It looks like the end of an era. Aaron has posted a farewell message on CBBC's website, and once again he has some valuable advice for kids.
After all the fine words by Jana Bennett about BBC helping kids, it looks like the Corporation can't be trusted even by children. Few, if any, have been taken in by claims of improvements to the CBBC site and message boards, and all that the BBC has succeeded in achieving is to demonstrate its contempt for younger audiences. It's still not too late for Newsround to show some guts and investigate why this happened.
As Aaron's advice won't be on the CBBC site for much longer I'm giving his farewell message a place on this blog:
Farewell and good luck from Aaron
Since the Ask Aaron site and message board are closing, I wanted to take a moment to tell you all how fab I think you all are and how impressed I am with the way you reach out and support each other.
Always remember that when you are having a hard time, there is SOMEBODY around who will listen. The trick is to find that person, and make sure they hear you. The worst thing about suffering or worrying about something is to think that you are all alone – YOU ARE NOT! If you look, you’ll find that person who can lend a hand.
Sometimes that will need to be a grownup, but other times your mates will be a great support to you too. I’ve seen you all reach out to others that are hurting, and I hope you continue to be good friends to each other, and try to treat everyone with kindness and respect – just how you’d like to be treated yourself.
Don't forget that there is still going to be a place on CBBC where you can share your thoughts and problems, and help others too - visit the BugBears site and take a look.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Racist and homophobic language
Opinions about Prince Harry's language on the recently released video vary widely - some people believing that the issue has been blown out of all proportion, whilst others saying that there should be a zero tolerance attitude to racism. A BBC News report of the News of the World story has a warning - "Guidance: This video contains some strong language" but there are no swear words.
Newsround, too, has reported the story although its reports carefully avoided actually repeating the terms used by Prince Harry. Feedback from young people is on Newsround's website.
When it comes to homophobic language, the BBC has been somewhat less cautious. Take, for example, Jonathan Ross. Would the BBC countenance him employing a house band which called itself Four P*k*s and a Piano - I doubt it. Yet 4 P**fs and a Piano appeared regularly on what was considered a flagship BBC programme.
It will be very interesting to see whether or not 4 P**fs and a Piano continue to be the Friday Night With Jonathan Ross house band (see blog 31 October 2008)
Opinions about Prince Harry's language on the recently released video vary widely - some people believing that the issue has been blown out of all proportion, whilst others saying that there should be a zero tolerance attitude to racism. A BBC News report of the News of the World story has a warning - "Guidance: This video contains some strong language" but there are no swear words.
Newsround, too, has reported the story although its reports carefully avoided actually repeating the terms used by Prince Harry. Feedback from young people is on Newsround's website.
When it comes to homophobic language, the BBC has been somewhat less cautious. Take, for example, Jonathan Ross. Would the BBC countenance him employing a house band which called itself Four P*k*s and a Piano - I doubt it. Yet 4 P**fs and a Piano appeared regularly on what was considered a flagship BBC programme.
It will be very interesting to see whether or not 4 P**fs and a Piano continue to be the Friday Night With Jonathan Ross house band (see blog 31 October 2008)
Saturday, January 10, 2009
In the closing moments of the first episode of CBBC's Half Moon Investigations Fletcher Moon says: "A good detective doesn't do the job for thanks, he does it for truth and justice." The same sentiments should equally apply to journalists.
Newsround has had some interesting and worthy reports to begin 2009:
Ricky's warning about pouring fat down kitchen sinks was left till after the Christmas holidays, but even so the advice should serve well for the future.
Wednesday's Newsround included a report about sports enthusiast Joseph Pritchard. He was born with only two fingers and a thumb on each hand. His dad and stepmum wrote to several companies to see if they could help, and eventually one company said they would love to make a pair of sports gloves specially for Joseph.
On Thursday we were given the lowdown on how recycling has been affected by the economic crisis. It seems no one wants to buy recycled waste nowadays, so warehouses are overflowing with the stuff. Last year paper and card fetched £70 per tonne but now it sells for £20 per tonne, and cans which sold for £200 per tonne now sell for just one tenth the price. Despite this evidence Ricky, reporting from Greencycle's warehouse in the North East of England, said that the company was confident things would improve, and we should carry on recycling.
But then there are other things going on, not a million miles from the BBC itself, like the CBBC message boards changes in December which caused so much disquiet. And another story, surely of interest, is why would the BBC spend over £45,000 of the public's money (Channel 4 News report by Emily Reuben, 16 December 2008) on a lavish launch party for Merlin, and then deliberately give so much free publicity to its direct rival - ITV's X Factor (see blog 6 January 2009) The BBC's Chief Operating Officer Caroline Thomson, speaking on Channel 4 News: "We don't party for parties' sake. We choose the programmes we're going to promote at launches very carefully. We only did three BBC1 dramas last year. When we do it, we do it because we're very proud of the programmes .."
Newsround has had some interesting and worthy reports to begin 2009:
Ricky's warning about pouring fat down kitchen sinks was left till after the Christmas holidays, but even so the advice should serve well for the future.
Wednesday's Newsround included a report about sports enthusiast Joseph Pritchard. He was born with only two fingers and a thumb on each hand. His dad and stepmum wrote to several companies to see if they could help, and eventually one company said they would love to make a pair of sports gloves specially for Joseph.
On Thursday we were given the lowdown on how recycling has been affected by the economic crisis. It seems no one wants to buy recycled waste nowadays, so warehouses are overflowing with the stuff. Last year paper and card fetched £70 per tonne but now it sells for £20 per tonne, and cans which sold for £200 per tonne now sell for just one tenth the price. Despite this evidence Ricky, reporting from Greencycle's warehouse in the North East of England, said that the company was confident things would improve, and we should carry on recycling.
But then there are other things going on, not a million miles from the BBC itself, like the CBBC message boards changes in December which caused so much disquiet. And another story, surely of interest, is why would the BBC spend over £45,000 of the public's money (Channel 4 News report by Emily Reuben, 16 December 2008) on a lavish launch party for Merlin, and then deliberately give so much free publicity to its direct rival - ITV's X Factor (see blog 6 January 2009) The BBC's Chief Operating Officer Caroline Thomson, speaking on Channel 4 News: "We don't party for parties' sake. We choose the programmes we're going to promote at launches very carefully. We only did three BBC1 dramas last year. When we do it, we do it because we're very proud of the programmes .."
