Ben Fenton
@benfenton.bsky.social
Media/politics(Covered 2 US presidential elections); Fairness - Author of TO BE FAIR https://menschpublishing.com/books/to-be-fair/ Formerly: Chair, Orwell Journalism Prize; FT chief media corr; Telegraph Senior Reporter & Washington Correspondent
Pinned
Ben Fenton
@benfenton.bsky.social
· Dec 16
Luigi Mangione, folk hero
The man suspected of murdering the CEO of America’s largest healthcare company has been lionised because of a yearning for fairness
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
I wrote a thing about how the folk-hero-worship of Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of a health-insurance CEO, is a result of our profound instincts of fairness and unfairness.
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/united...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/united...
@roberthutton.co.uk Any chance of an imaginary reprise of your outstanding sketch of the Gibbgate hearing, this time with the conceit that this post had been published six hours before the DCMS select committee sat down to grill the BBC on anti-Trump bias?
bsky.app/profile/rutg...
bsky.app/profile/rutg...
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 10:39 AM
@roberthutton.co.uk Any chance of an imaginary reprise of your outstanding sketch of the Gibbgate hearing, this time with the conceit that this post had been published six hours before the DCMS select committee sat down to grill the BBC on anti-Trump bias?
bsky.app/profile/rutg...
bsky.app/profile/rutg...
Can I just point out, to no surprise to anyone who knows about my obsessions, that the meme of 6-7 is yet another example of the significance of the number 42 in matters of popular culture and fairness?
Fairly reliable rule of thumb that a meme is either over or soon to be over when big brands get involved, so let's hope this is the case here
November 25, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Can I just point out, to no surprise to anyone who knows about my obsessions, that the meme of 6-7 is yet another example of the significance of the number 42 in matters of popular culture and fairness?
Reposted by Ben Fenton
Fairly reliable rule of thumb that a meme is either over or soon to be over when big brands get involved, so let's hope this is the case here
November 25, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Fairly reliable rule of thumb that a meme is either over or soon to be over when big brands get involved, so let's hope this is the case here
Would have been interesting if this had been posted 24 hours ago.
(Thread)
(Thread)
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Would have been interesting if this had been posted 24 hours ago.
(Thread)
(Thread)
Reposted by Ben Fenton
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Ben Fenton
I guess it’s a compliment that the top story on BBC London’s TV/online output today is a direct lift of a month-old London Centric story? But once again the BBC is consistently the worst news outlet for actually remembering to credit others.
November 25, 2025 at 7:52 AM
I guess it’s a compliment that the top story on BBC London’s TV/online output today is a direct lift of a month-old London Centric story? But once again the BBC is consistently the worst news outlet for actually remembering to credit others.
Beeb-a-licious Sketch from Rob Hutton today:
thecritic.co.uk/auntie-in-th...
A great gag in every line.
thecritic.co.uk/auntie-in-th...
A great gag in every line.
Auntie in the dock | Robert Hutton | The Critic Magazine
“I have been defined by these two years at Number 10,” Robbie Gibb complained, sounding for all the world like the chap in the joke who only shagged one sheep. How dare anyone suggest that this…
thecritic.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Beeb-a-licious Sketch from Rob Hutton today:
thecritic.co.uk/auntie-in-th...
A great gag in every line.
thecritic.co.uk/auntie-in-th...
A great gag in every line.
Select committee chair Caroline Dinenage is not showing due impartiality in presenting the issues of bias, IMO.
November 24, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Select committee chair Caroline Dinenage is not showing due impartiality in presenting the issues of bias, IMO.
Robbie Gibb says he is the victim of weaponisation.
Ah, poor lamb. I'm sure everyone at the BBC feels deeply sorry for him.
Ah, poor lamb. I'm sure everyone at the BBC feels deeply sorry for him.
November 24, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Robbie Gibb says he is the victim of weaponisation.
Ah, poor lamb. I'm sure everyone at the BBC feels deeply sorry for him.
Ah, poor lamb. I'm sure everyone at the BBC feels deeply sorry for him.
If there were one of those "mood lines", which the BBC used to run during election debates, the current state of BBC staff morale would be heading to the floor.
November 24, 2025 at 5:59 PM
If there were one of those "mood lines", which the BBC used to run during election debates, the current state of BBC staff morale would be heading to the floor.
Televised select committees are always good for democracy, not least because it reminds the electorate that you don't have to be particularly brilliant to be an MP. Anyone can do it, so why not have a go yourself?
November 24, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Televised select committees are always good for democracy, not least because it reminds the electorate that you don't have to be particularly brilliant to be an MP. Anyone can do it, so why not have a go yourself?
