Annette Dittert
@annettedittert.bsky.social
Senior Correspondent ARD German TV London • previously Warsaw/New York • Loving London • Living on a Narrowboat • Also writing for Prospect/Blaetter and others.
Pinned
Reposted by Annette Dittert
I do not understand the Labour government's reticence over defending the BBC and social media regulation. Their long-term survival basically depends on it. Their cowardice in the face of it may be the single thing they are most remembered for.
on.ft.com/3JVxC1Z via @FT
on.ft.com/3JVxC1Z via @FT
BBC faces ‘existential’ threat after exit of top executives
Broadcaster’s deepest crisis in recent history comes amid fresh questions over its future role in British society
on.ft.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:35 AM
I do not understand the Labour government's reticence over defending the BBC and social media regulation. Their long-term survival basically depends on it. Their cowardice in the face of it may be the single thing they are most remembered for.
on.ft.com/3JVxC1Z via @FT
on.ft.com/3JVxC1Z via @FT
1945 the British made sure that Germanys public broadcasting system would never be taken over by an authoritarian leader again by creating a complicated federal system.
They didn’t see to that at home which has left the BBC vulnerable.
This needs to change now.
They didn’t see to that at home which has left the BBC vulnerable.
This needs to change now.
Well, this is quite a serious allegation. I do hope the BBC shows true impartiality and investigate whether or not some of its Board members are systemically biased. www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC board member with Tory links ‘led charge’ in systemic bias claims, say insiders
Sources say Robbie Gibb amplified criticisms of Trump, Gaza and trans rights coverage, and had ‘a lot of oxygen in the room’
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:40 AM
1945 the British made sure that Germanys public broadcasting system would never be taken over by an authoritarian leader again by creating a complicated federal system.
They didn’t see to that at home which has left the BBC vulnerable.
This needs to change now.
They didn’t see to that at home which has left the BBC vulnerable.
This needs to change now.
Reposted by Annette Dittert
If you missed our @therestpolitics.bsky.social LIVE on the BBC yesterday, here it is www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgk8...
BBC Boss Resigns: What's Next?
YouTube video by The Rest Is Politics
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:41 AM
If you missed our @therestpolitics.bsky.social LIVE on the BBC yesterday, here it is www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgk8...
Reposted by Annette Dittert
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
Reposted by Annette Dittert
This is a genuinely intolerable reality…
November 10, 2025 at 11:01 PM
This is a genuinely intolerable reality…
Reposted by Annette Dittert
“When I was [at the BBC], at the height of Boris Johnson’s strength, that fear was ubiquitous. Scripts were sometimes written with a view not solely to their impartiality or truth, but the management of perception of impartiality from one side of the spectrum.“ @lewisgoodall.com
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
goodallandgoodluck.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:21 PM
“When I was [at the BBC], at the height of Boris Johnson’s strength, that fear was ubiquitous. Scripts were sometimes written with a view not solely to their impartiality or truth, but the management of perception of impartiality from one side of the spectrum.“ @lewisgoodall.com
Reposted by Annette Dittert
Raging. How dare Donald Trump come for the BBC. If you feel similarly, here's the petition: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
Save Our BBC
I've just signed the petition calling on the government to stop their attack on our BBC. We need an independent national broadcaster we can trust. Please sign and share today.
you.38degrees.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Raging. How dare Donald Trump come for the BBC. If you feel similarly, here's the petition: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
"This country’s taste for self-harm seemed to reach its zenith with the Brexit referendum, but maybe not." A good wrap up by @pollytoynbee.bsky.social 👇
If you care about the BBC, stand up and defend it: this could be the beginning of the end | Polly Toynbee
Replacing the TV licence with a means-tested alternative may help disarm the right of one of its most effective weapons, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:39 PM
"This country’s taste for self-harm seemed to reach its zenith with the Brexit referendum, but maybe not." A good wrap up by @pollytoynbee.bsky.social 👇
Reposted by Annette Dittert
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
November 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
Reposted by Annette Dittert
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
November 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
Reposted by Annette Dittert
Incredible that Robbie Gibb - most influential person on BBC board by many accounts and from journalists I speak in BBC - was involved in setting up GB News.
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Enforced veganism’: Ofcom lets GB News flout accuracy rules, say climate campaigners
Exclusive: Regulator has received 1,221 complaints about UK broadcasters since 2020 but found no breaches of its code
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Incredible that Robbie Gibb - most influential person on BBC board by many accounts and from journalists I speak in BBC - was involved in setting up GB News.
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
A very useful analysis that give the bigger picture.
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The BBC is in a fight for its survival
The BBC only has itself to blame for its handling of a serious error in a documentary on Trump. But its demise—as the US media landscape shows—would l...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:53 AM
A very useful analysis that give the bigger picture.
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Always worth a listen..👇 @rostaylor.bsky.social
🚨NEW EPISODE🚨 Coup at the BBC – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor. The BBC’s Director General and head of news are forced to resign in a confected row about Donald Trump’s incendiary Jan 6 speech. @nndroid.bsky.social joins @rostaylor.bsky.social to discuss 👉 linktr.ee/bunker_pod
#uknews #Trump
#uknews #Trump
November 10, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Always worth a listen..👇 @rostaylor.bsky.social
Reposted by Annette Dittert
Written before the BBC resignations but this by @arusbridger.bsky.social is really worth reading. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC has bigger impartiality problems than its coverage of Trump
It is the BBC’s entire governance structure–rather than individual stories–that should cause most concern
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Written before the BBC resignations but this by @arusbridger.bsky.social is really worth reading. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Reposted by Annette Dittert
Martin Wolf says that while Labour promised to be revolutionary, it's been reactionary on employment, housing and education. It's an important debate...- on.ft.com/47wFwYL via @financialtimes.com
The disturbing victory of Old Labour over New Labour
In education, labour and housing we risk going back towards what we know will not work
on.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Martin Wolf says that while Labour promised to be revolutionary, it's been reactionary on employment, housing and education. It's an important debate...- on.ft.com/47wFwYL via @financialtimes.com
Reposted by Annette Dittert
Robbie Gibb who cancelled a BBC investigation into Farage's Leave dot EU campaign shortly before the EU Ref
Arron Banks thanked him for it
"Robbie Gibb is being quite helpful and says he’s trying to hose it down."
