Journalism's Servility to Power http://mostlywater.org/journalisms_servility_power

As the latest NATO "surge" in Afghanistan progresses with the inevitable "regrettable" civilian casualties, the BBC is there following uncritically the military operation. No one critical of the NATO occupation and surge is allowed to appear in front of the cameras. BBC correspondents take everything at face value. They talk earnestly about "winning hearts and minds" and creating "confidence" among the local population. "NATO is trying to minimize civilian casualities", one BBC reporter solemnly declared. This is the way the Soviet media covered the Russian disaster in Afghanistan.

The BBC likes to boast about its unbiased reporting and yet it is deeply influenced by assumptions which uncritically reflect Western elite opinions. Indeed David Edwards and David Cromwell in their new book quote research which shows that the BBC displayed the most pro-war agenda of any broadcaster on the Iraq invasion. (p. 28) In BBC culture "journalism that faithfully echoes the government line is viewed as neutral.

Thus, the assumption that the US and UK governments are motivated by humanitarian concern in Iraq is a 'neutral' view — this can be repeated ad nauseam without provoking the slightest controversy. On the other hand the idea that US policy is driven by strategic and economic considerations — regional influence and control of oil — is a 'biased' view that needs to be balanced or, more likely, ignored." (p. 29)