Chair of BBC says he wishes Tim Davie hadn't resigned. The more we hear, the more questions it raises about why he did.
If there was a 'coup', I suspect it was "only supposed to blow the bloody doors off", i.e. would stop at the newsroom doors. (Which insiders say are currently "off" for repair!)
If there was a 'coup', I suspect it was "only supposed to blow the bloody doors off", i.e. would stop at the newsroom doors. (Which insiders say are currently "off" for repair!)
November 24, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Chair of BBC says he wishes Tim Davie hadn't resigned. The more we hear, the more questions it raises about why he did.
If there was a 'coup', I suspect it was "only supposed to blow the bloody doors off", i.e. would stop at the newsroom doors. (Which insiders say are currently "off" for repair!)
If there was a 'coup', I suspect it was "only supposed to blow the bloody doors off", i.e. would stop at the newsroom doors. (Which insiders say are currently "off" for repair!)
Reposted by Ben Fenton
Michael Prescott's report makes vital points about the importance of being accurate, and also how difficult that is. For instance, he describes himself as having been Political Editor of the Sunday Times for 10 years, which is not what the Guardian reported when he left the job.
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
When a Sunday newspaper politics editor starts lecturing the BBC about journalistic integrity, accuracy and impartiality, about systemic faults, it is tempting to feel a little cynical.
November 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
When a Sunday newspaper politics editor starts lecturing the BBC about journalistic integrity, accuracy and impartiality, about systemic faults, it is tempting to feel a little cynical.
If you want to understand the journalistic difference between Sunday newspaper journalism and FT journalism, you can see it live in the respective choice of language, detail, demeanour and authority of Michael Prescott (ex-Sunday Times) and Caroline Daniel (ex-FT) before the DCMS select committee.
November 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
If you want to understand the journalistic difference between Sunday newspaper journalism and FT journalism, you can see it live in the respective choice of language, detail, demeanour and authority of Michael Prescott (ex-Sunday Times) and Caroline Daniel (ex-FT) before the DCMS select committee.
Prescott seems to want the BBC to be perfect. I wonder if he took the same approach to his own journalism?
Caroline Daniel, a much more impressive witness IMO, says Prescott's report was personal and that she believes the BBC takes impartiality very seriously and took action on its own failings.
Caroline Daniel, a much more impressive witness IMO, says Prescott's report was personal and that she believes the BBC takes impartiality very seriously and took action on its own failings.
November 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Prescott seems to want the BBC to be perfect. I wonder if he took the same approach to his own journalism?
Caroline Daniel, a much more impressive witness IMO, says Prescott's report was personal and that she believes the BBC takes impartiality very seriously and took action on its own failings.
Caroline Daniel, a much more impressive witness IMO, says Prescott's report was personal and that she believes the BBC takes impartiality very seriously and took action on its own failings.
Michael Prescott claims his report wasn't supposed to be comprehensive analysis of David Grossman's report on impartiality, just "edited highlights" and a "primer" for the Board of the BBC.
But he felt that on this flimsy basis it was something to bring to the attention of the regulator and Govt?
But he felt that on this flimsy basis it was something to bring to the attention of the regulator and Govt?
November 24, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Michael Prescott claims his report wasn't supposed to be comprehensive analysis of David Grossman's report on impartiality, just "edited highlights" and a "primer" for the Board of the BBC.
But he felt that on this flimsy basis it was something to bring to the attention of the regulator and Govt?
But he felt that on this flimsy basis it was something to bring to the attention of the regulator and Govt?
The demand (from Prescott and others) that the BBC be held to higher standards on impartiality than others shows precisely why Ofcom's failure on GB News is so damaging.
All broadcasters must be impartial *within themselves* not have one partisan broadcaster balanced by a differently partisan one.
All broadcasters must be impartial *within themselves* not have one partisan broadcaster balanced by a differently partisan one.
November 24, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The demand (from Prescott and others) that the BBC be held to higher standards on impartiality than others shows precisely why Ofcom's failure on GB News is so damaging.
All broadcasters must be impartial *within themselves* not have one partisan broadcaster balanced by a differently partisan one.
All broadcasters must be impartial *within themselves* not have one partisan broadcaster balanced by a differently partisan one.
DCMS committee hearing on the BBC debacle, hearing from Michael Prescott and Caroline Daniel, former editorial advisers (and both former journalists turned PRs, like me).
Whatever the motivations of anybody involved, it is crystal clear that nobody expected Tim Davie to resign over this scandal.
