Pete Wishart is the SNP's broadcasting spokesman who gave evidence to the independent review into the BBC's political coverage. He agrees with complaints that services are biased because there is too much emphasis on Westminster.
The report found 37 per cent of viewers feel BBC news reports are often not relevant to where they live – does this mean the BBC is failing to meet its core purpose of informing democracy?Yes, it does. The BBC has a duty to refle
ct the reality that people live in and inform them about what is going on. That is quite a high percentage of people who feel they are not being served well in their areas.
Why do you think the report points to political coverage being seen as unduly focused on Westminster and refers to a "general bias" towards stories about England, or telling stories from an English perspective?You would not even know there was a Scottish Parliament, which is laziness on the part of the BBC. All the big-name journalists are based in Westminster, because that's where they believe the big action is.
What did you think of the media coverage of this issue?I thought it was reasonably all right, but it raised tension on some blogs. People were asking – and I agree with them – why should we devote time and resources to Scotland, or Wales, or wherever? If I was living in Yorkshire I would not want to know about Edinburgh.
Where does this leave the question of whether there should be a Scottish Six bulletin?It would be such a simple solution – give Scotland its relevant news services at 6pm and 10pm, presented and produced by Scottish journalists offering a Scottish perspective, and let the rest of the UK do what they want to do. We are not getting the news service we deserve as a nation.
What do you think should happen next?Look at what BBC journalists are taught when they are sent on courses on devolution.
The full article contains 338 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
