One of the myths encouraged by the B8C is that of the friendly bobby' typified by Dixon of Dock Green. In • further article we will expose the role of the BBC in fostering racism and whitewashing police brutality.
As the managements of the television network attempt to keep intact television's special status of 'independence' (the last prop of its plausibility) television workers are beginning to discard their imputed roles as the lackeys of the State and to create solidarity amongst themselves in opposition. In the BBC a paper, known as "Burial" (previously known as "Urinal') has arisen in opposition to the BBC staff paper "Ariel". The editorial explains itself.
WHY BURIAL?
This paper grove out tee collective anger growing number of people . We, seeing the BBC beneficient, tolerant, and all-wise. We find it highly autrocratic and subtly repressive organisation. The Corporation's paternalism is a mask which cannot hide the fact that we are working in a bureaucracy.
The BBC is a vast factory. There are workers. There are bosses. Though we may try to kid ourselves, we all at one time or another either give orders or take them. The process is disguised, but there is a long chain of authority from the top down which makes lackeys of us all. And nobody is more of a lackey than the person who doesn't realize it.
We have virtually no control over our lives. our careers, or even the area of work with which we are most concerned.
And just as we have little say in the programmes we are involved in making, so the public have little say in what we produce in their name. At the top of the chain of command which we serve is not the public, but the Government, represented by the Board of Governors, their political servants.
There was no shortage of stories for Burial. There seems to be no department in the BBC that isn't becoming aware of the limitation of the assumptions handed down from above that shape the way we work. Cases of overt censorship self-censorship; of failure to consult; of mis-spending on prestige programmes and equipment; of underspending on people.
You may disagree with this analysis, or have another. If so, enter the argument. It is not the blood-sucking bureaucrats or their necrophiliac henchmen who are the BBC, but you and me. We have been buried too long. Send contributions (in complete contidence) to:
Box No. 89/50 "Time Out' 374, Grays Inn Rd. W.C. 1.
AND IRELAND
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Tor the BBC tromi the inhe, do not find it hiberal