More on BBC reporting standards debate

It is not Mr Shepherd’s integrity that I question, but his judgement. I have recently come across on the Internet what appears to be a copy of his group’s submission to the BBC, detailing, in exhaustive and mostly one-sided fashion, their complaints regarding the reporting of events during April and May last year. Some fair criticisms are made regarding the BBC’s coverage, but one comment struck me as particularly revealing: the BBC was criticised for referring to Thaksin as “an ousted PM” instead of “a convicted criminal on the run”. Well, both descriptions are factually correct, and if Mr Shepherd was as committed to facts and truth as he claims, he might have taken the BBC to task for not using both statements. But no, it’s his version which must prevail.

I am not surprised that, so far, the BBC have given John Shepherd and his group the “cold shoulder”.

Robin Grant

Bangkok