In their hour of greatest need, the most vulnerable are being let down by the mainstream media, and particularly our national publicly funded broadcaster.
For some time the inadequate coverage of the impact of cuts on the weakest members of society has been a cause for concern. There are really only two ways of explaining this. It could be a grand conspiracy, whereby the media and the government are all in it together, to keep the public uninformed and thereby minimise opposition to their policies. A case might theoretically be made for this, especially when one considers the BBC. Its Chairman Chris Patten is a former Chairman of the Conservative Party, and political editor Nick Robinson was Chairman of the Oxford University Conservative Association.
But the truth is probably more mundane, and really more depressing. It seems that even those working on a flagship news programme, like Radio 4’s Today programme, which often sets the political agenda for the day, are woefully ill-informed about what is happening in the real world outside of Westminster/media circles.
Last week on Today, John Humphrys did an interview with Jonathan Portes from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, about ‘In the Eye of The Storm’, a report highlighting the way children from vulnerable families are bearing the brunt of the cuts.
Mr Humphrys was incredulous, repeating the line that, whilst everyone knows cuts are being made, they are being carefully targeted to protect the most vulnerable. He wasn’t playing Devil’s advocate, to elicit more from his interviewee, he was genuinely and completely ignorant of the impact of cuts on poor families, especially those with disabled children. Jonathan Portes was obviously surprised by this ignorance, and wrote about it later.
It’s worrying that prestigious news broadcasters are so out of touch, because the fact is that the government is not just making ill-judged cuts and inadvertently causing suffering to the poorest and weakest. They are actively pursuing specific policies which can cause suffering to disabled children and their families, with a determination which looks like vindictiveness.
Perhaps the most appalling example of this is the case of the so-called ‘bedroom tax’ and how it affects families of disabled children. Housing Benefit rules now state that two children under 16 of the same gender must share a bedroom. If they don’t, the family is deemed to have a spare bedroom, and loses benefit accordingly. If this means they can’t afford to pay their rent, they may face eviction. The government has fought to ensure that no exceptions can be made, even for a family with a severely disabled child who may need medical equipment in the bedroom and attention during the night.
The courts recently found that this discriminated against disabled people, but the Department for Work and Pensions has decided to appeal against this judgment, effectively fighting for the right to see families with disabled children lose their homes. Perhaps I missed it, but I have heard no mention of this on the BBC
For sick and disabled adults too, the toll is rising, as people die soon after being declared fit for work (their families often claim that the stress of this was the final straw in their deteriorating condition) or even commit suicide having had their benefits removed. There are stories like this up and down the country, but the BBC has so far failed to give them any significant coverage.
It’s said that the public back the cuts and welfare reform, they have given their consent. But if the public is relying on the BBC and other mainstream media for their information, with such inadequate coverage can that be informed consent?
It is quite easy to make a formal complaint to the BBC online. Perhaps if enough people complain about the lack of coverage of the impact of cuts the reality might be reported, and an informed debate will be possible.
© Bernadette Meaden has written about religious, political and social issues for some years, and is strongly influenced by Christian Socialism, liberation theology and the Catholic Worker movement. She is a regular contributor to Ekklesia.
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SHE DONE US PROUD PLEASE FOLLOW LINK TO BBC TO COMPLAIN THANKS Bernadette Meaden JEFF3
Thank you Bernadette Meaden. My thoughts about the Beeb precisely. Count me in. I shall complain to them
Rather surprising considering John Humphrys previous programme for BBC2:
THE FUTURE STATE OF WELFARE to be found at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016ltsh
This is more evidence of the BBC conducting gvt propoganda.
This is bollox! Dont fall for the ever bullshit that is one of two scenarios….. Democracy fakeness does this, pretends theres a choice to choose from.
Theres the bigger picture! Yes it is a mass conspiracy and its on a damn ‘need to know basis’.
So its not either of the above its both of the above….. Wake up people these lies are what keeps us all held back.
How can we still be falling for this crap?
We all know we are being bullied, made to reort to death by suicide etc but we’re expected to believe this bull that the media are ill informed.
For crying out loud wake up.
Why the hell do you think Camerons behind the BSKYB take over?
The BBC are in the know and we are fed bull and not given a voice by them….. Theres a want for sky to be under that same control… Please people, see through this bollox, work it out….. This woman is a stooge and you praise her…. God forbid! See how manipulative they are and how they trick you to listen, there are stioges everywhere, read between the lines please i beg you.
Falling for this shit merely to aim your belief from the truth of the damn agenda.
U beg you, re read this stooges bull and see your being directed from the truth.
Its time to awake for the actual intelligent people we are, dont be fooled by this. Come on who help me out here!
Furthermore if everyone believes those whom say they are on our side, just are? We are doomed, re read this article shes blaming ill informed producer and editors….. Its bull, we damn well know who is to blame, who controls the what etc, so come on.
They say theyre on our side but hidden inbetween their words are tactical means to shift blame!
If you cannot see this? There is no way forward! You have to stick to what is individually happening to you, not be influenced by bullshit like this…. Its a mind game and seemingly working.
Its all too easy to fool people when they believe these scum are fighting with us, please see its an elites historical tactic…. Its directing blame elsewhere…. Please re read and have a good think about her first few paragraphs…., she shifts blame then continues to side with us….. Its a tactic not a genuine means to side with us!