Why the BBC matters: memo to the new parliament about a unique British institution

Barnett, S. and Seaton, J. 2010. Why the BBC matters: memo to the new parliament about a unique British institution. Political Quarterly. 81 (3), pp. 327-332. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-923X.2010.02117.x

TitleWhy the BBC matters: memo to the new parliament about a unique British institution
AuthorsBarnett, S. and Seaton, J.
Abstract

The new Parliament will be asked at some point to make critical decisions about the BBC's future at a time when it is facing full-frontal assaults from competitors who view the BBC as a major barrier to their own advancement. Whether it be newspaper groups seeking to monetise their online activities, commercial children's channels, terrestrial competitors or the owners of music radio stations, media conglomerates rail against the BBC's size and public funding with increasing regularity. Our aim is to remind our legislators of the vital contribution this institution makes to British life: from a journalism inscribed with values of fairness, integrity and impartiality—and valued throughout the world for its professional engagement with foreign affairs—to its creative commitment to British story-telling, music, comedy, arts and children's programmes, the BBC's contribution to our democratic and cultural welfare is immense. It is a beacon for Britain, which provides social glue for its citizens at a time of fragmenting audiences and identities, within a uniquely non-commercial space, accountable to both Parliament and its licence payers. It may distort the market, much as the National Health Service distorts the market for health care, but is held in high esteem by the British public and is admired throughout the world. This article explains why the BBC is a national treasure that underpins our creative economy as well as our cultural vitality, and argues that it must be protected from those who argue self-interestedly for its diminution.

JournalPolitical Quarterly
Journal citation81 (3), pp. 327-332
ISSN0032-3179
YearJul 2010
PublisherWiley
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-923X.2010.02117.x
Publication dates
PublishedJul 2010

Related outputs

Introduction: Where Next for Public Service Broadcasting?
Franks, S. and Seaton, J. 2024. Introduction: Where Next for Public Service Broadcasting? The Political Quarterly. 95 (1), pp. 8-11. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.13381

“It's the news, stupid”
Seaton, J. 2022. “It's the news, stupid”. IPPR Progressive Review. 29 (1), pp. 7-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/newe.12303

Where public interest and public benefit meet: the application of charity law to journalism
Barnett, Steven, Murdoch, Tom and Townend, J. 2022. Where public interest and public benefit meet: the application of charity law to journalism. Journal of Media Law. 14 (2), p. 323–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/17577632.2022.2141225

IPSO: Regulator or Complaints Handler? – Summary
Ramsay, G. and Barnett, S. 2021. IPSO: Regulator or Complaints Handler? – Summary. London Communications and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), University of Westminster. https://doi.org/10.34737/v4zx9

IPSO: Regulator or Complaints Handler? How UK News Publishers Set Up Their Own Regulator to Avoid Scrutiny
Ramsay, G. and Barnett, S. 2021. IPSO: Regulator or Complaints Handler? How UK News Publishers Set Up Their Own Regulator to Avoid Scrutiny. London Communications and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), University of Westminster. https://doi.org/10.34737/v4zx8

The BBC: Guardian of Public Understanding
Seaton, J. 2021. The BBC: Guardian of Public Understanding. in: Boin, A., Fahy, L. and 't Hart, P. (ed.) Guardians of Public Value: How Public Organisations Become and Remain Institutions Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 87-110

Can Tim Davie save the BBC?
Seaton, J. 2020. Can Tim Davie save the BBC? Prospect.

