Matt Walsh
@mattwalshjourno.bsky.social
Head of the School of Journalism, Media and Culture at Cardiff University. Trustee at The Conversation UK and BJTC. Chair of the judges, 2025 Orwell Prize for Journalism. Hacked about a bit.
I assume it's an overabundance of caution following legal advice because the programme is broadcast in the US. I would think the BBC's libel insurance would not cover a programme that left the line in against legal advice. With Trump threatening to sue for billions, that was a risk too far.
On Bregman, I was there in the audience and I can’t see what the BBC have gained by removing this line except more bad publicity. I will say that no such edits or censorship occurred when I gave the Reith Lectures and free-speech defenders might want think about whether this is the world they want.
November 25, 2025 at 12:46 PM
I assume it's an overabundance of caution following legal advice because the programme is broadcast in the US. I would think the BBC's libel insurance would not cover a programme that left the line in against legal advice. With Trump threatening to sue for billions, that was a risk too far.
Reposted by Matt Walsh
Times headline: ‘BBC failing to tackle systemic bias, says author of leaked memo’. In fact, when asked by MPs, this man, Michael Prescott, said he didn’t believe the BBC was institutionally biased. The Times failed to quote that, in an article about the issue of truthful reporting.
November 25, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Times headline: ‘BBC failing to tackle systemic bias, says author of leaked memo’. In fact, when asked by MPs, this man, Michael Prescott, said he didn’t believe the BBC was institutionally biased. The Times failed to quote that, in an article about the issue of truthful reporting.
Bonkers. What on earth were they thinking?
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 10:34 AM
Bonkers. What on earth were they thinking?
A not very convincing day of evidence from the BBC board and its advisors to the media select committee
mattwalsh.substack.com/p/crisis-wha...
mattwalsh.substack.com/p/crisis-wha...
Crisis what crisis? A day of unconvincing testimony on the BBC
A big boy did it and ran away, say BBC board members to Parliament
mattwalsh.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:03 AM
A not very convincing day of evidence from the BBC board and its advisors to the media select committee
mattwalsh.substack.com/p/crisis-wha...
mattwalsh.substack.com/p/crisis-wha...
Broadcast has some more details about Richard Sambrook's role on the review (paywall but you can register for a free article) www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/bbc-laun...
November 25, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Broadcast has some more details about Richard Sambrook's role on the review (paywall but you can register for a free article) www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/bbc-laun...
He did while smoking a small cigar and listening to jazz
November 25, 2025 at 7:33 AM
He did while smoking a small cigar and listening to jazz
Pleased to hear that Cardiff University’s Professor Richard Sambrook has been appointed as an independent advisor to review the work of the BBC’s editorial guidelines and standards committee. The right man for the job.
November 24, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Pleased to hear that Cardiff University’s Professor Richard Sambrook has been appointed as an independent advisor to review the work of the BBC’s editorial guidelines and standards committee. The right man for the job.
I’d recommend more investment in external academic research by trusted partners
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 4:45 PM
I’d recommend more investment in external academic research by trusted partners
To what extent was he a suitable person for the role? A PR who’d not worked in news for 20 years and never worked in broadcasting
Prescott comes across as out of his depth even under the intensely mild and ineffectual questioning of DCMS committee.
He has repeatedly returned to one of the most bizarre lines in his report, that Panorama should have matched its Jan 6th episode with an "equally aggressive" one into Kamala.
He has repeatedly returned to one of the most bizarre lines in his report, that Panorama should have matched its Jan 6th episode with an "equally aggressive" one into Kamala.
November 24, 2025 at 4:29 PM
To what extent was he a suitable person for the role? A PR who’d not worked in news for 20 years and never worked in broadcasting
Can't see a shake-up of the standards committee being enough, but a deputy DG makes a lot of sense - and indeed has worked in the past. Still don't understand why two PR people are the external advisors on standards.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC to expand standards panel and add deputy director general after bias row
Planned overhaul of editorial guidelines committee would dilute influence of Tory board appointment Robbie Gibb
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Can't see a shake-up of the standards committee being enough, but a deputy DG makes a lot of sense - and indeed has worked in the past. Still don't understand why two PR people are the external advisors on standards.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
This is true. Look at all those ads that ask for dynamic, driven, dynamos, whirlwinds, ninjas and so on. They mean young. Agism is still a respectable form of discrimination
Also, employers increasingly don't want anyone much over 50: if you lose a job in your 50s, you might well be absolutely stuffed, and the small lifeline of the state pension doesn't kick in until your late 60s. This is a big crisis coming down the track. Put as much money as you can into a pension!
November 21, 2025 at 11:12 AM
This is true. Look at all those ads that ask for dynamic, driven, dynamos, whirlwinds, ninjas and so on. They mean young. Agism is still a respectable form of discrimination
I’m guessing his password is Eloniscool
I asked grok who was the better role model for humanity, Jesus Christ or Elon Musk. GUESS WHAT.
November 20, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I’m guessing his password is Eloniscool
A fine night for Cardiff’s JOMEC at the BJTC journalism awards. Students came home with best TV News Report, Online Story, Social Short, and TV News Day. A clean sweep!
November 20, 2025 at 8:59 PM
A fine night for Cardiff’s JOMEC at the BJTC journalism awards. Students came home with best TV News Report, Online Story, Social Short, and TV News Day. A clean sweep!