Thursday, January 08, 2009
CBBC has betrayed kids
It's long been a theme running through this blog, since it began in 2005. But the depth of CBBC's betrayal of children has never been more obvious than over the last month. We're not just talking about discrimination against LGBT kids, and not just covert discrimination against teenagers which was uncovered by Newsround Blog.
Thousands of ordinary school children are now left with just a minimal CBBC message board service, and the Agony Uncle service which used to provide expert personal advice is about to disappear. Yet the people in charge at the BBC know exactly the damage they're causing by these so-called improvements. BBC Director of Vision, Jana Bennett acknowledged the importance of peer help when she told Showcomotion in July 2007 that kids learn through the experience of others with whom they can relate.
Newsround gets a lot of feedback about children's worries, but the programme isn't willing to investigate what has happened. Newsround's journalists, it seems, are too timid to show some independence and hold the BBC to account. This wasn't always the case, and I've been informed that the last but one Newsround editor left the programme on account of proposed changes which he wasn't prepared to accept.
It's long been a theme running through this blog, since it began in 2005. But the depth of CBBC's betrayal of children has never been more obvious than over the last month. We're not just talking about discrimination against LGBT kids, and not just covert discrimination against teenagers which was uncovered by Newsround Blog.
Thousands of ordinary school children are now left with just a minimal CBBC message board service, and the Agony Uncle service which used to provide expert personal advice is about to disappear. Yet the people in charge at the BBC know exactly the damage they're causing by these so-called improvements. BBC Director of Vision, Jana Bennett acknowledged the importance of peer help when she told Showcomotion in July 2007 that kids learn through the experience of others with whom they can relate.
Newsround gets a lot of feedback about children's worries, but the programme isn't willing to investigate what has happened. Newsround's journalists, it seems, are too timid to show some independence and hold the BBC to account. This wasn't always the case, and I've been informed that the last but one Newsround editor left the programme on account of proposed changes which he wasn't prepared to accept.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
As mentioned yesterday, it seems that Newsround won't be covering the story about message board closures. The stories it's reported at 5pm so far this year are:
Monday 5 January 2009
Conflict in Gaza [2'10"]
Obama family move to Washington [0'16"]
Stewart Downing has handed in transfer request [0'16"]
Cold and flu info [1'44"]
What to look out for in 2009 [1'58"]
Tuesday 6 January 2009
More kids worrying about family splits - ChildLine [2'20"]
Mountain rescue operation in Guatemala [0'14"]
Jermain Defoe returning to Spurs [0'19"]
Search for yachtsman Jean Le Cam [0'17"]
Cold weather in Britain [1'32"]
Fat poured down drains blocks sewers [2'00"]
Sonali began the programme on Tuesday:
Monday 5 January 2009
Conflict in Gaza [2'10"]
Obama family move to Washington [0'16"]
Stewart Downing has handed in transfer request [0'16"]
Cold and flu info [1'44"]
What to look out for in 2009 [1'58"]
Tuesday 6 January 2009
More kids worrying about family splits - ChildLine [2'20"]
Mountain rescue operation in Guatemala [0'14"]
Jermain Defoe returning to Spurs [0'19"]
Search for yachtsman Jean Le Cam [0'17"]
Cold weather in Britain [1'32"]
Fat poured down drains blocks sewers [2'00"]
Sonali began the programme on Tuesday:
More kids worry about their parents splitting up in the new year. If that sounds like you, we've got lots of advice.Here's my advice to the BBC:
Put back all the growing up help on your website, updated where necessary. And reinstate the message boards so that kids can chat about their lives and their worries, and help each other.Newsround isn't responsible for the operation of the message boards, so if the BBC doesn't quickly reinstate the boards I think it would be a good idea for the programme to investigate the truth behind the closures. Newsround is, after all, supposed to be FOR children. What's the point of it otherwise?
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
It seems, unfortunately, that Newsround will not be investigating the message board closures which took place late last year (see previous blog entry)
The closures have, with a very small number of exceptions, been condemned by kids, and the BBC continues to insult the public by labelling the changes as improvements. It has been suggested to me that the changes were to save money, but if that's the case why didn't the BBC simply take the opportunity, handed them by Jonathan Ross, to save £18 million.
One of the few surviving Newsround message boards is intended for the discussion of showbiz topics. So it's interesting to note that, for some reason, Newsround gave no coverage at all to last year's I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here! But another popular programme, which did get a lot of coverage on Newsround, was The X Factor.
The X Factor final was on 13 December 2008 and it was scheduled directly against the concluding programme in the first series of Merlin. But strangely it was ITV's The X Factor, not the BBC's Merlin, which was afforded a 1'30" Newsround report on the day. Of course the BBC, including Newsround, never missed an opportunity to promote another Saturday night favourite - Doctor Who.
Unusually for Newsround nowadays, their website was updated late that night in order to cover the X Factor result.
On Monday 15 December, two days before the release of her CD, Newsround screened an interview with Alexandra Burke. Viewers were told that "most people reckon" she is heading for superstardom. Next came the interview itself, lasting 1'50" but more is available on the website. With all this reportage, a person could perhaps be forgiven for suspecting that X Factor actually had someone working for them in the Newsround team. And as recently as yesterday Newsround reported that Alexandra is still at number 1 in the singles chart for the third week.
The closures have, with a very small number of exceptions, been condemned by kids, and the BBC continues to insult the public by labelling the changes as improvements. It has been suggested to me that the changes were to save money, but if that's the case why didn't the BBC simply take the opportunity, handed them by Jonathan Ross, to save £18 million.
One of the few surviving Newsround message boards is intended for the discussion of showbiz topics. So it's interesting to note that, for some reason, Newsround gave no coverage at all to last year's I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here! But another popular programme, which did get a lot of coverage on Newsround, was The X Factor.
The X Factor final was on 13 December 2008 and it was scheduled directly against the concluding programme in the first series of Merlin. But strangely it was ITV's The X Factor, not the BBC's Merlin, which was afforded a 1'30" Newsround report on the day. Of course the BBC, including Newsround, never missed an opportunity to promote another Saturday night favourite - Doctor Who.
Unusually for Newsround nowadays, their website was updated late that night in order to cover the X Factor result.