Putting the National Interest First - Reimagining the BBC for its Second Century
Seaton, J. 2020. Putting the National Interest First - Reimagining the BBC for its Second Century. in: Mair, J. (ed.) Is the BBC in peril? Does it deserve to be? Bite-Sized Books. pp. 102-106

The BBC and 'the Blob'. The very local and the very global
Seaton, J. 2020. The BBC and 'the Blob'. The very local and the very global. in: Mair, J. (ed.) Is the BBC still in peril? Advice to the new Director General Bite-Sized Books. pp. 133-139

Making the Process the Enemy of the People: what happens when No 10 Leaks
Seaton, J. 2020. Making the Process the Enemy of the People: what happens when No 10 Leaks. in: Mair, J. (ed.) Bite-Sized Books. pp. 53-57

Fact Checking and Information in the Age of Covid
Seaton, J., Sippitt, A. and Worthy, B. 2020. Fact Checking and Information in the Age of Covid. Political Quarterly. 91 (3), pp. 578-584. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.12910

The Monarchy, 'Popularity', Legitimacy and the Media
Seaton, J. 2020. The Monarchy, 'Popularity', Legitimacy and the Media. in: Hazell, R. and Morris, B. (ed.) The Role of Monarchy in Modern Democracy: European monarchies compared Hart Publishing.

Power Without Responsibility: Press, Broadcasting and the Internet in Britain, 8th Edition
Curran, J. and Seaton, J. 2018. Power Without Responsibility: Press, Broadcasting and the Internet in Britain, 8th Edition. Routledge.

Review of Tabloid Century: The Popular Press in Britain, 1896 to the Present. By Adrian Bingham and Martin Conboy
Seaton, J. 2017. Review of Tabloid Century: The Popular Press in Britain, 1896 to the Present. By Adrian Bingham and Martin Conboy. Twentieth Century British History. 28 (3), pp. 477-479. https://doi.org/10.1093/tcbh/hwx008

Is our national press a fading dinosaur? Don’t bank on it
Barnett, S. 2017. Is our national press a fading dinosaur? Don’t bank on it. in: Thorsen, Einar, Jackson, Daniel and Lilleker, Darren (ed.) UK Election Analysis 2017: Media, Voters and the Campaign UK Bournemouth University/Political Studies Association. pp. 55

Media plurality, the Fox-Sky bid, and the case for referral to Ofcom
Barnett, S., Moore, M. and Tambini, D. 2017. Media plurality, the Fox-Sky bid, and the case for referral to Ofcom. UK London School of Economics.

Murdoch has had too many favours
Barnett, S. 2017. Murdoch has had too many favours. British Journalism Review. 28 (1), pp. 51-56. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474817697599

Chilcot Report: Introduction
Seaton, J. 2016. Chilcot Report: Introduction. Political Quarterly. 87 (4), pp. 476-480. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.12307

Brexit and the Media
Seaton, J. 2016. Brexit and the Media. Political Quarterly. 87 (3), pp. 333-337. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.12296

How our mainstream media failed democracy
Barnett, S. 2016. How our mainstream media failed democracy. in: Jackson, Daniel, Thorsen, Einar and Wring, D. (ed.) EU REferendum Analysis 2016: Media, Voters and the Campaign Poole, UK Bournemouth University. pp. 47

The new Architecture of Communications
Seaton, J. 2016. The new Architecture of Communications. Journalism Studies. 17 (7), pp. 808-816. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2016.1199487

Your BBC needs you
Barnett, S. 2015. Your BBC needs you. British Journalism Review. 26 (4), pp. 22-27. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474815620720

Plurality, policy and the local: can hyperlocals fill the gap?
Barnett, S. and Townend, Judith 2015. Plurality, policy and the local: can hyperlocals fill the gap? Journalism Practice. 9 (3), pp. 332-349. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2014.943930

Four reasons why a partisan press helped win it for the Tories
Barnett, S. 2015. Four reasons why a partisan press helped win it for the Tories. in: Jackson, Daniel and Thorsen, Einar (ed.) UK election analysis 2015: media, voters and the campaign Bournemouth Centre for the Study of Journalism, Culture and Community. pp. 91

Plurality and public sector broadcasting: why and how PSBs deserve protection
Barnett, S. 2015. Plurality and public sector broadcasting: why and how PSBs deserve protection. in: Barnett, S. and Townend Judith (ed.) Media power and plurality: from hyperlocal to high-level policy London Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 45-62

John Whittingdale should realise a strong BBC is in the national interest
Seaton, J. 2015. John Whittingdale should realise a strong BBC is in the national interest. Prospect.

