Wossy and Brand – might as well offer my point of view

I am so deeply confused about modern society. Why on earth is Jack Straw offering his pointless view on the current media frenzy that has occurred over a quite boring and unsurprising BBC cockup?

Please Jack, we have high occurrences of knife and violent crime which will probably increase as the number of unemployed turn to desperation during these troubled times and you see it fit to offer your opinion on this? Why draw more attention to a ridiculous farce (that would not have raised an eyebrow if it was not for some trashy reporting)? Are you enjoying a quick diversion of attention as you continue to not be very good at your job?

Mr Brown, please see above.

The BBC have not done themselves any favours. The pre-pubescent producer of Russel’s show should have had a modicum of intelligence and cut the offending piece. Although the BBC shot themselves in the foot a little, it is the result of quite boring reporting that has induced this mad frenzy of fingerpointing and head chopping.

Let’s face it, no one really cared. Many people who wrote to the BBC (after the Daily Mail published the article I might add) were probably unaware that Mr Sachs was due to appear on the show to promote……whatever it is he is doing. Of course that does not justify Jonathon and Russle’s stupidity, it does however highlight the fact that beloved Andrew was not simply sat at home reading People’s Friend and waiting for Meals on Wheels to arrive. The thousands that did write their letters of disgust almost certainly fell victim to Daily Mail spin and probably had deep hatred for the two offenders.

The people of Britain I implore you to not embarrass yourselves any further. Aid agencies are fleeing the Congo, Afghanistan is in troubled times, we are in a recession, children are turning to crime rather than to school.

There are much more important things to get heated about than the mad rantings of two, mildly entertaining, fashion challenged twits. Mr Sachs certainly appears to have let it go, his grand daughter appears to be milking this like a person whose career revolves around being a burlesque vampire would (I am sure her traveling circus, or whatever it is she does, will see higher ticket revenues).

Have a quick reality check, weigh things up, establish that this is completely ludicrous and carry on with your lives. Big Brother will be on soon, at least save your views for that.

A Beeb Future?

The Media Guardian ,last week, focused predominantly on the BBC. Various media gurus and journalists all offering their point of view on what steps ‘Auntie’ should take in order to shake off her fearsomely defensive stance and secure future license money.

The Guardian, as all who read it will know, comes across as a vehement supporter of the UK’s national media service, while many other publications (step forward Murdoch empire) seek to take any opportunity they can to undermine the reputation of either specific staff or the organisation as a whole.

As a nation we seem to turn to the BBC to nurture us out of Big Brother comas or X-Factor embolisms.The question is why does the BBC act so aggressively when under review? Surely with such public backing the media spokespeople can simply point to public service triumphs, such as iPlayer and BBC Online, sit back and allow the content to do the talking.

There are those who would like a piece of the license fee pie. Channel 4 for instance see themselves as a suitable candidate to give the public a service. Big Brother 110? Wife Swap? Celebrity Wife Swap? Not Really A Celebrity Wife Swap? No, I think Channel 4 should think of another way of staying afloat. Offering quality content may be an option.

Ofcom are in the process of analyzing the ‘fairness’ of the license fee only going to one benefactor. They seemingly wish to clip the wings of the BBC. They, of course, state that no programmes will be affected and that the money in question will come out of other stashes of cash within the BBC. The set top box fund, for example, is just one of the areas considered for a reduction in license fee.

The BBC once again is responding in its usual fashion. Protecting its nest egg with age old vigor and venom. This is unnecessary. The responsibility for the justification of the fairest ‘tax’ should fall to those who are paying for it. I have not had a leaflet through my door questioning my support for the £110 I pay each year.

I see it as a pointless probing by an organisation of failed accountants who have to launch some sort of investigation in order to satisfy the insatiable needs of jealous media moguls.

The Beeb should be treated like the sometimes embarrassingly sensitive old friend who, if threatened, we all fight for.