Lobby the BBC

We believe there is a bias within the BBC toward reporting royal events and issues in a way which is one-sided and uncritical. If you agree then we would like you to do something about it.

Taking Action on BBC Bias

The BBC records all complaints and they are fed back to management and editors. It is important that we continually remind the BBC when they fall short of the high standards they have set themselves for broadcasting news and current affairs.

Republic's view on BBC bias

Republic respects the BBC's reputation as a world leader in news and entertainment broadcasting and as a popular British institution. However, we do have serious reservations about the manner in which the corporation reports on issues to do with the monarchy and the royal family.

We believe there is a clearly identifiable institutional bias, particularly within the BBC's national news output, toward presenting the Monarchy in a manner that is favourable to the institution and to members of the royal family. They routinely play down any opposition to the individuals, their activities and to the institution itself while at the same time over-emphasising the level of public support for the monarchy.

The BBC also plays a strong role in promoting royal events and occasions, which are in essence little more than PR exercises for the monarchy. In doing so the BBC implies that 'royal' events are synonymous with 'national' events, thus excluding those who oppose the monarchy.

BBC news present Jeremy Paxman said himself that: "BBC did not know whether to "report" or "celebrate" events such as the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations and the marriage of the Prince of Wales to Camilla Parker-Bowles... [there is] a fawning sense to the tone of voice [the BBC] adopts when dealing with the heir to throne and his family." We agree entirely.

While we accept that accusations of bias are routinely directed at the BBC, we question whether the manner of royal reporting would be tolerated if it were applied to party political coverage. As with party politics the monarchy is a contentious and contested issue. A substantial section of the British people oppose its very existence.

We believe the institutional bias in the BBC is the result of a cultural attitude rather than a deliberate decision making process. It may also reflect the social demographics of staff and journalists within the corporation. Whatever the cause, we will be routinely reminding the BBC of the words of Sir Michael Lyons, the new Chair of the BBC Trust, who said on April 5th 2007: "Under my leadership, the Trust will continue to safeguard the BBC's editorial independence and ensure that is impartial."

Republic has expressed its concerns in a letter written to the Director General in April 2007. The letter was copied to a number of relevant senior staff and news editors. Read the letter here.

Director General Mark Thompson replied to us stating that he refuted the charge of bias. We will continue to press our case and present the corporation with the evidence and to speak up for the substantial section of the British population which would prefer to see a more balanced coverage of the monarchy.