Westminster running scared?

[Goodfellers]

Having just watched both reports, I couldn't really see a problem with either (maybe that's my problem) The STV report was very short (about 2 mins) whereas the BBC report was about 5 mins, so had more 'analysis'. I agree the thumb over the shoulder and 'her' reference was not the most profesional but maybe that's just the reporters style.

[Shabbychic]

Having just watched both reports, I couldn't really see a problem with either (maybe that's my problem) The STV report was very short (about 2 mins) whereas the BBC report was about 5 mins, so had more 'analysis'. I agree the thumb over the shoulder and 'her' reference was not the most profesional but maybe that's just the reporters style.

See, that's the thing with the BBC, they are very subtle in their presentations. This story was, first and foremost, about the First Minister's trip to Brussels. Now, whether you realise it or not, she has been to many meetings like this all over Europe, made speeches, and won a few awards, but the BBC seldom even mention them, never mind give a 5 minute report, Why? What was so special about this one?


Well, I don't know if you have noticed or not, but the UK media is in full attack mode at the moment, against the SNP. Every day they find something/someone new to have a go at. It's full steam ahead to take down and attempt to destroy the Scottish Government. They will stop at nothing to prevent another referendum, but just in case it actually happens, they are putting in the groundwork to demonise the SNP.


STV in this instance, covered the FM's trip, what it was about, and even brought up the issue of the little light show in Brussels, and made clear that no reports had been made to anyone. They told of her views on how the dropping of UK standards, for example, which will also affect Scotland, will make it more difficult to maintain access to, and returning to, the European market.


The BBC started off with Nicola's fears of dropping standards and rejoining the EU, but they very quickly got that out of the way. They then went quickly on to the light show in Brussels, but instead of reporting that no action was taken, they played a small clip from a press conference earlier in the day, where UK journalists were pressing the issue about the light show. Not once were they told that action, in this instance, had been taken, nor "raised any eyebrows", though they tried hard, but the little clip they did show, which was in response to a question, wasn't very clear about that. So anyone who didn't know it was a non-story, would, I believe, still be under the impression that action had been taken as had been widely reported in the British Press. Subtle?


Then they went straight onto Independence, including problems with having a border with England. I don't think that was what this trip was all about, as nothing has yet been finalised about how things will end up. (for some strange reasons, these issues were being brought up by the UK journalists....did they really have to go all the way to Brussels to ask her about this?)


This led straight onto how the SNP would get Independence, as Westminster were not going to "allow" another referendum, and how her opponents think she should just be "getting on with the day job", with wee digs at Health and Education.


And, finally, just to make sure we don't forget, a wee reminder about Derek Mackay. Let's face it, why would she go all the way to Brussels so she could talk about Derek Mackay? This was brought up there by the UK media once again.


So, although these news reports aren't really a big issue, in this instance, it is just an example of how BBC reporting isn't always as straight forward as it may seem, and how some may miss what they are actually doing. It may have been a longer report than STV, but very little of it was anything to do with what the trip was about.