BBC

Eight things you need to know about the BBC

On the centenary of the founding of the BBC Des Freedman presents eight reasons explaining how the media outlet is wedded to the establishment and why it is incapable of meaningfully holding power to account
Why warehouse workers are striking: Life and Death in the Warehouse review

The BBC's Life and Death in a Warehouse gives us an idea of the conditions warehouse workers are facing and why workers' organisation is long overdue, writes Sam Colclough
Sherwood: for once BBC hits the bullseye

Lindsey German reviews the BBC's highly-rated crime drama which sheds light on the long-lasting impact of the miners' strike and undercover policing
Can the BBC be reformed? - Interview with Tom Mills

Ahead of the Media Democracy Festival, Counterfire's Shabbir Lakha spoke to Tom Mills, author of The BBC: Myth of a Public Service about the state of the public broadcasting service, the Tories and what the left should be campaigning about
Andy Warhol Looks A Scream - review

The BBC's Andy Warhol's America paints a picture of an artist who latched on to an age of tumultuous events in America more by accident than design, writes Simon Duckett
Vigil, identity politics, and the New Cold War

Vigil, the BBC’s prime time submarine thriller, has a crude propaganda purpose argues John Rees
The brutal reality of prisons - Time review

Jimmy McGovern’s latest offers an accurate picture of a prison system that benefits no one, argues Lisa Connor
Britain's war machine: imperial fantasies and the tilt to China

Britain's new hi-tech aircraft carrier and its 100-stop mission will only increase global tensions, argues Chris Nineham
Black Power: A British Story of Resistance - review

The BBC’s new documentary offers an examination of the strengths and weaknesses of the British Black Power movement and the lessons we can take today, finds Yonas Makoni
Richard Sharp: a suitable appointment for the BBC

Former Goldman Sachs banker Richard Sharp being appointed the BBC's next chairman is fitting for the direction it's heading in, argues Des Freedman
'Leeds - United!': the deeds and words of women on strike - review

The 1974 Play For Today ‘Leeds - United!’ depicts the real power of action and the passion of words produced when workers are involved in class struggle, argues Tony Dowling
Steve McQueen’s Mangrove: anti-racist struggle takes to the stage of British history

The first instalment of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe shows the brutality faced by black community and how they organised a radical campaign for justice
Drama out of a Crisis: A Celebration of Play for Today - review

Jacqueline Mulhallen and William Alderson look at the film celebrating 50 years since the first episode of the BBC series and the importance of Play for Today then and now
What's gone wrong with the media? - video

At a Bristol Counterfire meeting, Chris Nineham, Kerry-Anne Mendoza and Tom Mills discuss the state of the British media and how the left can challenge the mainstream narrative
Left-wing comedians the problem at the BBC: is Tim Davie joking? - CounterBlast

The BBC’s new Director General complaining about left-wing bias in comedy is a joke, writes Chris Nineham
The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty - review

The BBC’s three-part documentary series on Rupert Murdoch and his media empire gives an intimate view of ruling class power and the challenges to it, writes Tom Whittaker
McCluskey: Starmer's decision to settle is a 'huge miscalculation'

McCluskey is right. Union subs should not be paying off those who helped the Tories win power, argues Chris Neville
Jeremy Corbyn is right to challenge claims of 'institutional antisemitism'

Labour’s decision to settle with former party officials looks like a politically motivated attack on the left, writes Alex Snowdon
General Election 2019: a party political broadcast for the Tories

Des Freedman analyses the role of media and how their anti-Corbyn bias is out in the open
Buckle up, the propaganda war’s about to get a lot rougher - election briefing 28 November

Lindsey German on the full extent of electoral media manipulation
The BBC's anti-Corbyn bias shows it's not fit for purpose

The BBC's overt political bias against Jeremy Corbyn should cause us to question what public service it's really providing, writes Morgan Daniels
Gold Digger - TV review

The oppression of family and class unite in this taboo-busting drama, writes Sofie Mason
BBC attacks Corbyn over his correct stance on foreign wars

Corbyn's position on Britain's military adventures has been right on every occasion, argues Chris Nineham
A story of class-based, state-sponsored fakery - The Capture review

The Capture tackles the growing fakery of the world we live in but does it have any answers?
Keeping Faith - review

The stereotype-busting lead character of BBC One's Keeping Faith is what makes the drama so compelling, writes Sofie Mason
Fight back before it's too late - Years and Years review

