BBC needs to improve

The BBC is not deliberately biased in its coverage of the European Union, but the public broadcaster needs to do a better job of reporting on the EU, says an independent report released today.

"In short, we think that the BBC's coverage of the EU news needs to be improved and to be made more demonstrably impartial," said a five-member commission led by Lord Wilson of Dinton on Thursday.

The panel's report said it was asked to investigate claims that the BBC is systematically in favour of the EU and excludes anti-EU voices.

"It is striking how much agreement there is about this among groups who otherwise disagree passionately about almost everything else to do with Europe. We think there is substance in their concern," the report said.

It described the problem as complex and said it resulted from a combination of factors including "an institutional mindset" which the report said was not the same as deliberate bias, a tendency to oversimplify issues, ignorance about the EU by some journalists and a failure to report issues that ought to be reported because they might not seem entertaining.

"Whatever the cause in particular cases, the effect is the same for the outside world and feels like bias," the report said.

BBC officials said they would "consider carefully" the findings that there is a perception of "cultural and unintentional bias". The new director of BBC News will lead a group to examine the findings and formulate a response by the end of February, it said.

"We agree that the subject of Europe is extremely complex and challenging and one where we need to review any weaknesses and develop a stronger creative response," BBC officials said in a statement.

The panel recommended that the BBC consider directing its Brussels bureau to focus on EU affairs rather than general news in Europe; appointing an EU editor of equivalent status to its political and economic editors; and examine the benefits of shifting EU coverage from world news to domestic news.

It also said there should be more advance planning on EU issues, including the referendum and the UK presidency in 2005.

"The problem of ignorance among BBC journalists on the EU issue must be addressed as a matter of urgency," the panel said.