NUJ to up pressure on BBC over broadcaster's CBI membership

NUJ to up pressure on BBC over broadcaster's CBI membership

By a Newsnet reporter (20 May 2014)

The National Union of Journalists has repeated its calls for the BBC to end its relationship with a lobbying group which is an acknowledged opponent of Scottish independence.

In a series of communications seen by Newsnet Scotland, NUJ figures have expressed anger at BBC management's refusal to end its membership of the CBI.  The union says the situation is incompatible with their own members' duty to be impartial.

In the communications, one senior union official expresses his frustration at the refusal of the Scottish newspapers to cover the story saying: "the papers have - once again - ignored us. And largely ignored the story..."

A colleague comments, "Public opinion is what we'll be relying on now I think."

In what appears to be a signal that the union has had enough, another says: "It is time to step up big pressure on them [BBC] now."

The NUJ and the broadcaster look to be on a collision course following the announcement by the BBC that it had backtracked on an earlier pledge to suspend its membership of the CBI.  The broadcaster had given the commitment after the lobbying group registered with the Electoral Commission (EC) as a formal backer of the No campaign.

[Newsnet Comment - On BBC Radio Scotland this morning news bulletins reported that the CBI had attacked independence.  No mention was made of the CBI's well documented stance in support of a No vote, nor was there any mention of the BBC's membership of the organisation...]

Full article HERE

_______________________________