In Years and Years, Russell T Davies captures the fear and uncertainty running through a population sleep-walking into disaster and issues an unequivocal call to action, writes Sofie Mason
BBC Panorama hatchet job on Labour antisemitism is a farce

The BBC's Panorama on antisemitism in the Labour Party provides no real evidence and shows how cynical the smear campaign is, argues David McAllister
Tommy Robinson not welcome in Salford, say anti-racist protesters

A counter-protest against Tommy Robinson's rally outside the BBC in Salford brought hundreds out on the streets against racism and fascism, reports Brian Madden
Question Time's attacks on Diane Abbott are part of a pattern

The vile treatment of Diane Abbott on the BBC's Question Time fits a theme of undermining left wing voices and pandering to the right, argues Des Freedman
Luther – Marx’s theory of alienation or biblical redemption?

Despite potential allusions to alienation under capitalism, Luther risks becoming a tired exploration of man vs evil, argues Sofie Mason
EastEnders at Christmas

The producers may stop short at liberal individualism, but Sofie Mason argues that the viewers of EastEnders may reach other conclusions as to what is to be done
Has the BBC smuggled a critique of Israel past the thought police? - TV review

BBC One's Little Drummer Girl manages to cut through some of the usual BBC bias when it comes to Israel and even criticises Britain's role, argues Sofie Mason
A Marxist analysis of Eastenders

More than just a sentimentalised view of working class life, Eastenders can often cut through some of the big issues facing working people argues Sofie Mason
Informer review: more Islamophobia, or a complex study of the modern-day East End underworld?

Despite its virtues, the BBC's Informer still resorts to lazy Islamophobic stereotypes, argues Sofie Mason
The Cry: capitalism ruins families - TV review

BBC One's drama The Cry paints a picture of shame and guilt associated with the family and specifically parenting under capitalism argues Sofie Mason
'Press', not all fake news - TV review

BBC One's drama, Press, is a tale of anti-establishment dissent and gives a glimpse into the inner workings of the media, argues Sofie Mason
The dialectics of Doctor Who

Although a part of the establishment media, Doctor Who has always had a subversive thread running through it and today is no different, argues Sean Ledwith
Fighting the oppression of housing regeneration

Potent Whisper represents a voice not found in the BBC's reporting on the housing crisis, argues Julie Al-Hinai
BBC Proms takes a step towards equal gender representation

Richard Pratt takes on some of the arguments being made against the decision by BBC Proms to hire as many women as men as composers for the festival
From Jewdas to Skripal: media attacks on Corbyn are out of touch with reality

The British media tells a partial story on racism and its claims against the Labour leader run contrary to the evidence, writes Lindsey German
Liberal Media in the Age of Trump: shock and awe

As the liberal media embraces an anti-populist business model, the left must continue to forge an independent opposition, argues Des Freedman
The media assault on Corbyn on student debt is fake news

The recent attacks on the Labour leader couldn't be more transparent, argues Shabbir Lakha
Blatant bias hit a wall in this election - media watch

The mainstream media had a bad election, but it's not all over just yet, argues Des Freedman
Media bias: an election top 10

We take a look back at the media's worst moments throughout the election
Manchester attack: the terror and the news

We would all benefit from a journalism that didn’t resort to tired stereotypes and instead expands our understanding of a violent world
The BBC and impartiality - media watch

The media can only ignore Jeremy Corbyn's surging campaign for so long, writes Des Freedman
If you believe the Tories on this, you'll believe anything - Election briefing #16

Theresa May's pitch to working class voters is laughable, argues Lindsey German
5 things Orlando Figes got wrong about the Russian Revolution on BBC Newsnight

Orlando Figes was enlisted by the BBC to trash the history of the Russian Revolution. In the run-up to Saturday's Revolution 1917 event, Chris Nineham corrects some matters of fact
Laura Kuenssberg wins 'journalist of the year'

Political editor of BBC News wins contest after months of leading the media assault on Corbyn. Des Freedman takes a look at the context of this decision
Corbyn: lies, damn lies and broadcast television

The recent media barrage against Jeremy Corbyn and Momentum represents a new low in mainstream vilification of socialist ideas, asserts Des Freedman
Corbyn: how to play the media

Des Freedman considers the pitfalls of delivering a socialist message on a hostile media terrain
Corbyn: media manipulation and the militarisation of debate

Des Freedman and Justin Schlosberg unpick astonishing levels of media bias in recent political coverage
Decoding the BBC White Paper

Apocalyptic rumours followed by a row-back and relief. It's an age-old strategy, but what is the reality behind the government's BBC proposals?
Why is the BBC biased? Podcast

We talked to Des Freedman, Media Professor at Goldsmiths University about the contradictions of the media, and the supposedly neutral BBC
How should the left respond to attacks on the BBC?