What would a world without the BBC look like?
Seaton, J. 2015. What would a world without the BBC look like? OpenDemocracy.

Pinkoes and traitors: the BBC and the nation 1974-1987
Seaton, J. 2015. Pinkoes and traitors: the BBC and the nation 1974-1987. London Profile Books.

The state of UK hyperlocal community news: findings from a survey of practitioners
Barnett, S., Townend Judith, Williams Andy and Harte Dave 2014. The state of UK hyperlocal community news: findings from a survey of practitioners. London University of Westminster.

Can charity save the local press?
Barnett, S. and Greenslade Roy 2014. Can charity save the local press? British Journalism Review. 25 (1), pp. 62-67. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474814526519

'And what good came of it at last?' Press–politician relations post-Leveson
Barnett, S. and Townend, Judith 2014. 'And what good came of it at last?' Press–politician relations post-Leveson. The Political Quarterly. 85 (2), p. 159–169. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.12088

Crisis? What crisis? The real BBC catastrophe is yet to happen
Barnett, S. 2014. Crisis? What crisis? The real BBC catastrophe is yet to happen. in: Mair, J., Tait, R. and Keeble, R.L. (ed.) Is the BBC in crisis? London Abramis Academic Publishing. pp. 176-182

BBC in crisis....
Seaton, J. 2014. BBC in crisis.... in: Mair, J., Tait, R. and Keeble, R.L. (ed.) Is the BBC in crisis? Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Abramis Academic Publishing.

The BBC and the Cuban missile crisis: private worlds and public service
Seaton, J. and Hughes, R. 2014. The BBC and the Cuban missile crisis: private worlds and public service. in: Gioe, D., Scott, L. and Andrew, C. (ed.) An international history of the Cuban missile crisis: a 50-year retrospective Abingdon, Oxon Routledge. pp. 43-72

Asa and the epochs: the BBC, the historian, the institution and the archive
Seaton, J. 2014. Asa and the epochs: the BBC, the historian, the institution and the archive. in: Taylor Miles (ed.) The age of Asa: Lord Briggs, public life and history in Britain since 1945 London Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 184-210

Should journalists be regulated?
Barnett, S. 2013. Should journalists be regulated? CQ Researcher. 23 (16), p. 393.

Leveson past, present and future: the politics of press regulation
Barnett, S. 2013. Leveson past, present and future: the politics of press regulation. The Political Quarterly. 84 (3), p. 353–361. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-923X.2013.12033.x

Plurality, Leveson and the threat to the BBC
Barnett, S. 2013. Plurality, Leveson and the threat to the BBC. Political Insight. 4 (3), pp. 26-29. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-9066.12034

The BBC and the ‘hidden wiring’ of the British constitution: the imposition of the broadcasting ban in 1988
Seaton, J. 2013. The BBC and the ‘hidden wiring’ of the British constitution: the imposition of the broadcasting ban in 1988. Twentieth Century British History. 24 (3), pp. 448-471. https://doi.org/10.1093/tcbh/hwt021

Stories from faraway places: international reporting, public service television and a glass half full
Barnett, S. 2013. Stories from faraway places: international reporting, public service television and a glass half full. in: Williams, G. and Petley, J. (ed.) The media in contemporary Britain: a critical approach Palgrave Macmillan.

Why the press must learn from the history and reputation of British television
Barnett, S. 2012. Why the press must learn from the history and reputation of British television. in: Keeble, R.L. and Mair, J. (ed.) The phone hacking scandal: journalism on trial London Abramis Academic Publishing. pp. 289-300

Public interest: the public decides
Barnett, S. 2012. Public interest: the public decides. British Journalism Review. 23 (2), pp. 15-23. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474812450666

From Callaghan to credit crunch: changing trends in British television news 1975-2009
Barnett, S., Gaber Ivor and Ramsay Gordon 2012. From Callaghan to credit crunch: changing trends in British television news 1975-2009. London University of Westminster.