On Monday 15 December, two days before the release of her CD, Newsround screened an interview with Alexandra Burke. Viewers were told that "most people reckon" she is heading for superstardom. Next came the interview itself, lasting 1'50" but more is available on the website. With all this reportage, a person could perhaps be forgiven for suspecting that X Factor actually had someone working for them in the Newsround team. And as recently as yesterday Newsround reported that Alexandra is still at number 1 in the singles chart for the third week.
Monday, December 29, 2008
The disquiet over the closure of CBBC and Newsround message boards continues:
Message 409 - from timelordjedi
The thing I can't understand is that there was no reason to change the boards.
They were perfectly fine as they were, and as far as I'm aware CBBC is making no money out of doing this. 99% of feedback has been negative (not an exaggeration either) and member numbers have crashed since the sound off, tv/film, music, book and animal boards have disappeared.
So, CBBC, what was your motive for doing this?
Message 413 - from [PhamtonFreja]*He Doesn't Know Why*
What is the point of this thread anyway? Your not exactly taking in our thoughts, are you? Just sitting there, defending yourself. You are not listening. Is it hard to see? We don't actualy like these boards.
Your closing down every single MB on CBBC.
The whole of NR, CBBC's Books, Your Life, Bullying. Just close the whole boards down, like Fantasic Brad suggested, replace them with your favouites. Don't bother with us. We are just the kids who use this board. You didn't even ask us last time. There were 2 days warning. 2 days.
Some children have problems. Trouble making friends, bullies, disabilatys. But on CBBC and NR, everyone repected them, everyone had friends, Nobody cared if they were ugly, or had difficulties, nobody minded, because they were friends. But not anymore.
I'm going to write to Ask Aarron. He answers your questions, doesn't he? I'll tell him how much I don't like these new boards. That I'm losing friends. Because, offline, I get bullied, I get hurt, but I could go to the boards and have fun. Not anymore. Now CBBC are the bullies.
Anyone with me?
Yes I am. I think the BBC has lost the plot. It's supposed to be a public service broadcaster, but it seems to be abandoning any pretence of being a national force for good.
In its Statements of Programme Policy the BBC says that it's an open and transparent organisation which is trusted by the public it serves, seeks to engage its audiences in dialogue, to learn from them and to respond honestly to what they have to say.
So I'll be contacting Newsround in a few days to ask if they would investigate why the message boards have closed. Maybe they could ask Richard Deverell to explain his reasons for the changes. And he could be asked if, in view of all the complaints, the decision might be reversed.
---
Message 409 - from timelordjedi
The thing I can't understand is that there was no reason to change the boards.
They were perfectly fine as they were, and as far as I'm aware CBBC is making no money out of doing this. 99% of feedback has been negative (not an exaggeration either) and member numbers have crashed since the sound off, tv/film, music, book and animal boards have disappeared.
So, CBBC, what was your motive for doing this?
Message 413 - from [PhamtonFreja]*He Doesn't Know Why*
What is the point of this thread anyway? Your not exactly taking in our thoughts, are you? Just sitting there, defending yourself. You are not listening. Is it hard to see? We don't actualy like these boards.
Your closing down every single MB on CBBC.
The whole of NR, CBBC's Books, Your Life, Bullying. Just close the whole boards down, like Fantasic Brad suggested, replace them with your favouites. Don't bother with us. We are just the kids who use this board. You didn't even ask us last time. There were 2 days warning. 2 days.
Some children have problems. Trouble making friends, bullies, disabilatys. But on CBBC and NR, everyone repected them, everyone had friends, Nobody cared if they were ugly, or had difficulties, nobody minded, because they were friends. But not anymore.
I'm going to write to Ask Aarron. He answers your questions, doesn't he? I'll tell him how much I don't like these new boards. That I'm losing friends. Because, offline, I get bullied, I get hurt, but I could go to the boards and have fun. Not anymore. Now CBBC are the bullies.
Anyone with me?
Yes I am. I think the BBC has lost the plot. It's supposed to be a public service broadcaster, but it seems to be abandoning any pretence of being a national force for good.
In its Statements of Programme Policy the BBC says that it's an open and transparent organisation which is trusted by the public it serves, seeks to engage its audiences in dialogue, to learn from them and to respond honestly to what they have to say.
So I'll be contacting Newsround in a few days to ask if they would investigate why the message boards have closed. Maybe they could ask Richard Deverell to explain his reasons for the changes. And he could be asked if, in view of all the complaints, the decision might be reversed.
Happy New Year
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Shortly after my blog yesterday I noticed that the Your Life board is also to close on Monday 'as part of improvements' to the CBBC site and message boards.
The Your Life board is more well used than the Bullying board, and the announcement of its closure is not going down well, as can be seen from these three example posts:
Message 5 from Toast ~ *Hold your colour* ~
Im sick of these so called "improvements". You are pracitically just closing the whole message boards down
Message 9 from [°*Lioness*°] .. ThePhantomHunter | SilenceUnderFoot..
You can't close the Your Life board!
I've looked at the Ask Aaron board and its like the watch board, you can't post your own threads!
With just this thread to start with : www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mb... not everybodys questions can be awnsered! :[
We need somewere to say exactly what we have to say and get exactly what we had to say awnsered!
Even though I haven't ever started a thread on here, (not that I recall anyway) I've seen how much this board helps some people!
Right, thats my side of it anyway, feel free to say whats on your mind as well!
First Newsround now this...
Message 15 from *Öpál~[M梨hïëf MªÑägêð]*
OMG wth! *fumes* Sarah's got it right! A bet in a few weeks time there will be no more boards left! They're all dropping like flies!
Arghh!
These messageboards should get a new name. Something like, the children's messageboards controlled by adults who think they know best but really don't have a clue and btw don't bother coming on here because all your threads will be closed and favourite boards be deleted so yeah kthxbaii. x
It seems the BBC is making things worse for kids because of these changes. Certainly that's what their feedback is saying loud and clear.
The Your Life board is more well used than the Bullying board, and the announcement of its closure is not going down well, as can be seen from these three example posts:
Message 5 from Toast ~ *Hold your colour* ~
Im sick of these so called "improvements". You are pracitically just closing the whole message boards down
Message 9 from [°*Lioness*°] .. ThePhantomHunter | SilenceUnderFoot..
