Maxwell Modell
@maxwellmodell.bsky.social
Research Associate at Cardiff University School of Journalism, Media and Culture studying impartiality in UK political news.
Other research interests include all things podcasts, political interviews and broadcast talk
He/Him
Other research interests include all things podcasts, political interviews and broadcast talk
He/Him
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
Since joining the impartiality project, I’ve been been diving into debates on impartiality (trying to catch up with @stephencushion.bsky.social, @mattwalshjourno.bsky.social & @maxwellmodell.bsky.social!).
Nick Bradshaw’s new IDA piece is a must-read.
🔗 tinyurl.com/ycxkbu8s
🧵👇
#impartiality #BBC
Nick Bradshaw’s new IDA piece is a must-read.
🔗 tinyurl.com/ycxkbu8s
🧵👇
#impartiality #BBC
The Explainer: What Is British Impartiality (And Can It Survive)?
How the BBC elevated impartiality to its “very essence” amid documentary cancellations and regulatory pressures, and whether this embattled value can survive partisan challenges
tinyurl.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Since joining the impartiality project, I’ve been been diving into debates on impartiality (trying to catch up with @stephencushion.bsky.social, @mattwalshjourno.bsky.social & @maxwellmodell.bsky.social!).
Nick Bradshaw’s new IDA piece is a must-read.
🔗 tinyurl.com/ycxkbu8s
🧵👇
#impartiality #BBC
Nick Bradshaw’s new IDA piece is a must-read.
🔗 tinyurl.com/ycxkbu8s
🧵👇
#impartiality #BBC
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
🔴The BBC’s Attempts to Appease the ‘Right-Wing Coup’ Against It Are Now Seeding Its Own Destruction
By attempting to appease the forces seeking to destroy them, the BBC has helped trigger a crisis that now threatens its very future, argues @adambienkov.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/10/t...
By attempting to appease the forces seeking to destroy them, the BBC has helped trigger a crisis that now threatens its very future, argues @adambienkov.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/10/t...
The BBC’s Attempts to Appease the 'Right-Wing Coup' Against It Are Now Seeding Its Own Destruction
By attempting to appease those forces seeking to destroy them, the BBC has helped trigger a crisis that now threatens its very future, argues Adam Bienkov
bylinetimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:38 PM
🔴The BBC’s Attempts to Appease the ‘Right-Wing Coup’ Against It Are Now Seeding Its Own Destruction
By attempting to appease the forces seeking to destroy them, the BBC has helped trigger a crisis that now threatens its very future, argues @adambienkov.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/10/t...
By attempting to appease the forces seeking to destroy them, the BBC has helped trigger a crisis that now threatens its very future, argues @adambienkov.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/10/t...
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
It’s been one of the most turbulent weeks in British broadcasting.
This article from @theguardian.com provides a detailed timeline of what happened over the past week: tinyurl.com/3xu8tmaf
🧵👇
#impartiality #impartialityproject #BBC #bias #journalism #journalismstudies #media #mediastudies
This article from @theguardian.com provides a detailed timeline of what happened over the past week: tinyurl.com/3xu8tmaf
🧵👇
#impartiality #impartialityproject #BBC #bias #journalism #journalismstudies #media #mediastudies
BBC bias row: how a week of hostile headlines from rightwing media led to resignations
Rightwing media have published a series of attacks on the corporation after a memo from a former BBC adviser critical of its output
tinyurl.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:43 AM
It’s been one of the most turbulent weeks in British broadcasting.
This article from @theguardian.com provides a detailed timeline of what happened over the past week: tinyurl.com/3xu8tmaf
🧵👇
#impartiality #impartialityproject #BBC #bias #journalism #journalismstudies #media #mediastudies
This article from @theguardian.com provides a detailed timeline of what happened over the past week: tinyurl.com/3xu8tmaf
🧵👇
#impartiality #impartialityproject #BBC #bias #journalism #journalismstudies #media #mediastudies
The shock resignations of the Director General and the CEO of the BBC News are the culmination of a series of controversies over recent years (Gary Lineker, Gaza, Bob Vylan, and now the Trump documentary edit).
Here is my list of academic literature to help unpack this extraordinary moment 👇
Here is my list of academic literature to help unpack this extraordinary moment 👇
November 10, 2025 at 10:36 AM
The shock resignations of the Director General and the CEO of the BBC News are the culmination of a series of controversies over recent years (Gary Lineker, Gaza, Bob Vylan, and now the Trump documentary edit).
Here is my list of academic literature to help unpack this extraordinary moment 👇
Here is my list of academic literature to help unpack this extraordinary moment 👇
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
An extraordinary moment for the BBC as Tim Davie and head of BBC News are out.
So much to say on this - not least that BBC folk had been hoping for a pushback on the idea of general bias at the BBC.
But first, a story of the shock departure of two huge figures:
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
So much to say on this - not least that BBC folk had been hoping for a pushback on the idea of general bias at the BBC.
But first, a story of the shock departure of two huge figures:
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Tim Davie resigns as BBC director general after accusations of ‘serious and systemic’ bias in coverage
Davie says departure is ‘my own decision’, while head of news also quits with BBC preparing to apologise for editing of a Trump speech
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:40 PM
An extraordinary moment for the BBC as Tim Davie and head of BBC News are out.
So much to say on this - not least that BBC folk had been hoping for a pushback on the idea of general bias at the BBC.
But first, a story of the shock departure of two huge figures:
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
So much to say on this - not least that BBC folk had been hoping for a pushback on the idea of general bias at the BBC.
But first, a story of the shock departure of two huge figures:
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
The BBC’s in a mess, but it’s not the mess you think 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 7, 2025 at 2:47 PM
The BBC’s in a mess, but it’s not the mess you think www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Great write-up of our latest Caerphilly by-election report by Martin Shipton and Nation Cymru
UK-wide broadcasters framed the coverage of the Caerphilly by-election result not around Plaid Cymru’s victory but the implications for the Labour Party and Reform UK, according to research carried out at Cardiff University ✍️Martin Shipton nation.cymru/news/plaid-c...
Plaid Cymru's Caerphilly victory overshadowed by UK broadcasters' obsession with Reform UK and Labour
Martin Shipton UK-wide broadcasters framed the coverage of the Caerphilly by-election result not around Plaid Cymru’s victory but the implications for the Labour Party and Reform UK, according to rese...
nation.cymru
November 7, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Great write-up of our latest Caerphilly by-election report by Martin Shipton and Nation Cymru
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
New impartiality study: Contrasting media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election in Wales with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? Thread 1/10 www.enhancingimpartiality.com/blog/caerphi...
Contrasting media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election in Wales with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? — Researching the impartiality of political news
In UK-wide media, the Caerphilly by-election result was framed around Reform UK’s defeat, the terminal decline of Labour in Wales, and the implications for Keir Starmer’s UK government in Westminster....
www.enhancingimpartiality.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:04 PM
New impartiality study: Contrasting media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election in Wales with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? Thread 1/10 www.enhancingimpartiality.com/blog/caerphi...
UK media framed the Caerphilly by-election result around Reform's defeat, terminal decline for Labour and implications for Starmer's government.
Victors Plaid Cymru played second fiddle.
Welsh media gave Plaid Cymru and the immediate Welsh context greater prominence 🏴
Full story below 👇
Victors Plaid Cymru played second fiddle.
Welsh media gave Plaid Cymru and the immediate Welsh context greater prominence 🏴
Full story below 👇
A new blog post from the impartiality project at @cujournmedcul.bsky.social, analyses how BBC Wales & ITV Wales covered the Caerphilly by-election across TV, online & social media.
🔗 tinyurl.com/yc46mcpw
🧵👇
#impartiality #impartialityproject #journalism #Caerphilly #Caerphillybyelection
🔗 tinyurl.com/yc46mcpw
🧵👇
#impartiality #impartialityproject #journalism #Caerphilly #Caerphillybyelection
Contrasting media coverage in Wales of the Caerphilly by-election with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? — Researching the impartiality of political news
In UK-wide media, the Caerphilly by-election result was framed around Reform UK’s defeat, the terminal decline of Labour in Wales, and the implications for Keir Starmer’s UK government in Westminster....
www.enhancingimpartiality.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:17 PM
UK media framed the Caerphilly by-election result around Reform's defeat, terminal decline for Labour and implications for Starmer's government.
Victors Plaid Cymru played second fiddle.
Welsh media gave Plaid Cymru and the immediate Welsh context greater prominence 🏴
Full story below 👇
Victors Plaid Cymru played second fiddle.
Welsh media gave Plaid Cymru and the immediate Welsh context greater prominence 🏴
Full story below 👇
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
How Sky News investigated X's algorithm for political bias
How Sky News investigated X's algorithm for political bias
A Sky News investigation sought to track the balance of political conversation on X, and assess whether the social media platform's algorithm amplifies right-wing and extreme content to users in the UK.
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:08 AM
How Sky News investigated X's algorithm for political bias
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
Why is the BBC calling Zohran Mamdani "radical left"? A fair description or an echo of Donald Trump's language?
open.substack.com/pub/mattwals...
open.substack.com/pub/mattwals...
Why is the BBC calling Mamdani radical left?
Accurate and impartial or echoing Trump's language?
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Why is the BBC calling Zohran Mamdani "radical left"? A fair description or an echo of Donald Trump's language?
open.substack.com/pub/mattwals...
open.substack.com/pub/mattwals...
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
Surprised that BBC R4 is using the tag radical left to describe Mamdani. Sarah Smith used it yesterday in a voicer at 8am, the newsreader did today in the same bulletin. Surely echoes Trump’s language.
November 5, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Surprised that BBC R4 is using the tag radical left to describe Mamdani. Sarah Smith used it yesterday in a voicer at 8am, the newsreader did today in the same bulletin. Surely echoes Trump’s language.
Thoughtful and insightful reflection from the Caerphilly Observer's Richard Gurner on his experience covering the by-election. A reminder of the importance of strong local media and the danger of political reporting becoming personalised and individual journalists targeted.
tinyurl.com/3m4v576v
tinyurl.com/3m4v576v
After the by-election, a chance to reflect on what politics has become
Richard Gurner, editor and publisher of Caerphilly Observer, looks back at the recent Senedd by-election campaign.
caerphilly.observer
November 4, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Thoughtful and insightful reflection from the Caerphilly Observer's Richard Gurner on his experience covering the by-election. A reminder of the importance of strong local media and the danger of political reporting becoming personalised and individual journalists targeted.
tinyurl.com/3m4v576v
tinyurl.com/3m4v576v
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
Interesting 🧐
BBC just released their updated AI transparency labels. They have devised a simple, neutral shape (a hexagon) which is derived from the BBC blocks.
The particular disclosure label is being trialled in BBC Sport live 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
BBC just released their updated AI transparency labels. They have devised a simple, neutral shape (a hexagon) which is derived from the BBC blocks.
The particular disclosure label is being trialled in BBC Sport live 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
November 4, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Interesting 🧐
BBC just released their updated AI transparency labels. They have devised a simple, neutral shape (a hexagon) which is derived from the BBC blocks.
The particular disclosure label is being trialled in BBC Sport live 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
BBC just released their updated AI transparency labels. They have devised a simple, neutral shape (a hexagon) which is derived from the BBC blocks.
The particular disclosure label is being trialled in BBC Sport live 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
The Trump edit in the BBC doc is bad. It links two parts of the speech in a way that is misleading. A basic journalistic error. But it’s a few seconds of archive 34 minutes into an hour long doc broadcast years after Jan 6. It doesn’t invalidate the BBC’s reporting of the day or its consequences.
November 4, 2025 at 5:46 PM
The Trump edit in the BBC doc is bad. It links two parts of the speech in a way that is misleading. A basic journalistic error. But it’s a few seconds of archive 34 minutes into an hour long doc broadcast years after Jan 6. It doesn’t invalidate the BBC’s reporting of the day or its consequences.
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
Ofcom has ruled TalkTV breached its impartiality rules after host Kevin O’Sullivan claimed the UK Government had “cancelled” local elections out of fear of Reform UK’s rise in the polls.
🔗 tinyurl.com/u55jmwbp
TLDR 👇
#impartialityproject #politicalnews #politicaldiscourse #Ofcom #impartality
🔗 tinyurl.com/u55jmwbp
TLDR 👇
#impartialityproject #politicalnews #politicaldiscourse #Ofcom #impartality
TalkTV breached impartiality rules with allegations about cancelled local elections, Ofcom finds
Claim that elections were cancelled because ministers were ‘terrified of Reform’ given rare rebuke by regulator
tinyurl.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Ofcom has ruled TalkTV breached its impartiality rules after host Kevin O’Sullivan claimed the UK Government had “cancelled” local elections out of fear of Reform UK’s rise in the polls.
🔗 tinyurl.com/u55jmwbp
TLDR 👇
#impartialityproject #politicalnews #politicaldiscourse #Ofcom #impartality
🔗 tinyurl.com/u55jmwbp
TLDR 👇
#impartialityproject #politicalnews #politicaldiscourse #Ofcom #impartality
Today on Newscast Kemi Badenoch discussed her love of the Marvel, comparing her leadership to a superhero origin story.
Kemi is not the first Tory leader to do this. Rishi Sunak also presented himself as a popular nerd, talking about Star War.
I wrote about this in Journalism
tinyurl.com/49krntzr
Kemi is not the first Tory leader to do this. Rishi Sunak also presented himself as a popular nerd, talking about Star War.
I wrote about this in Journalism
tinyurl.com/49krntzr
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
tinyurl.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Today on Newscast Kemi Badenoch discussed her love of the Marvel, comparing her leadership to a superhero origin story.
Kemi is not the first Tory leader to do this. Rishi Sunak also presented himself as a popular nerd, talking about Star War.
I wrote about this in Journalism
tinyurl.com/49krntzr
Kemi is not the first Tory leader to do this. Rishi Sunak also presented himself as a popular nerd, talking about Star War.
I wrote about this in Journalism
tinyurl.com/49krntzr
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
Not at all surprised by this. Most of it appears to be rubbish and although I've tried training it to not surfce crap, it continues to do so.
pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/go...
pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/go...
Google promotes fake content to millions on Discover news platform
Fraudulent sites with no history promoted as trusted publishers to millions by Google.
pressgazette.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Not at all surprised by this. Most of it appears to be rubbish and although I've tried training it to not surfce crap, it continues to do so.
pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/go...
pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/go...
In Chris Mason’s report on the Caerphilly by-election result, Plaid Cymru is the fourth party mentioned, despite winning the seat comfortably. Nigel Farage is named and pictured. Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth is noticeably absent.
tinyurl.com/22c7cs5c
tinyurl.com/22c7cs5c
Chris Mason: Extraordinary Caerphilly by-election humbles Westminster's big beasts
Plaid Cymru win 47% of the vote in a record turnout, while Labour and the Tories manage just 13% between them.
tinyurl.com
October 24, 2025 at 10:45 AM
In Chris Mason’s report on the Caerphilly by-election result, Plaid Cymru is the fourth party mentioned, despite winning the seat comfortably. Nigel Farage is named and pictured. Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth is noticeably absent.
tinyurl.com/22c7cs5c
tinyurl.com/22c7cs5c
The Caerphilly by-election is yet another reminder that polls are not the be-all and end-all. Reform UK led in polls, but Plaid Cymru won comfortably. Broadcasters should remember polls are just one indicator of support. And when it comes time to vote, the outcome is often profoundly different.
October 24, 2025 at 10:15 AM
The Caerphilly by-election is yet another reminder that polls are not the be-all and end-all. Reform UK led in polls, but Plaid Cymru won comfortably. Broadcasters should remember polls are just one indicator of support. And when it comes time to vote, the outcome is often profoundly different.