Broadcast journalism and impartiality in the digital age: six fallacies and a counter-factual
Barnett, S. 2012. Broadcast journalism and impartiality in the digital age: six fallacies and a counter-factual. in: Ferrell Lowe, G. and Steemers, J. (ed.) Regaining the initiative for public service media (RIPE; 5) Göteborg, Sweden Nordicom. pp. 201-218

Afterword
Seaton, J. 2012. Afterword. in: Pimlott, B. (ed.) The Queen: Elizabeth II and the monarchy London Harper Press. pp. 705-718

It's ownership, stupid: why plurality lies at the heart of media policy reform - and how to achieve it
Barnett, S. 2012. It's ownership, stupid: why plurality lies at the heart of media policy reform - and how to achieve it. in: Keeble, R.L. and Mair, J. (ed.) The phone hacking scandal: journalism on trial Bury St Edmunds Abramis Academic Publishing. pp. 352-364

Imposition or empowerment? Freedom of speech, broadcasting and impartiality
Barnett, S. 2012. Imposition or empowerment? Freedom of speech, broadcasting and impartiality. in: Amos, M., Harrison, J. and Woods, L. (ed.) Freedom of expression and the media The Hague Martinus Nijhoff. pp. 45-71

Crusaders or pigs in raincoats?
Barnett, S. 2011. Crusaders or pigs in raincoats? British Journalism Review. 22 (3), pp. 13-16. https://doi.org/10.1177/09564748110220030105

The rise and fall of television journalism: just wires and lights in a box?
Barnett, S. 2011. The rise and fall of television journalism: just wires and lights in a box? London Bloomsbury Academic.

Media ownership policy in a recession: redefining the public interest
Barnett, S. 2010. Media ownership policy in a recession: redefining the public interest. Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture. 1 (2), pp. 217-232. https://doi.org/10.1386/iscc.1.2.217_1

A familiar assault on the BBC: a response to David Graham's report for the Adam Smith Institute
Barnett, S. 2010. A familiar assault on the BBC: a response to David Graham's report for the Adam Smith Institute. openDemocracy.

The defence and security review we need
Seaton, J. 2010. The defence and security review we need. Political Quarterly. 81 (3), pp. 363-364. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-923X.2010.02111.x

Minding the regional news gap
Barnett, S. 2010. Minding the regional news gap. British Journalism Review. 21 (1), pp. 13-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474810365394

Why can’t we hear women talking about politics?
Seaton, J. 2010. Why can’t we hear women talking about politics? Prospect.

Four women in the cabinet? You cannot be serious
Seaton, J. 2010. Four women in the cabinet? You cannot be serious. Prospect.

An academic question
Seaton, J. 2010. An academic question. Prospect.

Power without responsibility: press, broadcasting and the internet in Britain (7th edition)
Curran, J. and Seaton, J. 2010. Power without responsibility: press, broadcasting and the internet in Britain (7th edition). Abingdon Routledge.

Uutisjournalismin kehitys USA: ssa ja Britanniassa [changing trends in television news in the US and Britain]
Barnett, S. 2010. Uutisjournalismin kehitys USA: ssa ja Britanniassa [changing trends in television news in the US and Britain]. in: Leppänen, A., Heino, T.E. and Mäntymäki, E. (ed.) Yleisradio: median murroksessa Tampere Vastapaino. pp. 95-108

Periodismo, democracia e interés público [Media, democracy and the public interest]
Barnett, S. 2010. Periodismo, democracia e interés público [Media, democracy and the public interest]. Infoamérica: Iberoamerican Communication Review. 3 (4), pp. 41-56.

What's wrong with media monopolies? A lesson from history and a new approach to media ownership policy
Barnett, S. 2010. What's wrong with media monopolies? A lesson from history and a new approach to media ownership policy. MEDIA@LSE Electronic Working Papers. No 18.