19th November and I’ve already been subjected to Stop the Cavalry. Beyond wrong.
November 19, 2025 at 7:41 PM
19th November and I’ve already been subjected to Stop the Cavalry. Beyond wrong.
Reposted by Matt Walsh
Excellent and courageous investigative journalism.
The fact that it is (apparently) legal to do this to people is utterly disgusting.
The fact that it is (apparently) legal to do this to people is utterly disgusting.
“It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car,” one woman who paid Milne tens of thousands of pounds told us. “He has just wiped me out.”
Who is Andrew Milne - the solicitor sending "very aggressive" letters to Sheffield homeowners?
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
Who is Andrew Milne - the solicitor sending "very aggressive" letters to Sheffield homeowners?
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
A London lawyer bought hundreds of Sheffield freeholds. Then the ‘very aggressive’ letters arrived
Exclusive: The Tribune can reveal that Andrew Milne has threatened leaseholders with high court action. It ‘broke my heart’ one woman says
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Excellent and courageous investigative journalism.
The fact that it is (apparently) legal to do this to people is utterly disgusting.
The fact that it is (apparently) legal to do this to people is utterly disgusting.
Reposted by Matt Walsh
A new article by @stephencushion.bsky.social for @theconversation.com highlights while the BBC is no stranger to accusations of bias, the Prescott memo is far from the rigorous assessment many assumed it to be.
🔗 tinyurl.com/3cx8edjp
🧵👇
#journalism #journalismstudies #BBC #mediareporting
🔗 tinyurl.com/3cx8edjp
🧵👇
#journalism #journalismstudies #BBC #mediareporting
BBC bias? The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands
The Prescott memo contained no research questions or objectives, method, sample, time frame or, crucially, analytical framework for examining output.
tinyurl.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:10 AM
A new article by @stephencushion.bsky.social for @theconversation.com highlights while the BBC is no stranger to accusations of bias, the Prescott memo is far from the rigorous assessment many assumed it to be.
🔗 tinyurl.com/3cx8edjp
🧵👇
#journalism #journalismstudies #BBC #mediareporting
🔗 tinyurl.com/3cx8edjp
🧵👇
#journalism #journalismstudies #BBC #mediareporting
Reposted by Matt Walsh
Important question: interesting answer. "What a decade of research reveals about why people don’t trust media in the digital age" (theconversation.com/what-a-decad...)
November 17, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Important question: interesting answer. "What a decade of research reveals about why people don’t trust media in the digital age" (theconversation.com/what-a-decad...)
Good and apparently well sourced article on the mess the BBC got itself into observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Boardroom dramas, backstabbing and the BBC‘s darkest hour | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Good and apparently well sourced article on the mess the BBC got itself into observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Nick Ross in The Times today upholds the golden rule that there is always someone who’s had well remunerated career at the BBC that’s ready to call for its abolition
November 15, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Nick Ross in The Times today upholds the golden rule that there is always someone who’s had well remunerated career at the BBC that’s ready to call for its abolition
Reposted by Matt Walsh
I’ve just published a new article in the @uk.theconversation.com entitled 'BBC bias? The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands’ Thread 1/8: theconversation.com/bbc-bias-the...
BBC bias? The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands
The Prescott memo contained no research questions or objectives, method, sample, time frame or, crucially, analytical framework for examining output.
theconversation.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:37 PM
I’ve just published a new article in the @uk.theconversation.com entitled 'BBC bias? The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands’ Thread 1/8: theconversation.com/bbc-bias-the...
Iain Banks spins in his grave again
in a long life filled with saying stupid shit this is may be the stupidest shit he's ever said
November 11, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Iain Banks spins in his grave again
Was the Panorama shown in Florida? If not, why would they have jurisdiction for a defamation claim?
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Was the Panorama shown in Florida? If not, why would they have jurisdiction for a defamation claim?
Reposted by Matt Walsh
If we are to believe that the BBC is the worst of British journalism and the press is the best (for which view we must credit Donald Trump) then the world has truly turned upside down.
We must defend public-service media from private-interest agendas.
We must defend public-service media from private-interest agendas.
November 10, 2025 at 10:33 AM
If we are to believe that the BBC is the worst of British journalism and the press is the best (for which view we must credit Donald Trump) then the world has truly turned upside down.
We must defend public-service media from private-interest agendas.
We must defend public-service media from private-interest agendas.
The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness from the BBC are a real shock. It should also shock ministers into changing the way the BBC's governed and making it truly independent of government.
open.substack.com/pub/mattwals...
open.substack.com/pub/mattwals...
The end of the road for current BBC governance
W1A delivers yet another hit episode but it can’t continue
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:26 AM
The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness from the BBC are a real shock. It should also shock ministers into changing the way the BBC's governed and making it truly independent of government.
open.substack.com/pub/mattwals...
open.substack.com/pub/mattwals...
Surely this has to be the end of the BBC’s combined board. Always a flawed idea. If the reports about the board blocking an apology by the executive are correct, it’s as clear a case of political interference as you could ask for.
November 10, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Surely this has to be the end of the BBC’s combined board. Always a flawed idea. If the reports about the board blocking an apology by the executive are correct, it’s as clear a case of political interference as you could ask for.