Maxwell Modell
@maxwellmodell.bsky.social
Research Associate at Cardiff University School of Journalism, Media and Culture studying impartiality in UK political news.
Other research interests include all things podcasts, political interviews and broadcast talk
He/Him
Other research interests include all things podcasts, political interviews and broadcast talk
He/Him
Excellent talk from Dr Natalie-Anne Hall
I’ve just attended a fascinating talk exploring how the online reactionary right mobilises, constructs identity, & frames its relationship to knowledge in the digital landscape.
🧵👇
Thanks to @maxwellmodell.bsky.social for organising it!
#radicalright #reactionaryright #politicaldiscourse #Brexit
🧵👇
Thanks to @maxwellmodell.bsky.social for organising it!
#radicalright #reactionaryright #politicaldiscourse #Brexit
November 26, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Excellent talk from Dr Natalie-Anne Hall
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
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...
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
There is so much messed up about this front page Express story today.
There's no suggestion or evidence ANY alcohol or drugs was consumed. This is literally just people dancing.
And buried in the piece: "The footage is believed to have been filmed just before Labour took power in July last year."
There's no suggestion or evidence ANY alcohol or drugs was consumed. This is literally just people dancing.
And buried in the piece: "The footage is believed to have been filmed just before Labour took power in July last year."
November 19, 2025 at 11:44 AM
There is so much messed up about this front page Express story today.
There's no suggestion or evidence ANY alcohol or drugs was consumed. This is literally just people dancing.
And buried in the piece: "The footage is believed to have been filmed just before Labour took power in July last year."
There's no suggestion or evidence ANY alcohol or drugs was consumed. This is literally just people dancing.
And buried in the piece: "The footage is believed to have been filmed just before Labour took power in July last year."
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
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
Excellent article from @stephencushion.bsky.social interrogating the quality of evidence in the Prescott memo and whether it proves its claims of systematic bias in the BBC.
Ultimately, it is a rallying cry for robust, transparent and clearly evidenced research into the impartiality.
Ultimately, it is a rallying cry for robust, transparent and clearly evidenced research into the impartiality.
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 2:46 PM
Excellent article from @stephencushion.bsky.social interrogating the quality of evidence in the Prescott memo and whether it proves its claims of systematic bias in the BBC.
Ultimately, it is a rallying cry for robust, transparent and clearly evidenced research into the impartiality.
Ultimately, it is a rallying cry for robust, transparent and clearly evidenced research into the impartiality.
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
NEW: Lisa Nandy to look again at political appointments to the BBC’s board as part of charter renewal discussions.
She said concerns have been raised over the appointment of Sir Robbie Gibb, a Conservative first appointed to the board by Boris Johnson.
She said concerns have been raised over the appointment of Sir Robbie Gibb, a Conservative first appointed to the board by Boris Johnson.
November 14, 2025 at 8:37 AM
NEW: Lisa Nandy to look again at political appointments to the BBC’s board as part of charter renewal discussions.
She said concerns have been raised over the appointment of Sir Robbie Gibb, a Conservative first appointed to the board by Boris Johnson.
She said concerns have been raised over the appointment of Sir Robbie Gibb, a Conservative first appointed to the board by Boris Johnson.
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
NEW: The Prescott report that led to Tim Davie's downfall included claims of "systemic bias" on the trans issue at the BBC.
But a reporter at the heart of the BBC's reporting on the topic disagrees.
Story:
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
But a reporter at the heart of the BBC's reporting on the topic disagrees.
Story:
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC reporter who covered gender dysphoria questions claim of ‘systemic bias’
Deborah Cohen says she is not aware of any attempts within corporation to stop or shape her reporting on trans issues
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:03 PM
NEW: The Prescott report that led to Tim Davie's downfall included claims of "systemic bias" on the trans issue at the BBC.
But a reporter at the heart of the BBC's reporting on the topic disagrees.
Story:
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
But a reporter at the heart of the BBC's reporting on the topic disagrees.
Story:
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
@perkinskeighley.bsky.social is doing great research. This short article is a concise and to-the-point introduction to it
I’m really pleased (& grateful!) to have my research featured on the VOX-Pol blog, following my presentation at the Next Generation Network Conference in Prague earlier this year.
🔗 voxpol.eu/radical-righ...
🧵👇
#langsky #polsky #radicalright #politicalcommunication #ECR #antiextremistresearch
🔗 voxpol.eu/radical-righ...
