BBC Values:-

• Trust is the foundation of the BBC: we are independent, impartial and honest.
  
• Audiences are at the heart of everything we do.
  
• We take pride in delivering quality and value for money.
  
• Creativity is the lifeblood of our organisation.
  
• We respect each other and celebrate our diversity so that everyone can give their best.
  
• We are one BBC: great things happen when we work together.
  

The last two weeks or so of 2009 showed the world just how far the BBC has drifted from its core values. Can anyone believe an organisation claiming to celebrate diversity but which asks the public whether 'homosexuals' should face execution?

And as for the BBC's editorial guidelines about impartiality, the Corporation didn't report the furore which resulted from its bizarre editorial decision. Instead there were a couple of BBC blogs which attempted to justify the "stark" headline but later on stated it was "too stark" and may therefore have caused offence.

The BBC is simply unable to admit to its underlying prejudices, particularly relating to age, disability and sexual orientation.

On 22nd December 2009 the BBC carried out a spate of interviews with rugby player Gareth Thomas, who had come out as gay in order to help others worried about their sexuality. But despite Gareth's wish to help kids, Newsround didn't seem to think this was the sort of help kids should be getting. Perhaps the BBC doesn't believe kids could possibly be gay - it certainly looks that way from CBBC programmes such as Little Howard.


With this New Year it would be nice if the BBC were to resolve to ditch all the prejudice. Getting rid of Jonathan Ross's demeaning stereotype of gay men - notable only on account of their sex lives - would be a great start.

Too much to hope for? Let's see.-----------

Happy New Year