Whatever the motivations of anybody involved, it is crystal clear that nobody expected Tim Davie to resign over this scandal.
November 24, 2025 at 4:13 PM
DCMS committee hearing on the BBC debacle, hearing from Michael Prescott and Caroline Daniel, former editorial advisers (and both former journalists turned PRs, like me).
Whatever the motivations of anybody involved, it is crystal clear that nobody expected Tim Davie to resign over this scandal.
Whatever the motivations of anybody involved, it is crystal clear that nobody expected Tim Davie to resign over this scandal.
Michael O'Leary references "unfairness" in all his moans about his treatment.
There's nothing more unfair to the human mind than punishing pure altruism(demonstrated here).
O'Leary says "Short of committing murder, negative publicity sells more seats than positive publicity."
This time, he's wrong.
There's nothing more unfair to the human mind than punishing pure altruism(demonstrated here).
O'Leary says "Short of committing murder, negative publicity sells more seats than positive publicity."
This time, he's wrong.
"I was confident that Ryanair would match your public spiritedness by refunding you the £100 fee as a goodwill gesture. I was naive."
Some epic shithousery from Ryanair here, impressive.
Some epic shithousery from Ryanair here, impressive.
Ryanair expects me to take the financial hit for helping others
November 24, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Michael O'Leary references "unfairness" in all his moans about his treatment.
There's nothing more unfair to the human mind than punishing pure altruism(demonstrated here).
O'Leary says "Short of committing murder, negative publicity sells more seats than positive publicity."
This time, he's wrong.
There's nothing more unfair to the human mind than punishing pure altruism(demonstrated here).
O'Leary says "Short of committing murder, negative publicity sells more seats than positive publicity."
This time, he's wrong.
Reposted by Ben Fenton
"I was confident that Ryanair would match your public spiritedness by refunding you the £100 fee as a goodwill gesture. I was naive."
Some epic shithousery from Ryanair here, impressive.
Some epic shithousery from Ryanair here, impressive.
Ryanair expects me to take the financial hit for helping others
Ryanair expects me to take the financial hit for helping others
As a doctor I stepped in to tend to an elderly passenger … but it won’t waive £100 transfer fee to rebook
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:59 AM
"I was confident that Ryanair would match your public spiritedness by refunding you the £100 fee as a goodwill gesture. I was naive."
Some epic shithousery from Ryanair here, impressive.
Some epic shithousery from Ryanair here, impressive.
This is a fascinating read. A coalition of: conservative parents; increasingly tech-cautious young people; and the broad consensus of those frightened by SV autists with grandiose plans and no empathy - ought to ensure a) '26 mid-terms happen and b) change.
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
The surprising issue driving a wedge between Trump and his MAGA base
President Donald Trump’s attempt to block states from regulating AI sparked pushback from Republicans concerned the tech will displace workers and harm children.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:59 AM
This is a fascinating read. A coalition of: conservative parents; increasingly tech-cautious young people; and the broad consensus of those frightened by SV autists with grandiose plans and no empathy - ought to ensure a) '26 mid-terms happen and b) change.
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Meanwhile, the restaurant I have opened for the charm of goldfinches in my garden is getting five-star reviews and people just can't get a table.
The resultant squabbling has also shown me why another collective noun for the little fellas is a "troubling" of goldfinches.
The resultant squabbling has also shown me why another collective noun for the little fellas is a "troubling" of goldfinches.
November 20, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Meanwhile, the restaurant I have opened for the charm of goldfinches in my garden is getting five-star reviews and people just can't get a table.
The resultant squabbling has also shown me why another collective noun for the little fellas is a "troubling" of goldfinches.
The resultant squabbling has also shown me why another collective noun for the little fellas is a "troubling" of goldfinches.
Reposted by Ben Fenton
Fox News poll: 76% of voters view the economy negatively. That’s worse than the 67% who felt that way in July.
November 20, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Fox News poll: 76% of voters view the economy negatively. That’s worse than the 67% who felt that way in July.
Brilliant demolition of the new “peace plan” by Laurence Freedman on his substack: open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/y... Includes the superb line that Steve Witkoff has a nickname in Washington: “Dim Philby”, which summarises both the treachery and the density of the man. And the man who sent him.
Yet another peace plan?
What's going on with leaked proposals for a new US/Russia deal
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Brilliant demolition of the new “peace plan” by Laurence Freedman on his substack: open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/y... Includes the superb line that Steve Witkoff has a nickname in Washington: “Dim Philby”, which summarises both the treachery and the density of the man. And the man who sent him.