🧵👇
#langsky #polsky #radicalright #politicalcommunication #ECR #antiextremistresearch
Performing Politics from the Margins: How Radical Right Groups Construct Political Identity Online - VOX - Pol
How the EDL, Generation Identity, and Siege Culture use familiar political roles to normalise exclusion and influence debate.
voxpol.eu
November 12, 2025 at 3:14 PM
@perkinskeighley.bsky.social is doing great research. This short article is a concise and to-the-point introduction to it
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
Is there political bias at BBC Wales News - favouring @plaidcymru.bsky.social? Our new systematic study of the Caerphilly by-election coverage on BBC TV, online and social media found NO evidence supporting this allegation - BBC Wales broadly balanced coverage of the major parties 👇
UK-network coverage was largely framed around the decline of Welsh Labour & Reform’s political ascendancy. There was more balanced party coverage in national media in Wales, but the Reform by-election candidate was the most referenced during the campaign 2/10 public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
References to Caerphilly by-election candidates on TV and Online News
A Flourish data visualization by Maxwll Modell
public.flourish.studio
November 12, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Is there political bias at BBC Wales News - favouring @plaidcymru.bsky.social? Our new systematic study of the Caerphilly by-election coverage on BBC TV, online and social media found NO evidence supporting this allegation - BBC Wales broadly balanced coverage of the major parties 👇
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
Since joining the impartiality project, I’ve been been diving into debates on impartiality (trying to catch up with @stephencushion.bsky.social, @mattwalshjourno.bsky.social & @maxwellmodell.bsky.social!).
Nick Bradshaw’s new IDA piece is a must-read.
🔗 tinyurl.com/ycxkbu8s
🧵👇
#impartiality #BBC
Nick Bradshaw’s new IDA piece is a must-read.
🔗 tinyurl.com/ycxkbu8s
🧵👇
#impartiality #BBC
The Explainer: What Is British Impartiality (And Can It Survive)?
How the BBC elevated impartiality to its “very essence” amid documentary cancellations and regulatory pressures, and whether this embattled value can survive partisan challenges
tinyurl.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Since joining the impartiality project, I’ve been been diving into debates on impartiality (trying to catch up with @stephencushion.bsky.social, @mattwalshjourno.bsky.social & @maxwellmodell.bsky.social!).
Nick Bradshaw’s new IDA piece is a must-read.
🔗 tinyurl.com/ycxkbu8s
🧵👇
#impartiality #BBC
Nick Bradshaw’s new IDA piece is a must-read.
🔗 tinyurl.com/ycxkbu8s
🧵👇
#impartiality #BBC
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
🔴The BBC’s Attempts to Appease the ‘Right-Wing Coup’ Against It Are Now Seeding Its Own Destruction
By attempting to appease the forces seeking to destroy them, the BBC has helped trigger a crisis that now threatens its very future, argues @adambienkov.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/10/t...
By attempting to appease the forces seeking to destroy them, the BBC has helped trigger a crisis that now threatens its very future, argues @adambienkov.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/10/t...
The BBC’s Attempts to Appease the 'Right-Wing Coup' Against It Are Now Seeding Its Own Destruction
By attempting to appease those forces seeking to destroy them, the BBC has helped trigger a crisis that now threatens its very future, argues Adam Bienkov
bylinetimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:38 PM
🔴The BBC’s Attempts to Appease the ‘Right-Wing Coup’ Against It Are Now Seeding Its Own Destruction
By attempting to appease the forces seeking to destroy them, the BBC has helped trigger a crisis that now threatens its very future, argues @adambienkov.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/10/t...
By attempting to appease the forces seeking to destroy them, the BBC has helped trigger a crisis that now threatens its very future, argues @adambienkov.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/10/t...
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
It’s been one of the most turbulent weeks in British broadcasting.
This article from @theguardian.com provides a detailed timeline of what happened over the past week: tinyurl.com/3xu8tmaf
🧵👇
#impartiality #impartialityproject #BBC #bias #journalism #journalismstudies #media #mediastudies
This article from @theguardian.com provides a detailed timeline of what happened over the past week: tinyurl.com/3xu8tmaf
🧵👇
#impartiality #impartialityproject #BBC #bias #journalism #journalismstudies #media #mediastudies
BBC bias row: how a week of hostile headlines from rightwing media led to resignations
Rightwing media have published a series of attacks on the corporation after a memo from a former BBC adviser critical of its output
tinyurl.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:43 AM
It’s been one of the most turbulent weeks in British broadcasting.