Introduction: whither the public interest in the new political economy?
Michalis, M. and Barnett, S. 2010. Introduction: whither the public interest in the new political economy? Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture. 1 (2), pp. 167-170. https://doi.org/10.1386/iscc.1.2.167_7

In the name of the child
Seaton, J. 2009. In the name of the child. Political Quarterly. 80 (3), pp. 405-406. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-923X.2009.02012.x

The old boys' club
Seaton, J. 2009. The old boys' club. Prospect.

It was the BBC wot won it: winning the Peacock Report for the Corporation, or how the BBC responded to the Peacock Committee
Seaton, J. and McNicholas, A. 2009. It was the BBC wot won it: winning the Peacock Report for the Corporation, or how the BBC responded to the Peacock Committee. in: O'Malley, T. and Jones, J. (ed.) The Peacock Committee and UK Broadcasting policy Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 121-145

The BBC and metabolising Britishness: critical patriotism
Seaton, J. 2009. The BBC and metabolising Britishness: critical patriotism. in: Wright, T. and Gamble, A. (ed.) Britishness: perspectives on the British question Chichester Wiley. pp. 72-85

TV news and the echo of Murrow
Barnett, S. 2008. TV news and the echo of Murrow. British Journalism Review. 19 (4), pp. 37-44. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474808100863

A diversity of understanding: the increasing importance of major public service broadcasting institutions
Seaton, J. 2008. A diversity of understanding: the increasing importance of major public service broadcasting institutions. in: Gardam, T. and Levy, D. (ed.) The price of plurality: choice, diversity and broadcasting institutions in the digital age New York, USA Reuters. pp. 120-125

Journeys to truth: the BBC as a pragmatic ethical engineer at home and abroad
Seaton, J. 2008. Journeys to truth: the BBC as a pragmatic ethical engineer at home and abroad. Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. 28 (4), pp. 441-451. https://doi.org/10.1080/01439680802310167

The BBC an imperfect beauty
Seaton, J. 2008. The BBC an imperfect beauty. in: Thomas, I. and Almqvist, K. (ed.) The future of public service broadcasting Stockholm, Sweden Ax:son Johnson Foundation. pp. 43-58

Can the public service broadcaster survive? Renewal and compromise in the new BBC Charter
Barnett, S. 2008. Can the public service broadcaster survive? Renewal and compromise in the new BBC Charter. in: Ferrell Lowe, G. and Bardoel, J. (ed.) From public service broadcasting to public service media Göteborg, Sweden Nordicom. pp. 87-104

Being objective: changing the world
Seaton, J. 2007. Being objective: changing the world. in: Sambrook, R. (ed.) Global voice: Britain's future in international broadcasting London Premium Publishing. pp. 40-56

The case against auctioning spectrum
Barnett, S. 2007. The case against auctioning spectrum. Westminster Media Forum on the Digital Dividend Review. 22 May 2007

Crisis, what crisis? Why young people are not deserting political television
Barnett, S. 2007. Crisis, what crisis? Why young people are not deserting political television. Television News, Young People and Politics Conference: Generation Disconnected. BFI Southbank, London 07 - 09 Sep 2007

Beyond a critical press
Barnett, S. 2007. Beyond a critical press. Media and Trust: St George’s House Parliamentary Consultation. Windsor Castle 17 Jan 2007

Reasons to be cheerful
Barnett, S. 2006. Reasons to be cheerful. British Journalism Review. 17 (1), pp. 7-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474806064758

Nano-truths and the story
Seaton, J. 2006. Nano-truths and the story. in: Hobsbawm, J. (ed.) Where the truth lies: morality and trust in PR and journalism London Atlantic Books. pp. 181-191

Introduction
Seaton, J. 2006. Introduction. in: Seaton, J. and Lloyd, J. (ed.) What can be done? making the media and politics better Oxford Wiley. pp. 1-14

Little citizens: children, the media and politics
Seaton, J. 2006. Little citizens: children, the media and politics. in: Lloyd, J. and Seaton, J. (ed.) What can be done?: making the media and politics better Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishers. pp. 124-146

Can the BBC invigorate our political culture?
Barnett, S. 2006. Can the BBC invigorate our political culture? in: Lloyd, J. and Seaton, J. (ed.) What can be done? Making the media and politics better Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishers.