You can't close the Your Life board!
I've looked at the Ask Aaron board and its like the watch board, you can't post your own threads!
With just this thread to start with : www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mb... not everybodys questions can be awnsered! :[
We need somewere to say exactly what we have to say and get exactly what we had to say awnsered!
Even though I haven't ever started a thread on here, (not that I recall anyway) I've seen how much this board helps some people!
Right, thats my side of it anyway, feel free to say whats on your mind as well!
First Newsround now this...
Message 15 from *Öpál~[M梨hïëf MªÑägêð]*
OMG wth! *fumes* Sarah's got it right! A bet in a few weeks time there will be no more boards left! They're all dropping like flies!
Arghh!
These messageboards should get a new name. Something like, the children's messageboards controlled by adults who think they know best but really don't have a clue and btw don't bother coming on here because all your threads will be closed and favourite boards be deleted so yeah kthxbaii. x
It seems the BBC is making things worse for kids because of these changes. Certainly that's what their feedback is saying loud and clear.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
CBBC Bullying message board closure
I notice that CBBC announced last night that their Bullying message board, mentioned in my blog on 12 December 2008, is to close on Monday 'as part of improvements' to the site (screen image). The reasoning is opaque at present, especially in the light of the BBC Director of Vision, Jana Bennett's words last year, shortly before a substantial amount of growing up advice was removed from the website (see blog on 28 August 2007). Some other message boards closed down a few days ago and caused dismay. For example, this message from sockscat (message 23):
I really don't like it to be honest. All the boards me and my pal Ultracutecat used to always go on are away, in fact the only one that is the same is In the news which we never went on! I am speaking for two because it was cutie (which is Ultracutecat's nickname by the way) that mentioned it too me in the first place. The reason I joined the boards when I became a member was because there was so many boards and now there is only five! Plz mods or Cbbc change it plz im begging! The biggest loss to me is the Creative writing board,animal and the sound off!
is just one message out of about 350 so far, most of which are unhappy with the changes.
On the positive side the BBC has begun a new Ask Aaron message board. As the BBC puts it: there is a brand new Ask Aaron board for the time being. (my italics) This Ask Aaron board says it's 'the place to Ask Aaron about anything and everything that's happening in your life!'
As I've said, there is strong statistical evidence that the Bullying message board, which is now closing down, discriminated against LGBT kids. So I'll continue to keep my eye on the BBC - not just on the new message board - to see whether folks are being treated fairly by the Corporation. Three years ago, on 21 December 2005, Newsround's failure to report the introduction of civil partnerships proved to be the last straw, as far as I was concerned, and led to the start of Newsround Blog.
I notice that CBBC announced last night that their Bullying message board, mentioned in my blog on 12 December 2008, is to close on Monday 'as part of improvements' to the site (screen image). The reasoning is opaque at present, especially in the light of the BBC Director of Vision, Jana Bennett's words last year, shortly before a substantial amount of growing up advice was removed from the website (see blog on 28 August 2007). Some other message boards closed down a few days ago and caused dismay. For example, this message from sockscat (message 23):
I really don't like it to be honest. All the boards me and my pal Ultracutecat used to always go on are away, in fact the only one that is the same is In the news which we never went on! I am speaking for two because it was cutie (which is Ultracutecat's nickname by the way) that mentioned it too me in the first place. The reason I joined the boards when I became a member was because there was so many boards and now there is only five! Plz mods or Cbbc change it plz im begging! The biggest loss to me is the Creative writing board,animal and the sound off!
is just one message out of about 350 so far, most of which are unhappy with the changes.
On the positive side the BBC has begun a new Ask Aaron message board. As the BBC puts it: there is a brand new Ask Aaron board for the time being. (my italics) This Ask Aaron board says it's 'the place to Ask Aaron about anything and everything that's happening in your life!'
As I've said, there is strong statistical evidence that the Bullying message board, which is now closing down, discriminated against LGBT kids. So I'll continue to keep my eye on the BBC - not just on the new message board - to see whether folks are being treated fairly by the Corporation. Three years ago, on 21 December 2005, Newsround's failure to report the introduction of civil partnerships proved to be the last straw, as far as I was concerned, and led to the start of Newsround Blog.
Friday, December 19, 2008
The first series of Election ended yesterday with Quincy as the worthy winner. Both speakers in the final debate were self-assured, but I suspect that a lot of the voters weren't best pleased at being asked by Hazel to stand up as an attempt to draw them into her campaign. And if Hazel wants to stand as a real Member of Parliament she might try to avoid putting down different groups in society; I don't think older people will be happy to hear her idea to change the image of smoking: Put it into children's heads that it's totally uncool to smoke. And it's like an old person's habit, so it's totally uncool and like repulsive. And if that image is everywhere then hopefully it will stop children [smoking]
Like I said when this series began, it is rather like The Apprentice for kids, and I think it is a step in the right direction. But those taking part really need to be given more freedom to express themselves. This first series was not very empowering, with most aspects kept under tight control by adults.
--- Closing item on last Friday's Newsround at 5pm:
Sonali: Finally try and make sure that you look out of your bedroom window this evening because things could look a bit brighter than usual. If it's not too cloudy we should be able to see the biggest and brightest full moon for 15 years. You might already know that the moon goes right round the earth every month, but not in a perfect circle. So tonight it's going to be closer to us than it has been in years. Look at the difference. Scientists say it's going to look like the one on the right - 14% bigger and 30% brighter. It's called the old devil moon.
I've been unable to find references to this phenomenon being called the 'old devil moon' as Sonali called it, although terms used are the 'moon before Yule' and the 'long night moon.' I came across 'Old Devil Moon' as a song title, but does anyone have a citation for its use in the above context?
Like I said when this series began, it is rather like The Apprentice for kids, and I think it is a step in the right direction. But those taking part really need to be given more freedom to express themselves. This first series was not very empowering, with most aspects kept under tight control by adults.
Sonali: Finally try and make sure that you look out of your bedroom window this evening because things could look a bit brighter than usual. If it's not too cloudy we should be able to see the biggest and brightest full moon for 15 years. You might already know that the moon goes right round the earth every month, but not in a perfect circle. So tonight it's going to be closer to us than it has been in years. Look at the difference. Scientists say it's going to look like the one on the right - 14% bigger and 30% brighter. It's called the old devil moon.
I've been unable to find references to this phenomenon being called the 'old devil moon' as Sonali called it, although terms used are the 'moon before Yule' and the 'long night moon.' I came across 'Old Devil Moon' as a song title, but does anyone have a citation for its use in the above context?
Friday, December 12, 2008
I've heard back from Newsround about why the programme didn't cover Anti-bullying week (see blogs on 6 December & 23 November 2008):-
Newsround reports on bullying issues and related news stories when they arise and when they merit it. Bullying is important to Newsround's audience, but as with many other topics programme makers don't always feel obliged to cover a subject just because it has a special week attached to it. After due consideration the Newsround team decided not to focus on anti-bullying week this year. But the programme will always report on how bullying affects viewers when the right stories come up.
Another bullying related issue which I've raised with the BBC's Director of Vision is that of CBBC's Bullying message board (see blog 29 July 2008 & 16 September 2008). The problem discussed in those blogs continues.
After an outage last week several other BBC children's message boards were closed down this week.
Newsround reports on bullying issues and related news stories when they arise and when they merit it. Bullying is important to Newsround's audience, but as with many other topics programme makers don't always feel obliged to cover a subject just because it has a special week attached to it. After due consideration the Newsround team decided not to focus on anti-bullying week this year. But the programme will always report on how bullying affects viewers when the right stories come up.
Another bullying related issue which I've raised with the BBC's Director of Vision is that of CBBC's Bullying message board (see blog 29 July 2008 & 16 September 2008). The problem discussed in those blogs continues.
After an outage last week several other BBC children's message boards were closed down this week.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Human Rights Day
Today is a special day for human rights, as it's the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. An example of how much things have improved for minorities could be seen from watching Blue Peter yesterday.
Helen Skelton said how much she enjoyed dancing as a child, and how she used to take part in all the shows in her local area. But one type she hadn't done before was wheelchair dancing. We saw Helen and 16 year old James Ireland practicing dance moves in England, before taking part and winning first prize at a top competition in Malta. The Malta Independent Online reported that the event, filmed by a BBC television crew, would give wheelchair dancing and Malta worldwide publicity.
Unfortunately Malta as well as many other countries have been less positive when it comes to recognition of LGBT rights.
A watershed for gay rights
Today is a special day for human rights, as it's the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. An example of how much things have improved for minorities could be seen from watching Blue Peter yesterday.
Helen Skelton said how much she enjoyed dancing as a child, and how she used to take part in all the shows in her local area. But one type she hadn't done before was wheelchair dancing. We saw Helen and 16 year old James Ireland practicing dance moves in England, before taking part and winning first prize at a top competition in Malta. The Malta Independent Online reported that the event, filmed by a BBC television crew, would give wheelchair dancing and Malta worldwide publicity.
Unfortunately Malta as well as many other countries have been less positive when it comes to recognition of LGBT rights.
A watershed for gay rights
Saturday, December 06, 2008
BBC children's TV has become quite predictable, especially in the area of diversity and inclusiveness. So I wasn't surprised when Newsround failed to cover this year's Anti-bullying week (see blog 23 November 2008). I'm hoping Newsround will get back to me and explain their reasoning, although to be honest it's looking very like BBC children's TV producers instinctively know they mustn't allow kids to be made aware of LGBT people.
This was also apparent on Thursday's edition of Election with Peter Tatchell as the guest mentor. Why the cynicism? Let's take a closer look at last Thursday's programme.
Shortly after the start we saw Angellica and the four surviving contestants, Hazel, Izzie, Jac and Quincy chatting in a London cafe. Someone dressed in a full body chicken outfit came along the street and held up a notice to the cafe window. It read "Chickens have rights too!!!" Next we saw the 'chicken' come in the cafe and hand out leaflets whilst calling out "chickens have rights."
So, no problem with covering issues to do with animal rights - and a good thing too. Angellica told the kids that their next task would be about the art of publicity stunts. Could they get strangers on the street to change their habits?
Angellica: And to help them is human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. He's no chicken when it comes to campaigning, and has stuck his neck on the line in over 3000 demonstrations.
That was Angellica's 11 second introduction to Peter Tatchell, during which we were shown stills from three campaigns in which Peter had participated - a demonstration for women's rights in Iraq, a campaign against Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, and one in favour of making the UK a republic. Not a single mention of the issue on which Peter has been outspoken for more than a quarter of a century - LGBT rights. But it's exactly what I expected. Radio Times and the electronic programme guide referred to him as "Green Party campaigner Peter Tatchell."
The irony of Election's 'chicken' wouldn't be lost on people in California.
This was also apparent on Thursday's edition of Election with Peter Tatchell as the guest mentor. Why the cynicism? Let's take a closer look at last Thursday's programme.
Shortly after the start we saw Angellica and the four surviving contestants, Hazel, Izzie, Jac and Quincy chatting in a London cafe. Someone dressed in a full body chicken outfit came along the street and held up a notice to the cafe window. It read "Chickens have rights too!!!" Next we saw the 'chicken' come in the cafe and hand out leaflets whilst calling out "chickens have rights."
So, no problem with covering issues to do with animal rights - and a good thing too. Angellica told the kids that their next task would be about the art of publicity stunts. Could they get strangers on the street to change their habits?
Angellica: And to help them is human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. He's no chicken when it comes to campaigning, and has stuck his neck on the line in over 3000 demonstrations.
That was Angellica's 11 second introduction to Peter Tatchell, during which we were shown stills from three campaigns in which Peter had participated - a demonstration for women's rights in Iraq, a campaign against Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, and one in favour of making the UK a republic. Not a single mention of the issue on which Peter has been outspoken for more than a quarter of a century - LGBT rights. But it's exactly what I expected. Radio Times and the electronic programme guide referred to him as "Green Party campaigner Peter Tatchell."
The irony of Election's 'chicken' wouldn't be lost on people in California.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Safeguarding Trust (continued)
Sir Michael Lyons was appointed to chair the BBC Trust in spring 2007. Sir Michael explained his understanding of the Trust's role to Andrew Marr: "Its first and foremost responsibility is to speak for the public for those people who pay their licence fee, and not to immediately defend actions taken by the BBC staff." (see blog 29 April 2007)
So Sir Michael didn't think his first duty is to immediately defend BBC staff. But that's not the impression he gave when giving evidence to the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 18 November 2008.
The BBC's Royal Charter makes it clear that the Trust and the Executive are to act independently, but despite this there's been no real difference between their positions on the Ross/Brand incident. During his evidence to the Committee Mark Thompson often seemed lost for words, and on more than one occasion Sir Michael Lyons butted in, including this telling exchange about 20 minutes into the Committee hearing:
Q99 Mr Evans: Don't you think they were both guilty, Mark, of gross misconduct, Ross and Brand?
Mr Thompson: Well I don't think I want to go any further than the public statements we've already made about all of the parties. I made it very clear that I thought that the behaviour of the on-air broadcasters was unacceptable in this case.
Q100 Mr Evans: You wouldn't go as far as gross misconduct, for what they did?
Mr Thompson: (hesitatingly) I've said that I believe that what was broadcast was utterly unacceptable, and I believe that the broadcasters Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, as we've said already, as I've said and I've made it very clear to Jonathan Ross, who I've spoken to personally about this, this was completely, completely untoward and unacceptable behaviour.
Q101 Mr Evans: If this had happened in any other walk of life they would've been sacked immediately. Why didn't you sack them, Mark? Show real leadership?
Sir Michael Lyons: Mr Evans, can I help you because we do want to be as helpful as possible, but I did say in my preface to this that we were not here to disclose information which had not yet been fully considered by the Trust and which will all be made public later. But let me just help you a little bit on this issue by reflecting one of the issues which the Trust has already received some information on, but has not yet finished its deliberations before you bandy around words like 'gross misconduct'. There can be no doubt at all that you should not expect performers to either use the language or insult people in the way they did on that programme. However, the BBC has a duty of care here in terms of allowing that material to be broadcast. The primary failing, and the failing that the Trust has focused on, primary failing, is not the antics of performers, it's the fact that that was allowed to go out over the airwaves. And we mustn't avoid that responsibility; that's the thing to focus on. Now, it will've been contributed to, and there are a number of things which we are seeking to explore, one of them being whether it is right to leave a young producer implanted in a company owned by one of the performers. That's one of the things the Trust is seeking to explore and we've made that exploration public. But, until we've finished this work I would just be careful about terms like 'gross misconduct' which have contractual implications.
Why was there so much reluctance to answer Nigel Evans's questions ....why were both Sir Michael and Mark Thompson doing everything possible to save Jonathan Ross from the inevitable consequence of his actions? Even going so far as to strain credulity and use the then impending Trust report on the incident as a shield. Saying that the 'primary failing is not the antics of performers' was attempting to lessen Ross's culpability, even though his egregious behaviour had been plain for all to see.
The Chairman and the Director-General acted like Tweedledum and Tweedledee in their interviews on the Ross/Brand incident, as they both attempted to transfer primary blame from Brand and Ross to backroom editorial staff and, in Thompson's case, to Radio 2's Controller. In fact there is significant disquiet about Ross within the BBC, one insider describing him as obnoxious, overpaid and unpleasant.
Earlier, on 31 October 2008, Sir Michael gave an interview to John Humphrys on Radio 4's Today programme. Although the primary focus of Humphrys' questions was on 'taste and decency,' the Trust's prevarication in dealing with Ross and Brand was also highlighted by Humphrys. Ofcom's announcement that they were to investigate the prank, a day in advance of the Trust's announcement, wasn't mentioned.
Sir Michael Lyons was appointed to chair the BBC Trust in spring 2007. Sir Michael explained his understanding of the Trust's role to Andrew Marr: "Its first and foremost responsibility is to speak for the public for those people who pay their licence fee, and not to immediately defend actions taken by the BBC staff." (see blog 29 April 2007)
So Sir Michael didn't think his first duty is to immediately defend BBC staff. But that's not the impression he gave when giving evidence to the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 18 November 2008.
The BBC's Royal Charter makes it clear that the Trust and the Executive are to act independently, but despite this there's been no real difference between their positions on the Ross/Brand incident. During his evidence to the Committee Mark Thompson often seemed lost for words, and on more than one occasion Sir Michael Lyons butted in, including this telling exchange about 20 minutes into the Committee hearing:
Q99 Mr Evans: Don't you think they were both guilty, Mark, of gross misconduct, Ross and Brand?
Mr Thompson: Well I don't think I want to go any further than the public statements we've already made about all of the parties. I made it very clear that I thought that the behaviour of the on-air broadcasters was unacceptable in this case.
Q100 Mr Evans: You wouldn't go as far as gross misconduct, for what they did?
Mr Thompson: (hesitatingly) I've said that I believe that what was broadcast was utterly unacceptable, and I believe that the broadcasters Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, as we've said already, as I've said and I've made it very clear to Jonathan Ross, who I've spoken to personally about this, this was completely, completely untoward and unacceptable behaviour.
Q101 Mr Evans: If this had happened in any other walk of life they would've been sacked immediately. Why didn't you sack them, Mark? Show real leadership?
Sir Michael Lyons: Mr Evans, can I help you because we do want to be as helpful as possible, but I did say in my preface to this that we were not here to disclose information which had not yet been fully considered by the Trust and which will all be made public later. But let me just help you a little bit on this issue by reflecting one of the issues which the Trust has already received some information on, but has not yet finished its deliberations before you bandy around words like 'gross misconduct'. There can be no doubt at all that you should not expect performers to either use the language or insult people in the way they did on that programme. However, the BBC has a duty of care here in terms of allowing that material to be broadcast. The primary failing, and the failing that the Trust has focused on, primary failing, is not the antics of performers, it's the fact that that was allowed to go out over the airwaves. And we mustn't avoid that responsibility; that's the thing to focus on. Now, it will've been contributed to, and there are a number of things which we are seeking to explore, one of them being whether it is right to leave a young producer implanted in a company owned by one of the performers. That's one of the things the Trust is seeking to explore and we've made that exploration public. But, until we've finished this work I would just be careful about terms like 'gross misconduct' which have contractual implications.
Why was there so much reluctance to answer Nigel Evans's questions ....why were both Sir Michael and Mark Thompson doing everything possible to save Jonathan Ross from the inevitable consequence of his actions? Even going so far as to strain credulity and use the then impending Trust report on the incident as a shield. Saying that the 'primary failing is not the antics of performers' was attempting to lessen Ross's culpability, even though his egregious behaviour had been plain for all to see.
The Chairman and the Director-General acted like Tweedledum and Tweedledee in their interviews on the Ross/Brand incident, as they both attempted to transfer primary blame from Brand and Ross to backroom editorial staff and, in Thompson's case, to Radio 2's Controller. In fact there is significant disquiet about Ross within the BBC, one insider describing him as obnoxious, overpaid and unpleasant.
Earlier, on 31 October 2008, Sir Michael gave an interview to John Humphrys on Radio 4's Today programme. Although the primary focus of Humphrys' questions was on 'taste and decency,' the Trust's prevarication in dealing with Ross and Brand was also highlighted by Humphrys. Ofcom's announcement that they were to investigate the prank, a day in advance of the Trust's announcement, wasn't mentioned.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sending the right messages
A month ago Ofsted published the results of a large study of children in England. Newsround reported on 28 October. Sonali said that 150,000 ten to fifteen year-old children were questioned, and that most feel happy, healthy and safe, but that the thing which stressed them out the most was exams. There was a more extensive report about the survey on Newsround's 5pm programme. Maddy said that almost 6 out of 10 kids dread exams, and many are also worried about what happens when they leave school. Maddy went on to say that body image was the next biggest concern, and that bullying is also a concern with only 1 out of 3 kids reckoning their school is doing the right things to help stop it.
Children's minister Beverley Hughes then answered kids' questions. The last question was from Carla who was worried that magazines depict skinny people. She asked if they could put some "bigger people" in them. In reply Ms Hughes said We don't edit those magazines, so actually we can't control the content of them very finely like that. But what we can do is send the right messages and I think that you're absolutely right - we need magazines, television, all kinds of media to represent how we all are. And we're not all skinny, so I support what you're saying.
A month ago Ofsted published the results of a large study of children in England. Newsround reported on 28 October. Sonali said that 150,000 ten to fifteen year-old children were questioned, and that most feel happy, healthy and safe, but that the thing which stressed them out the most was exams. There was a more extensive report about the survey on Newsround's 5pm programme. Maddy said that almost 6 out of 10 kids dread exams, and many are also worried about what happens when they leave school. Maddy went on to say that body image was the next biggest concern, and that bullying is also a concern with only 1 out of 3 kids reckoning their school is doing the right things to help stop it.
Children's minister Beverley Hughes then answered kids' questions. The last question was from Carla who was worried that magazines depict skinny people. She asked if they could put some "bigger people" in them. In reply Ms Hughes said We don't edit those magazines, so actually we can't control the content of them very finely like that. But what we can do is send the right messages and I think that you're absolutely right - we need magazines, television, all kinds of media to represent how we all are. And we're not all skinny, so I support what you're saying.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The BBC's editorial judgement has been in question recently.
Last week was Anti-bullying week. Here are the items covered between Tuesday and Friday on the main 5pm edition (for Monday's programme see blog on 18 November 2008)
Tuesday
1} Oil tanker hijacked by 'pirates' [1'56"]
2} Locust swarms in New South Wales Australia [0'11"]
3} Didier Drogba banned for three games [0'16"]
4} Welcome in Colchester for returning troops [0'10"]
5} Use of respect barriers on football grounds [2'14"]
6} Maradona in Scotland [1'53"]
Wednesday
1} John Sergeant quits Strictly Come Dancing [2'39"]
2} Home countries football news [0'13"]
3} Astronaut's toolkit floated off into space [0'11"]
4} Barack Obama plans for becoming President [1'57"]
5} Sisters with a rare heart condition (press pack report) [1'56"]
Thursday
1} Christmas shopping [1'53]
2} Theo Walcott has had surgery on shoulder [0'13"]
3} Charities unite for Congo appeal [0'16"]
4} Belgium - display of ice sculptures [0'15"]
5} School in Liverpool using text keypad gadgets [1'30"]
6} Top of the Pops Christmas specials [1'55"]
7} Archive details of plans for Dr Who [0'30"]
Lastly Ore read out emails about John Sergeant
Friday
1} Warning on safe use of deodorant sprays after boy dies [1'30"]
2} Arsenal captain criticises his team [0'12"]
3} Kids in N Ireland take 11+ for last time [0'12"]
4} Harry Potter - official trailer out now [0'15"]
5} Report on acting schools with answers to viewers' questions [2'40"]
6} Party to mark opening of hotel in Dubai [1'01"]
Those are just the 5pm Newsround programmes - but during the week Newsround is broadcast for more than 2 hours in total. The theme of anti-bullying week this year was Being Different, Belonging Together. But there wasn't so much as a 10 second report on any one of Newsround's 30 programmes from Monday to Friday. So this is another case where I would like to understand the reasons for the BBC's editorial judgement.
Last week was Anti-bullying week. Here are the items covered between Tuesday and Friday on the main 5pm edition (for Monday's programme see blog on 18 November 2008)
Tuesday
1} Oil tanker hijacked by 'pirates' [1'56"]
2} Locust swarms in New South Wales Australia [0'11"]
3} Didier Drogba banned for three games [0'16"]
4} Welcome in Colchester for returning troops [0'10"]
5} Use of respect barriers on football grounds [2'14"]
6} Maradona in Scotland [1'53"]
Wednesday
1} John Sergeant quits Strictly Come Dancing [2'39"]
2} Home countries football news [0'13"]
3} Astronaut's toolkit floated off into space [0'11"]
4} Barack Obama plans for becoming President [1'57"]
5} Sisters with a rare heart condition (press pack report) [1'56"]
Thursday
1} Christmas shopping [1'53]
2} Theo Walcott has had surgery on shoulder [0'13"]
3} Charities unite for Congo appeal [0'16"]
4} Belgium - display of ice sculptures [0'15"]
5} School in Liverpool using text keypad gadgets [1'30"]
6} Top of the Pops Christmas specials [1'55"]
7} Archive details of plans for Dr Who [0'30"]
Lastly Ore read out emails about John Sergeant
Friday
1} Warning on safe use of deodorant sprays after boy dies [1'30"]
2} Arsenal captain criticises his team [0'12"]
3} Kids in N Ireland take 11+ for last time [0'12"]
4} Harry Potter - official trailer out now [0'15"]
5} Report on acting schools with answers to viewers' questions [2'40"]
6} Party to mark opening of hotel in Dubai [1'01"]
Those are just the 5pm Newsround programmes - but during the week Newsround is broadcast for more than 2 hours in total. The theme of anti-bullying week this year was Being Different, Belonging Together. But there wasn't so much as a 10 second report on any one of Newsround's 30 programmes from Monday to Friday. So this is another case where I would like to understand the reasons for the BBC's editorial judgement.
Friday, November 21, 2008
I have written to Sir Michael Lyons today:-
Safeguarding Trust
I was perplexed to hear your apparent dismay today regarding management failings at the BBC over the Jonathan Ross/Russell Brand incident. The fact is that Jonathan Ross wasn't sacked for gross misconduct, and you yourself seemed against the notion in your recent evidence to a Parliamentary committee. Surely people at all levels should be prepared to take responsibility, and until this is the case we can expect little real improvement?
Unfortunately the Trust is guilty, to an extent, of hypocrisy. When I pointed out to the Director-General, in March this year with copies to yourself and to the Trust, that a very senior BBC children's TV manager had knowingly deceived the public, the Trust went on to praise BBC management in glowing terms. On 9 May 2008 it reported inter alia that:-
* BBC management and staff have been energetic about putting right the wrongs of the past
* The Trust's independent evaluation shows significant progress by the BBC in putting its house in order
and the Trust reached a conclusion that "Overall, and on behalf of licence fee payers whose interest and investment in the BBC we have a duty to represent – we are satisfied that the public can be justified in maintaining its confidence in its BBC."
As far as I am aware the person concerned is still in post and has not been censured for the deception, which occurred after the BBC Safeguarding Trust training course.
Safeguarding Trust
I was perplexed to hear your apparent dismay today regarding management failings at the BBC over the Jonathan Ross/Russell Brand incident. The fact is that Jonathan Ross wasn't sacked for gross misconduct, and you yourself seemed against the notion in your recent evidence to a Parliamentary committee. Surely people at all levels should be prepared to take responsibility, and until this is the case we can expect little real improvement?
Unfortunately the Trust is guilty, to an extent, of hypocrisy. When I pointed out to the Director-General, in March this year with copies to yourself and to the Trust, that a very senior BBC children's TV manager had knowingly deceived the public, the Trust went on to praise BBC management in glowing terms. On 9 May 2008 it reported inter alia that:-
* BBC management and staff have been energetic about putting right the wrongs of the past
* The Trust's independent evaluation shows significant progress by the BBC in putting its house in order
and the Trust reached a conclusion that "Overall, and on behalf of licence fee payers whose interest and investment in the BBC we have a duty to represent – we are satisfied that the public can be justified in maintaining its confidence in its BBC."
As far as I am aware the person concerned is still in post and has not been censured for the deception, which occurred after the BBC Safeguarding Trust training course.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Newsround at 5pm yesterday covered the following stories:
1} Fires in California [1'53"]
2} Steven Gerrard [0'14"]
3} Whale shark has been filmed doing a poo [0'15"]
4} What should happen to kids who break the law? [2'26"]
5} 4,345,027 dominoes world record [1'10"]
Finally Ore asked viewers for their experiences of acting agencies.
As mentioned previously (22 October 2008) I was waiting to hear from Mark Thompson about the demographers who say that religious belief is making a comeback. Last Wednesday someone from BBC Complaints replied on his behalf and said that, as the head of an organisation with overall editorial responsibility for hundreds of hours of output across BBC channels every week, Mr Thompson is not always able to personally respond to all correspondence addressed to him. Mr Thompson's speech, I was told, was supported by a range of sources, principally the World Christian Database.
1} Fires in California [1'53"]
2} Steven Gerrard [0'14"]
3} Whale shark has been filmed doing a poo [0'15"]
4} What should happen to kids who break the law? [2'26"]
5} 4,345,027 dominoes world record [1'10"]
Finally Ore asked viewers for their experiences of acting agencies.
As mentioned previously (22 October 2008) I was waiting to hear from Mark Thompson about the demographers who say that religious belief is making a comeback. Last Wednesday someone from BBC Complaints replied on his behalf and said that, as the head of an organisation with overall editorial responsibility for hundreds of hours of output across BBC channels every week, Mr Thompson is not always able to personally respond to all correspondence addressed to him. Mr Thompson's speech, I was told, was supported by a range of sources, principally the World Christian Database.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Being Different, Belonging Together
Last week Sonali went to a British school to interview black kids about their reaction to Barack Obama's victory in America. Newsround, however never took up my suggestion (blog 28 October 2008) of Prop-8 Packers, so we didn't get a chance to find out what Californian kids thought about the change to the state's constitution which removes gay people's right to marry.
If I was living there I think I would be pretty annoyed that it's even possible to put people's human rights to the ballot, and to have them removed by a majority vote of the electorate. I imagine that being a gay kid and hearing your parents say they supported Prop 8 would have caused quite a lot of hurt.
Here in Britain newspapers report that some parents have slammed a play that tells 11 year olds it's ok to be gay. No parents are named in the article, but I think that what I said about gay kids in California will still be true. Prejudice is wrong and hurts people.
Anti-bullying week starts on Monday and the theme this year is Being Different, Belonging Together. This year that message takes on a special significance. It's not just skin colour - differences aren't always so obvious, and prejudice is sometimes more than just skin deep.
Last week Sonali went to a British school to interview black kids about their reaction to Barack Obama's victory in America. Newsround, however never took up my suggestion (blog 28 October 2008) of Prop-8 Packers, so we didn't get a chance to find out what Californian kids thought about the change to the state's constitution which removes gay people's right to marry.
If I was living there I think I would be pretty annoyed that it's even possible to put people's human rights to the ballot, and to have them removed by a majority vote of the electorate. I imagine that being a gay kid and hearing your parents say they supported Prop 8 would have caused quite a lot of hurt.
Here in Britain newspapers report that some parents have slammed a play that tells 11 year olds it's ok to be gay. No parents are named in the article, but I think that what I said about gay kids in California will still be true. Prejudice is wrong and hurts people.
Anti-bullying week starts on Monday and the theme this year is Being Different, Belonging Together. This year that message takes on a special significance. It's not just skin colour - differences aren't always so obvious, and prejudice is sometimes more than just skin deep.
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