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
If anyone wants to hear me talk about the impartiality of broadcasters, check out Roger Bolton’s latest Beeb watch podcast 👇
I discuss the latest findings of our @cujournmedcul.bsky.social AHRC project with @mattwalshjourno.bsky.social @perkinskeighley.bsky.social @maxwellmodell.bsky.social
I discuss the latest findings of our @cujournmedcul.bsky.social AHRC project with @mattwalshjourno.bsky.social @perkinskeighley.bsky.social @maxwellmodell.bsky.social
Ofcom keeps the rules the same — but the game has changed
Prof @stephencushion.bsky.social on Ofcom’s decision & what it means for impartial broadcasting. Are we heading for more opinion-led TV and radio?
🎧 Full episode podfollow.com/beebwatch
#Ofcom #BBC #Impartiality #Media #BeebWatchPodcast
Prof @stephencushion.bsky.social on Ofcom’s decision & what it means for impartial broadcasting. Are we heading for more opinion-led TV and radio?
🎧 Full episode podfollow.com/beebwatch
#Ofcom #BBC #Impartiality #Media #BeebWatchPodcast
October 23, 2025 at 10:31 AM
If anyone wants to hear me talk about the impartiality of broadcasters, check out Roger Bolton’s latest Beeb watch podcast 👇
I discuss the latest findings of our @cujournmedcul.bsky.social AHRC project with @mattwalshjourno.bsky.social @perkinskeighley.bsky.social @maxwellmodell.bsky.social
I discuss the latest findings of our @cujournmedcul.bsky.social AHRC project with @mattwalshjourno.bsky.social @perkinskeighley.bsky.social @maxwellmodell.bsky.social
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
New research by Dr Robert Jones (Cardiff University) & Dr Gregory Davies (University of Liverpool) reveals troubling accounts from Welsh-speaking inmates at Berwyn — Wales’ largest prison — who describe “outright hostility” to the Welsh language.
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
TLDR 👇
#langsky
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
TLDR 👇
#langsky
HMP Berwyn: Welsh-speaking prisoners 'told to speak English' in prison
Ex-inmates say Welsh speakers were made to use English at Wales' biggest prison.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 2:37 PM
New research by Dr Robert Jones (Cardiff University) & Dr Gregory Davies (University of Liverpool) reveals troubling accounts from Welsh-speaking inmates at Berwyn — Wales’ largest prison — who describe “outright hostility” to the Welsh language.
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
TLDR 👇
#langsky
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
TLDR 👇
#langsky
We've updated our analysis of media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election to go in-depth on the final week of campaigning.
Including an analysis of Chris Mason's BBC News at Ten report which gave Reform UK's candidate twice the airtime of Labour's or Plaid Cymru's.
tinyurl.com/4kw6m5a6
Including an analysis of Chris Mason's BBC News at Ten report which gave Reform UK's candidate twice the airtime of Labour's or Plaid Cymru's.
tinyurl.com/4kw6m5a6
How broadcasters covered the final week of the Caerphilly by-election — Researching the impartiality of political news
Ahead of the Caerphilly by-election, we examined how BBC and ITV – two major sources of news in Wales – reported the final week of the campaign on TV and online between October 15 and 22. This include...
tinyurl.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:53 AM
We've updated our analysis of media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election to go in-depth on the final week of campaigning.
Including an analysis of Chris Mason's BBC News at Ten report which gave Reform UK's candidate twice the airtime of Labour's or Plaid Cymru's.
tinyurl.com/4kw6m5a6
Including an analysis of Chris Mason's BBC News at Ten report which gave Reform UK's candidate twice the airtime of Labour's or Plaid Cymru's.
tinyurl.com/4kw6m5a6
Reposted by Maxwell Modell
Our new @cujournmedcul.bsky.social research featured in the I paper showing news audiences want tougher scrutiny of Nigel Farage and Reform UK given the party could be heading for government. Thread 1/6
October 20, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Our new @cujournmedcul.bsky.social research featured in the I paper showing news audiences want tougher scrutiny of Nigel Farage and Reform UK given the party could be heading for government. Thread 1/6