Introduction
Seaton, J. 2005. Introduction. The Political Quarterly. 76 (1), pp. 1-13.

Bringing the World to the UK: factual international programming on UK public service TV, 2005
Seymour, E. and Barnett, S. 2005. Bringing the World to the UK: factual international programming on UK public service TV, 2005. Witney, UK 3WE.

Carnage and the media: the making and breaking of news about violence
Seaton, J. 2005. Carnage and the media: the making and breaking of news about violence. London, UK Allen Lane.

Opportunity or threat? The BBC, investigative journalism and the Hutton Report
Barnett, S. 2005. Opportunity or threat? The BBC, investigative journalism and the Hutton Report. in: Allan, S. (ed.) Journalism: critical issues Maidenhead, UK Open University Press. pp. 328-341

Hello sky, goodbye world
Barnett, S. 2005. Hello sky, goodbye world. in: Engel, M. (ed.) Wisden cricketers' almanack 2005 Alton, UK John Wisden. pp. 49-53

Media ownership policies: pressure for change and implications
Barnett, S. 2004. Media ownership policies: pressure for change and implications. Pacific Journalism Review. 10 (2), pp. 8-19.

Writing the history of broadcasting
Seaton, J. 2004. Writing the history of broadcasting. in: Cannadine, D. (ed.) History and the media Basingstoke, UK Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 141-160

The world on the box: international issues in news and factual programmes on UK television 1975-2003
Dover, C. and Barnett, S. 2004. The world on the box: international issues in news and factual programmes on UK television 1975-2003. 3WE.

Which end of the telescope? From market to cultural value
Barnett, S. 2004. Which end of the telescope? From market to cultural value. in: Tambini, D. and Cowling, J. (ed.) From public service broadcasting to public service communications London, UK Institute for Public Policy Research. pp. 34-35

Can the BBC survive?
Barnett, S. 2004. Can the BBC survive? The Author.

How to achieve accountability for OFCOM
Barnett, S. 2003. How to achieve accountability for OFCOM. in: Ofcom's inbox: part one London, UK Westminster Forum Projects. pp. 33-36

Public, private and the media
Seaton, J. 2003. Public, private and the media. Political Quarterly. 74 (2), pp. 174-183. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.00527

Will a crisis in journalism provoke a crisis in democracy?
Barnett, S. 2002. Will a crisis in journalism provoke a crisis in democracy? Political Quarterly. 73 (4), pp. 400-408. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.00494

A licence for future media power
Barnett, S. 2002. A licence for future media power. British Journalism Review. 13 (2), pp. 41-45. https://doi.org/10.1177/095647480201300207

Impartiality redefined: protecting news on commercial television in Britain
Barnett, S. 2002. Impartiality redefined: protecting news on commercial television in Britain. in: Tambini, D. and Cowling, J. (ed.) New news? Impartial broadcasting in the digital age London, UK Institute for Public Policy Research. pp. 51-64

Watching the World: seeing, feeling — understanding?
Seaton, J. 2001. Watching the World: seeing, feeling — understanding? The Political Quarterly. 72 (4), p. 498–502.

Westminster tales: the twenty-first century crisis in British political journalism
Barnett, S. and Gaber Ivor 2001. Westminster tales: the twenty-first century crisis in British political journalism. London, UK Continuum.

Half-baked plans for broadcasting
Barnett, S. 2001. Half-baked plans for broadcasting. British Journalism Review. 12 (1), pp. 64-68. https://doi.org/10.1177/095647480101200109

Distorting democracy: public opinion, polls and the press
Barnett, S. 2001. Distorting democracy: public opinion, polls and the press. in: Splichal, S. (ed.) Public opinion and democracy: vox populi-vox Dei? Cresskill, USA Hampton Press. pp. 287-309

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/90235/why-the-bbc-matters-memo-to-the-new-parliament-about-a-unique-british-institution


Share this

Usage statistics

267 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.