By Andrew Gilruth, GWCT Director of Communications
Mark Avery, the RSPB’s former conservation director has refused to go back on the BBC Farming Today programme - he feels that its editing of an interview we both took part in last year was biased.
BBC coverage more balanced?
Dimitri Houtart, the BBC Rural Affairs Champion, bravely attended a Game Fair panel discussion at Hatfield – the title: “What’s the BBC’s problem with Fieldsports?”. These events can be full of surprises but few in the drafty tent were expecting to hear that the BBC has been accused of bias in favour shooting.
BBC disconnected?
Dimitri explained that the BBC “does not want people [in the countryside] to feel disconnected”. He feels his biggest barrier is finding people that work in our countryside - that are willing and able to speak on the BBC.
Would you be willing to speak to the BBC?
The BBC say they can’t access those on the ground – to hear the reality from individuals and their experiences. This is problematic because famers and gamekeepers don’t sit at a desk all day and few are used to speaking to journalists.
Can we help you?
Like most organisations, we have our own press people but if you would be interested in speaking on air or even filmed in a BBC studio, why not let us know? The next time they ask to speak to someone with your experience, where you are, we can let you know – the choice is then yours. Simply complete the short form below: