A tall Populus popularity survey has bolstered the BBCs position in the licence fee wars – but alarmed newspapers struggling to execute their way on the webSome questions arrive with answers implicit. “How important,whether at all, effect you think it is that the BBC provides trustworthy and neutral news online to read on its website and apps?” That’s an obvious 95% very-to-fairly-important response (on a BBC-commissioned opinion poll, and of course). Next question: “effect you think the BBC should or should not continue to provide news coverage online to read on its website and apps as it does now?” Another no-brainer: some 83% sign up for that. At which point Joe and Joanna Public are deemed to have spoken. Newspapers distinguished and small trying to execute a living from news on the net have got their marching orders. Culture Secretary Whittingdale should back off. “The voice of the public matters most,” says Director General Hall.
It’s supposedly the clinching of an argument with massive implications for the whole UK news ecology in Britain. He who pays for a tall Populus poll – that would be you and me, via our licence fees – calls the final tune. The BBC commissions such polls nearly as easily as it hails a taxi. Read, or note… but don’t skip the fine print.
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Source: theguardian.com