A further reply from the BBC to my accusation of sexism
Dear Mrs Scribbles
First of all we're very sorry you received a response in this way. It's not good enough. We are investigating and will try to improve the way we handle responses to e-mails in the future as the result of this exchange. For the record we always try to answer an editorial complaint like this in as individual and proper way as possible, and generally we do.
As far as your comments about the report are concerned, I believe the item was of interest, and for some viewers the light-hearted treatment would have worked. However I also accept that it should have included an element to reflect some of the points made in your e-mail, and in particular those people who believe this is another sign of the growth of a legitimised sex industry.
In fact our post-programme debrief prompted a debate about this very issue. I'm sorry if it caused offence as a result. We will bear this in mind if similar subject matter becomes part of the agenda of Midlands Today in future.
I hope you'll continue to watch the programme.
Yours sincerely
D**** H*********
Head of Regional and Local Programming
BBC West Midlands
A much better response, I think you'll agree. I'm especially pleased to learn that this had already been a matter for debate in the post-prog debrief, without a member of the public having to make a complaint. My faith is restored.
The odd thing about this further reply though is that I never contacted the BBC complaining about the first one. My site stats however do show that after my first post on this I did receive visits from a couple of people from the British Broadcasting Corporation.
This is the power of the blog people. Beware.
And if you're reading Mr H******* I always watch Midlands Today - Nick Owen's droll delivery cannot be beaten.
12 comments:
In fact our post-programme debrief prompted a debate about this very issue.
Hmmm, if it's anything like the average male-dominated office then I doubt the debate was too enlightened...
But then that's probably just me being overly cynical.
BBC Monitoring have you in their sights, Scribbles! :D
This is also saves you having to write to D**** H********* because presumably he'll just check http://smalltownscribble.blogspot.com/ to see whether you were pleased or not.
Can I say that Nick Owen rocks too. The slightly blonde haggard woman who does it sometimes - I think that was BBC - isn't quite as good as old Nick.
I do miss living in the Midlands. Sometimes.
"the average male-dominated office"
are we back in the 70's again?
"the slightly blonde haggard women"
oh yes we are.
men in the Midlands are the least sexist in the whole country, some study once said.
Ah! Harsh. I meant, blonde slightly haggard woman anyway - and I meant nothing horrible by it! I could have mentioned that everyone in my flat thought Shefali Oza was fit, but it didn't occur to me because that would be objectifying women... which I hate... so...
I think she's got a better haircut now anyway. If you didn't know who I meant then I'll accept the label of being a crap and shallow man but if you did then I'm just saying what you thought anyway. So at least I'm more honest... :P
You called the woman haggard! I'll have nothing bad said about Kay on this blog.
Shefali cracks me up. She fluffs a line every single time.
I'll say I fancy Ashley Blake, because I do objectify men.
I have odd rules. I call Mr Scribbles a misogonist if he's critical of a woman's looks, and I encourage him to compliment other women. Now what kind of a sick wife does that?
What part of te Midlands did you spend time in again? Leamington something?
Now what kind of a sick wife does that?
No comment... :)
Indeed Royal Leamington Spa was my abode of choice while I dwelt in the Midlands. The town is nice but our flat was a bit shit compared to the travel lodge-like accomodation we had in first year (cleaners - everyday! You've no idea how many times I had to ask Tracey to come back later because of a stinking hangover...)
Iain decided he was too bourgeois to live near a town centre and lived about half an hour away in Whitnash. Weirdo.
And I apologise for describing Kay as 'slightly haggard'. She's a good journalist and better person... or something.
I found a nicer flat further away for the same money, it is true. Matt's house was a steaming cesspit of testosterone. Seen as he is being nasty, I will tell you about the time where the aforementioned Tracey had to issue him with a 'dirt payment' fine. I also don't see why Matt thinks any of your readers will give a damn about our Midlands adventures, but never mind..
are you two always like this?
My mother used to have a job cleaning the university accomodation of University of Newcastle students.
I fucking hate students (just to start a debate and that).
I once chatted to a woman who'd spent most of her life cleaning the halls at some uni. She said that in the 60s and 70s they'd all been lovely, addressing her by name and having conversations with her. But she said it had all changed and that she was now treated as a skivvy.
This was the early 90s. I blame Thatcherism.
Students are often wankers. I tried not to be too much of a wanker; Warwick had its own Wacky Warwick brigade of rich kids who bought their clothes at charity shops (what a gas!) and thought being a lazy twat was so chic. I liked reading books I didn't have to and crowbarring Althusserian reconceptions of base and superstructure, and alienation into essays about the Western. That did make me somewhat of a wanker but at least I wasn't bothering anyone else.
And Ian, what as that? Flat? I think you mean a nice little semi, don't you?
And, yeah, we are like this most of the time. We might have intimacy issues.
All the students at my uni were Thatcherite scum, although they were so politically ignorant I doubt they'd know who Thatcher was.
Post a Comment