We need to defend the BBC as one of the core institutions of our democracy and our culture and not fall into the Freemarketeers' trap by defending it solely on their terms argues Chris Jury
Why Remembrance is a political issue

Remembrance is about the present and the future not just the past, writes Alex Snowdon
Austerity comes to Auntie: BBC Charter Review

This is an austerity-led consultation, obsessed (much like the BBC itself) by the pursuit of ‘efficiency’ and ‘value for money’
Lindsey German on BBC TV: a new UK military intervention in Iraq?

Lindsey German on a BBC TV panel show making the case against intervention in Iraq by the United States and Britain
Child abuse and cover ups

The recent coverage of child abuse has given rise to sickening displays of hypocrisy from the sections of society who should be hanging their heads in shame, argues Richard Allday
Jimmy Savile: A Rasputin for our times

The revelations about Jimmy Savile expose wider institutional and social problems, explains Lindsey German
BBC executives conspire to pull invitation to Bob Crow to appear on Question Time with Boris Johnson

Transport Union the RMT today slammed the BBC's Question Time for 'outrageous political bias' after an invitation to General Secretary Bob Crow to appear on the programme this evening with London Mayor Boris Johnson was withdrawn at short notice.

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BBC

BBC

On the centenary of the founding of the BBC Des Freedman presents eight reasons explaining how the media outlet is wedded to the establishment and why it is incapable of meaningfully holding power to account

The BBC's Life and Death in a Warehouse gives us an idea of the conditions warehouse workers are facing and why workers' organisation is long overdue, writes Sam Colclough

Lindsey German reviews the BBC's highly-rated crime drama which sheds light on the long-lasting impact of the miners' strike and undercover policing

Ahead of the Media Democracy Festival, Counterfire's Shabbir Lakha spoke to Tom Mills, author of The BBC: Myth of a Public Service about the state of the public broadcasting service, the Tories and what the left should be campaigning about

The BBC's Andy Warhol's America paints a picture of an artist who latched on to an age of tumultuous events in America more by accident than design, writes Simon Duckett

Vigil, the BBC’s prime time submarine thriller, has a crude propaganda purpose argues John Rees

Jimmy McGovern’s latest offers an accurate picture of a prison system that benefits no one, argues Lisa Connor

Britain's new hi-tech aircraft carrier and its 100-stop mission will only increase global tensions, argues Chris Nineham

The BBC’s new documentary offers an examination of the strengths and weaknesses of the British Black Power movement and the lessons we can take today, finds Yonas Makoni

Former Goldman Sachs banker Richard Sharp being appointed the BBC's next chairman is fitting for the direction it's heading in, argues Des Freedman

The 1974 Play For Today ‘Leeds - United!’ depicts the real power of action and the passion of words produced when workers are involved in class struggle, argues Tony Dowling

The first instalment of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe shows the brutality faced by black community and how they organised a radical campaign for justice

Jacqueline Mulhallen and William Alderson look at the film celebrating 50 years since the first episode of the BBC series and the importance of Play for Today then and now

At a Bristol Counterfire meeting, Chris Nineham, Kerry-Anne Mendoza and Tom Mills discuss the state of the British media and how the left can challenge the mainstream narrative

The BBC’s new Director General complaining about left-wing bias in comedy is a joke, writes Chris Nineham

The BBC’s three-part documentary series on Rupert Murdoch and his media empire gives an intimate view of ruling class power and the challenges to it, writes Tom Whittaker

McCluskey is right. Union subs should not be paying off those who helped the Tories win power, argues Chris Neville

Labour’s decision to settle with former party officials looks like a politically motivated attack on the left, writes Alex Snowdon

Des Freedman analyses the role of media and how their anti-Corbyn bias is out in the open

Lindsey German on the full extent of electoral media manipulation

The BBC's overt political bias against Jeremy Corbyn should cause us to question what public service it's really providing, writes Morgan Daniels

The oppression of family and class unite in this taboo-busting drama, writes Sofie Mason

Corbyn's position on Britain's military adventures has been right on every occasion, argues Chris Nineham

The Capture tackles the growing fakery of the world we live in but does it have any answers?

