleading.

Interesting - got a link - on mobile bit could not find story?

[jimgers 565]

"A corporation on Trial"

Who's the Judge and Jury on that trial?

Answers on a postcard to......gies a break @jimgers

[Rfc#1. 1,877]

I don't have much faith in the integrity of bbc scotland investigating their own.

[Inigo 32,526]

A lot of credit is due to those in the vanguard of this issue. We all moan on internet forums, but in the end that gets us nowhere. Kudos to those that step forward and have the determination and resolve to do something more purposeful and are stubborn enough to keep ploughing through the pea-souper that always seems to be thrown up as defenses around said issues.

[Smile 26,606]

They covered up for Jimmy Saville i don't see this being any different.

[Guardian 4,281]

Whilst I don't expect anything more than a reprimand in public, behind the scenes spence will have to explain himself to his bosses cos they will have to explain it to theirs

This sends a warning to the rest of the pack, draws a line in the sand.

The days of saying what you like unchallenged are gone.

It just shows you what be done with some persistence. Just a shame it wasn't the club that did it.

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

Interesting - got a link - on mobile bit could not find story?

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/bbc-to-investigate-row-with-rangers-fans.22152836

[Zappa 358]

Another excellent article. Keep up the good work D'Art!

[16BlueSherbert90 19,223]

Thank you D'Art.

I would like to hope the said investigation will bring us good news with regards to Spence and his poor attitude although, I think with the NUJ backing him up also, there may not be a lot of action made. I could be wrong of course.

[californiadreamin52 339]

My respect for this once bastion of true and integrity has long disappear do to the lack of informed, balanced, and dependant reporting therefore I fear this will be an exercise in futility and a total whitewash both of which BBC Scotland have excelled in over the resent years

[corkinator 611]

http://www.heraldsco...s-fans.22152836

Just read the last couple of lines in the article from the BBC, this tells you how the "investigation" will go.

[elephants stoned 2,994]

Great persistance by our support to get this far but i cant see anything but a whitewashing cover up coming from this investigation i hope i am pleasently suprised but i wont be holding my breath

[Dutchy 1,200]

The production at BBC Scotland in general is becoming more and more Irish/Jacobite orientated. They're forever making programs about Mary Queen of Scots, have more and more Irish people even presenting their programs, or the subjects of their programs. I was listening to a new guy the other day fronting their noon time news I think it was. His name was Niall O'Galacher think. There's no way you will get a fair hearing from that bunch, much like Monklands/Lanarkshire labour party being censured for having different coloured forms for job applications.

[Yellowbelly 14]

Jim Spence admonished, Rangers guilty and fined by SPFL and SFA with transfer embargo and ground closure titles stripped and all monies from Ramsdens Cup final victory kept by SPFL. you can just see it coming.

[Ger77 742]

D'Art your posts get better and better.

[Blue Heaven 37]

"The BBC Trust's Editorial Standards Committee are to investigate hundreds of complaints about Mr Spence's comments on Sportsound.

Fans have escalated the complaint because they were unsatisfied with BBC Scotland's response and that no apology was heard from the presenter."

The BBC TRUST have already upheld 2 Ranger's fans complaints & set down the guidelines for wording to be used regards RANGERS, Spence & BBC Scotland have ignored the Trust's guidelines this is a golden opportunity for the Trust to enforce it's authority by throwing the book at BBC Scotland & Spence.

I believe the BBC Trust's Editorial Standards Committee will take this opportunity for revenge on BBC Scotland.