BellaOnline Forums Education History Ask the expert....

Absolutely. I was being non-partisan in my comment.

I was considering writing about news coverage on the BBC and other British news organisations. When I lived in the States, there was the ITN news from Britain. Are they still showing that? What do you think of the BBC news in general? Can you access it and do you look at their website? Does it seem unbiased or not?

Hi Joanna, I check out the BBC homepage every day and I like BBCA news and a couple of the other shows in the evening. I like the different news perspective. American news is so over the top with sound bytes and hysteria. British news gives you a more worldly view - what is happening around the world. I like Matt Frei.

Here's another fan of the BBC news. I check their website daily and listen to BBC World Service on the radio every night if I wake up between midnight and 5 AM which is when it is on my local station. I only wish that it was carried here at a more convenient time! Its a sort of reality check, although I notice that sometimes the Brits can get just as wrapped up in celebrity hysteria as we Yanks do.

Celebrity mania is rampant everywhere. I'm with you about the BBC page but I have not listened to the radio show.

Oh we definitely get caught up in the whole celebrity thing. The BBC should be more careful and objective but they are not always. I will be interested to see how they cover the G20 meeting in London tomorrow. Obama is greatly loved here (and a big celebrity) so it will be interesting. In general, the BBC is trusted to tell the truth I think.

What did you think of the events in London today? Breaking windows, rioting, not good.

It was directed against banks, it wasn't genereal rioting - most people were not too concerned as we have a history of a certain amount of civil disobedience. People were more focused on the G20 outcome. Michelle Obama was a big hit...

Why?

Good question. There was some focus on what she was wearing but I think the main thing is back to the celebrity question- she is someone new, different so a matter of interest. She seems measured and tolerant which goes down well in a country that hates extremism and fanaticism. She appears to have no chip on her shoulder and she got to where she is by her own efforts and not any advantages of family. She spoke at an inner city girls' school in London (the only speech she gave) and it was well received as it seemed so genuine. She is also extremely tall - which everyone commented on. Her warmth towards the Queen was taken well - the last person to touch her like that was the Australian Prime MInister 10 years ago and he got a frosty look and was dubbed the 'lizard of oz' by the press. All in all, she (and he ) conducted themselves very well. Look out for my article on the British Television page tomorrow.