This article from @theguardian.com provides a detailed timeline of what happened over the past week: tinyurl.com/3xu8tmaf
🧵👇
#impartiality #impartialityproject #BBC #bias #journalism #journalismstudies #media #mediastudies
This article from @theguardian.com provides a detailed timeline of what happened over the past week: tinyurl.com/3xu8tmaf
🧵👇
#impartiality #impartialityproject #BBC #bias #journalism #journalismstudies #media #mediastudies
The shock resignations of the Director General and the CEO of the BBC News are the culmination of a series of controversies over recent years (Gary Lineker, Gaza, Bob Vylan, and now the Trump documentary edit).
Here is my list of academic literature to help unpack this extraordinary moment 👇
Here is my list of academic literature to help unpack this extraordinary moment 👇
November 10, 2025 at 10:36 AM
The shock resignations of the Director General and the CEO of the BBC News are the culmination of a series of controversies over recent years (Gary Lineker, Gaza, Bob Vylan, and now the Trump documentary edit).
Here is my list of academic literature to help unpack this extraordinary moment 👇
Here is my list of academic literature to help unpack this extraordinary moment 👇
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
An extraordinary moment for the BBC as Tim Davie and head of BBC News are out.
So much to say on this - not least that BBC folk had been hoping for a pushback on the idea of general bias at the BBC.
But first, a story of the shock departure of two huge figures:
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
So much to say on this - not least that BBC folk had been hoping for a pushback on the idea of general bias at the BBC.
But first, a story of the shock departure of two huge figures:
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Tim Davie resigns as BBC director general after accusations of ‘serious and systemic’ bias in coverage
Davie says departure is ‘my own decision’, while head of news also quits with BBC preparing to apologise for editing of a Trump speech
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:40 PM
An extraordinary moment for the BBC as Tim Davie and head of BBC News are out.
So much to say on this - not least that BBC folk had been hoping for a pushback on the idea of general bias at the BBC.
But first, a story of the shock departure of two huge figures:
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
So much to say on this - not least that BBC folk had been hoping for a pushback on the idea of general bias at the BBC.
But first, a story of the shock departure of two huge figures:
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
The BBC’s in a mess, but it’s not the mess you think www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC has bigger impartiality problems than its coverage of Trump
It is the BBC’s entire governance structure–rather than individual stories–that should cause most concern
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 2:47 PM
The BBC’s in a mess, but it’s not the mess you think www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Great write-up of our latest Caerphilly by-election report by Martin Shipton and Nation Cymru
UK-wide broadcasters framed the coverage of the Caerphilly by-election result not around Plaid Cymru’s victory but the implications for the Labour Party and Reform UK, according to research carried out at Cardiff University ✍️Martin Shipton nation.cymru/news/plaid-c...
Plaid Cymru's Caerphilly victory overshadowed by UK broadcasters' obsession with Reform UK and Labour
Martin Shipton UK-wide broadcasters framed the coverage of the Caerphilly by-election result not around Plaid Cymru’s victory but the implications for the Labour Party and Reform UK, according to rese...
nation.cymru
November 7, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Great write-up of our latest Caerphilly by-election report by Martin Shipton and Nation Cymru
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
New impartiality study: Contrasting media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election in Wales with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? Thread 1/10 www.enhancingimpartiality.com/blog/caerphi...
Contrasting media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election in Wales with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? — Researching the impartiality of political news
In UK-wide media, the Caerphilly by-election result was framed around Reform UK’s defeat, the terminal decline of Labour in Wales, and the implications for Keir Starmer’s UK government in Westminster....
www.enhancingimpartiality.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:04 PM
New impartiality study: Contrasting media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election in Wales with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? Thread 1/10 www.enhancingimpartiality.com/blog/caerphi...
UK media framed the Caerphilly by-election result around Reform's defeat, terminal decline for Labour and implications for Starmer's government.
Victors Plaid Cymru played second fiddle.
Welsh media gave Plaid Cymru and the immediate Welsh context greater prominence 🏴
Full story below 👇
Victors Plaid Cymru played second fiddle.
Welsh media gave Plaid Cymru and the immediate Welsh context greater prominence 🏴
Full story below 👇
A new blog post from the impartiality project at @cujournmedcul.bsky.social, analyses how BBC Wales & ITV Wales covered the Caerphilly by-election across TV, online & social media.
