The BBC: Myth of a Public Service

(Paperback)

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Description

The BBC is one of the most important institutions in Britain; it is also one of the most misunderstood. Despite its claim to be independent and impartial, and the constant accusations of a liberal bias, from its Reithian origins to its coverage of the 2019 General Election: the BBC has always sided with the elite. As Tom Mills demonstrates, we are only getting the news that the Establishment wants aired in public. And yet in the current age of multi-platform news, this bias is increasingly exposed. Mills asks if the institution is fit for purpose And can it even be reformed The BBC is an important and timely examination of a crucial public institution that may threaten the very thing it was meant to uphold: democracy.

Reviews

"Impressive ... a direct challenge to the notion of the BBC as a pillar of liberalism and social democracy * Times Higher Education *
A brilliant corrective to mainstream histories of the BBC and a valuable reminder of the need to build a democratic media that is free from vested interests -- Des Freedman, Professor of Media and Communications, Goldsmiths
Required reading for those who want to understand Britain, and an invaluable resource for those who want to change it for the better. -- Daniel Hind, author of The Return of the Public: Democracy, Power and the Case for Media Reform
An excellent critique of the history of the BBC . . an important and readable book. -- David Boyle, author of The Death of Liberal Britain

Author Bio

Tom Mills is a lecturer in Sociology and Policy at Aston University. He is a former co-editor of New Left Project.