The stereotype-busting lead character of BBC One's Keeping Faith is what makes the drama so compelling, writes Sofie Mason

In Years and Years, Russell T Davies captures the fear and uncertainty running through a population sleep-walking into disaster and issues an unequivocal call to action, writes Sofie Mason

The BBC's Panorama on antisemitism in the Labour Party provides no real evidence and shows how cynical the smear campaign is, argues David McAllister

A counter-protest against Tommy Robinson's rally outside the BBC in Salford brought hundreds out on the streets against racism and fascism, reports Brian Madden

The vile treatment of Diane Abbott on the BBC's Question Time fits a theme of undermining left wing voices and pandering to the right, argues Des Freedman

Despite potential allusions to alienation under capitalism, Luther risks becoming a tired exploration of man vs evil, argues Sofie Mason

The producers may stop short at liberal individualism, but Sofie Mason argues that the viewers of EastEnders may reach other conclusions as to what is to be done

BBC One's Little Drummer Girl manages to cut through some of the usual BBC bias when it comes to Israel and even criticises Britain's role, argues Sofie Mason

More than just a sentimentalised view of working class life, Eastenders can often cut through some of the big issues facing working people argues Sofie Mason

Despite its virtues, the BBC's Informer still resorts to lazy Islamophobic stereotypes, argues Sofie Mason

BBC One's drama The Cry paints a picture of shame and guilt associated with the family and specifically parenting under capitalism argues Sofie Mason

BBC One's drama, Press, is a tale of anti-establishment dissent and gives a glimpse into the inner workings of the media, argues Sofie Mason

Although a part of the establishment media, Doctor Who has always had a subversive thread running through it and today is no different, argues Sean Ledwith

Potent Whisper represents a voice not found in the BBC's reporting on the housing crisis, argues Julie Al-Hinai

Richard Pratt takes on some of the arguments being made against the decision by BBC Proms to hire as many women as men as composers for the festival

The British media tells a partial story on racism and its claims against the Labour leader run contrary to the evidence, writes Lindsey German

As the liberal media embraces an anti-populist business model, the left must continue to forge an independent opposition, argues Des Freedman

The recent attacks on the Labour leader couldn't be more transparent, argues Shabbir Lakha

The mainstream media had a bad election, but it's not all over just yet, argues Des Freedman

We take a look back at the media's worst moments throughout the election

We would all benefit from a journalism that didn’t resort to tired stereotypes and instead expands our understanding of a violent world

The media can only ignore Jeremy Corbyn's surging campaign for so long, writes Des Freedman

Theresa May's pitch to working class voters is laughable, argues Lindsey German

Orlando Figes was enlisted by the BBC to trash the history of the Russian Revolution. In the run-up to Saturday's Revolution 1917 event, Chris Nineham corrects some matters of fact

Political editor of BBC News wins contest after months of leading the media assault on Corbyn. Des Freedman takes a look at the context of this decision

The recent media barrage against Jeremy Corbyn and Momentum represents a new low in mainstream vilification of socialist ideas, asserts Des Freedman

Des Freedman considers the pitfalls of delivering a socialist message on a hostile media terrain

Des Freedman and Justin Schlosberg unpick astonishing levels of media bias in recent political coverage

Apocalyptic rumours followed by a row-back and relief. It's an age-old strategy, but what is the reality behind the government's BBC proposals?

We talked to Des Freedman, Media Professor at Goldsmiths University about the contradictions of the media, and the supposedly neutral BBC

We need to defend the BBC as one of the core institutions of our democracy and our culture and not fall into the Freemarketeers' trap by defending it solely on their terms argues Chris Jury

Remembrance is about the present and the future not just the past, writes Alex Snowdon

This is an austerity-led consultation, obsessed (much like the BBC itself) by the pursuit of ‘efficiency’ and ‘value for money’

Lindsey German on a BBC TV panel show making the case against intervention in Iraq by the United States and Britain

The recent coverage of child abuse has given rise to sickening displays of hypocrisy from the sections of society who should be hanging their heads in shame, argues Richard Allday

The revelations about Jimmy Savile expose wider institutional and social problems, explains Lindsey German

Transport Union the RMT today slammed the BBC's Question Time for 'outrageous political bias' after an invitation to General Secretary Bob Crow to appear on the programme this evening with London Mayor Boris Johnson was withdrawn at short notice.