🔗 tinyurl.com/yc46mcpw
🧵👇
#impartiality #impartialityproject #journalism #Caerphilly #Caerphillybyelection
🔗 tinyurl.com/yc46mcpw
🧵👇
#impartiality #impartialityproject #journalism #Caerphilly #Caerphillybyelection
Contrasting media coverage in Wales of the Caerphilly by-election with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? — Researching the impartiality of political news
In UK-wide media, the Caerphilly by-election result was framed around Reform UK’s defeat, the terminal decline of Labour in Wales, and the implications for Keir Starmer’s UK government in Westminster....
www.enhancingimpartiality.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:17 PM
UK media framed the Caerphilly by-election result around Reform's defeat, terminal decline for Labour and implications for Starmer's government.
Victors Plaid Cymru played second fiddle.
Welsh media gave Plaid Cymru and the immediate Welsh context greater prominence 🏴
Full story below 👇
Victors Plaid Cymru played second fiddle.
Welsh media gave Plaid Cymru and the immediate Welsh context greater prominence 🏴
Full story below 👇
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
How Sky News investigated X's algorithm for political bias
How Sky News investigated X's algorithm for political bias
A Sky News investigation sought to track the balance of political conversation on X, and assess whether the social media platform's algorithm amplifies right-wing and extreme content to users in the UK.
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:08 AM
How Sky News investigated X's algorithm for political bias
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
Why is the BBC calling Zohran Mamdani "radical left"? A fair description or an echo of Donald Trump's language?
open.substack.com/pub/mattwals...
open.substack.com/pub/mattwals...
Why is the BBC calling Mamdani radical left?
Accurate and impartial or echoing Trump's language?
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Why is the BBC calling Zohran Mamdani "radical left"? A fair description or an echo of Donald Trump's language?
open.substack.com/pub/mattwals...
open.substack.com/pub/mattwals...
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
Surprised that BBC R4 is using the tag radical left to describe Mamdani. Sarah Smith used it yesterday in a voicer at 8am, the newsreader did today in the same bulletin. Surely echoes Trump’s language.
November 5, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Surprised that BBC R4 is using the tag radical left to describe Mamdani. Sarah Smith used it yesterday in a voicer at 8am, the newsreader did today in the same bulletin. Surely echoes Trump’s language.
Thoughtful and insightful reflection from the Caerphilly Observer's Richard Gurner on his experience covering the by-election. A reminder of the importance of strong local media and the danger of political reporting becoming personalised and individual journalists targeted.
tinyurl.com/3m4v576v
tinyurl.com/3m4v576v
After the by-election, a chance to reflect on what politics has become
Richard Gurner, editor and publisher of Caerphilly Observer, looks back at the recent Senedd by-election campaign.
caerphilly.observer
November 4, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Thoughtful and insightful reflection from the Caerphilly Observer's Richard Gurner on his experience covering the by-election. A reminder of the importance of strong local media and the danger of political reporting becoming personalised and individual journalists targeted.
tinyurl.com/3m4v576v
tinyurl.com/3m4v576v
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
Interesting 🧐
BBC just released their updated AI transparency labels. They have devised a simple, neutral shape (a hexagon) which is derived from the BBC blocks.
The particular disclosure label is being trialled in BBC Sport live 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
BBC just released their updated AI transparency labels. They have devised a simple, neutral shape (a hexagon) which is derived from the BBC blocks.
The particular disclosure label is being trialled in BBC Sport live 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
November 4, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Interesting 🧐
BBC just released their updated AI transparency labels. They have devised a simple, neutral shape (a hexagon) which is derived from the BBC blocks.
The particular disclosure label is being trialled in BBC Sport live 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
BBC just released their updated AI transparency labels. They have devised a simple, neutral shape (a hexagon) which is derived from the BBC blocks.
The particular disclosure label is being trialled in BBC Sport live 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
The Trump edit in the BBC doc is bad. It links two parts of the speech in a way that is misleading. A basic journalistic error. But it’s a few seconds of archive 34 minutes into an hour long doc broadcast years after Jan 6. It doesn’t invalidate the BBC’s reporting of the day or its consequences.
November 4, 2025 at 5:46 PM
The Trump edit in the BBC doc is bad. It links two parts of the speech in a way that is misleading. A basic journalistic error. But it’s a few seconds of archive 34 minutes into an hour long doc broadcast years after Jan 6. It doesn’t invalidate the BBC’s reporting of the day or its consequences.