- @channel4news.bsky.social in 2019
Arron Banks thanked him for it
"Robbie Gibb is being quite helpful and says he’s trying to hose it down."
- @channel4news.bsky.social in 2019
Revealed: Brexit group covered up its targeting of right-wing extremists
Brexit-backer Arron Banks repeatedly denied that Leave.EU appealed to National Front supporters - in a bid to get the BBC to drop an investigation
www.channel4.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Robbie Gibb who cancelled a BBC investigation into Farage's Leave dot EU campaign shortly before the EU Ref
Arron Banks thanked him for it
"Robbie Gibb is being quite helpful and says he’s trying to hose it down."
- @channel4news.bsky.social in 2019
Arron Banks thanked him for it
"Robbie Gibb is being quite helpful and says he’s trying to hose it down."
- @channel4news.bsky.social in 2019
Reposted by Annette Dittert
We are so far through the looking glass that the man who tried to overthrow an election becomes president, the people who attacked the Capitol are turned into martyrs, & it's the BBC that gets punished - cheered on by the worst news outlets in the UK & the two most dishonest politicians of our age.
It’s not at all clear to me how the BBC can do any kind of serious journalism if its top two bosses can be forced to quit over such an obviously confected scandal. There is no substantive error here. How can the BBC report on Trump, or Farage, or anyone else, in these circumstances?
November 9, 2025 at 9:08 PM
We are so far through the looking glass that the man who tried to overthrow an election becomes president, the people who attacked the Capitol are turned into martyrs, & it's the BBC that gets punished - cheered on by the worst news outlets in the UK & the two most dishonest politicians of our age.
Reposted by Annette Dittert
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
November 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Reposted by Annette Dittert
The BBC should serve as an example to all that there is nothing you can give the far rabid right that will satisfy it.
It has simpered, pandered, soft-balled and fluff-jobbed, both-sidesed and debased itself into being a platform for liars to look down the camera and lie on, & it still gets fucked.
It has simpered, pandered, soft-balled and fluff-jobbed, both-sidesed and debased itself into being a platform for liars to look down the camera and lie on, & it still gets fucked.
November 9, 2025 at 7:12 PM
The BBC should serve as an example to all that there is nothing you can give the far rabid right that will satisfy it.
It has simpered, pandered, soft-balled and fluff-jobbed, both-sidesed and debased itself into being a platform for liars to look down the camera and lie on, & it still gets fucked.
It has simpered, pandered, soft-balled and fluff-jobbed, both-sidesed and debased itself into being a platform for liars to look down the camera and lie on, & it still gets fucked.
On a completely different note: Something to calm us all down again. Maybe ;) 👇
Peak Everything? My latest on whether we have passed peak Trump, peak stocks, peak populism and peak Farage, plus how to fight back against ethno-nationalists
Peak Everything
Thoughts on whether we have passed peak Trump, peak stocks, peak populism and peak Farage plus how to fight back against the ethno-nationalists
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:19 PM
On a completely different note: Something to calm us all down again. Maybe ;) 👇
Reposted by Annette Dittert
It’s ironic but predictable that the BBC duo -who tried so hard to please the right wing papers-are removed by the right wing papers.
November 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
It’s ironic but predictable that the BBC duo -who tried so hard to please the right wing papers-are removed by the right wing papers.
Reposted by Annette Dittert
This is absolutely nuts
Trump did incite the January 6 riot. Splicing a video to make that point is shoddy editorial but hardly a resignation event
When BBC is needed more than ever, Telegraph/Boris Johnson running the show
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
Trump did incite the January 6 riot. Splicing a video to make that point is shoddy editorial but hardly a resignation event
When BBC is needed more than ever, Telegraph/Boris Johnson running the show
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
BBC director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resign over Trump documentary edit
Davie says
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 6:12 PM
This is absolutely nuts
Trump did incite the January 6 riot. Splicing a video to make that point is shoddy editorial but hardly a resignation event
When BBC is needed more than ever, Telegraph/Boris Johnson running the show
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
Trump did incite the January 6 riot. Splicing a video to make that point is shoddy editorial but hardly a resignation event
When BBC is needed more than ever, Telegraph/Boris Johnson running the show
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
Reposted by Annette Dittert
This is the most abysmal, pathetic thing. The BBC head resigning because the corporation is not supine *enough* to the far-right.
🔴 Breaking I Davie faced mounting criticism that a Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by Donald Trump
➡️ Read more: trib.al/I0iw7aP
➡️ Read more: trib.al/I0iw7aP
November 9, 2025 at 6:16 PM
This is the most abysmal, pathetic thing. The BBC head resigning because the corporation is not supine *enough* to the far-right.
Reposted by Annette Dittert
We should defend the values and effort at accuracy of the BBC in a Trumpian world of wilful inaccuracy and hypocrisy, but this seems on the face of it to be an excessive response to a politically motivated attack
November 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
We should defend the values and effort at accuracy of the BBC in a Trumpian world of wilful inaccuracy and hypocrisy, but this seems on the face of it to be an excessive response to a politically motivated attack