Today's show 09/02/12

Absolutely no surprise as to what you have chosen for the first story today, but let's look at the news that the BBC will not be sharing with us today first, shall we?

http://order-order.com/2012/02/09/did-the-bbc-fix-it-for-jim-awkward-questions-for-director-general-mark-thompson/

Did the BBC Fix It For Jim? - Awkward Questions for Director General Mark Thompson

Guido got wind of this yesterday, but this week’s Oldie magazine is out, and has more details about a possible BBC cover up after Newsnight unearthed allegations of child abuse by Jimmy Savile on BBC property.

As Guido says, this is dark stuff. We can only hope that it is not true.

And then there is this one, concerning the BBC's reporting of hot-topic Mr Qatada:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/9067754/BBC-tells-its-staff-dont-call-Qatada-extremist.html

BBC tells its staff: don’t call Qatada extremist

The BBC has told its journalists not to call Abu Qatada, the al-Qaeda preacher, an “extremist”. In order to avoid making a “value judgment”, the corporation’s managers have ruled that he can only be described as “radical”. Journalists were also cautioned against using images suggesting the preacher is overweight. The guidance was issued at the BBC newsroom’s 9.00am editorial meeting yesterday, chaired by a senior manager, Andrew Roy. According to notes of the meeting, seen by The Daily Telegraph, journalists were told: “Do not call him an extremist – we must call him a radical. Extremist implies a value judgment.”

This directive was issued the day after Sky told its journalists that news stories must pass through the news desk before appearing on Twitter (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/feb/07/sky-news-twitter-clampdown), and which you took such delight in riduculing Rupert Murdoch himself about:

Odd, don't you think, that your own programme (among many others) can describe Murdoch's takeover of BSkyB last year as "controversial", which is nothing other than a value judgement? So what do you have to do to be classified as an "extremist" in the BBC's eyes? Oh yes, I know. You have to be a staunch EU-sceptic and express doubts about man-made global warming.

And, to preempt your first item today, there is this one:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/9068960/Harry-Redknapp-tax-evasion-trial-BBC-get-jury-verdict-wrong.html

Harry Redknapp tax evasion trial: BBC get jury verdict wrong

The BBC has been left red-faced by a court reporting error after the corporation broadcast the wrong verdict from the Harry Redknapp trial. The public broadcaster’s flagship News 24 channel told viewers that the Tottenham Hotspur manager had been found guilty of one count of tax evasion.

The BBC? Broadcasting incorrect information? Who'd have thought....

Anyway, you're not covering any of those, or "BIG DAY for #Leveson: “@guardiannews: Leveson inquiry: Paul Dacre, Heather Mills, Max Clifford - live http://gu.com/p/35bme/tf” as you described it earlier, and instead we have this stuff to deal with...

1) ENGLAND MANAGER - Are you a fan of Harry Redknapp or are you a fan of Fabio Capello? : Neither. No real news today then? I'm sure there is if you could be bothered to look. I think you are confusing me again with somebody who has any interest at all in "The Game". However, it says a lot when an Italian resigns because England are too corrupt. Either that, or it was all arranged in advance. Next...

2) CHILDREN IN CARE - Record numbers of children are being taken into care – not only children who have been abused, but also children who have been neglected. We talk to someone who says “there was ‘neglect’ in my family, but better that than being in care.” : Another "someone" - excellent. This is all very sad but this particular someone was brought up by loving parents, and continues to have no children of his own. Next...

3) SINGAPORE OCCUPATION - Seventy years ago this week, the so-called impregnable fortress of Singapore fell to the Japanese. Was your father or grandfather captured in that fateful week? : Sorry, no. My father was in North Africa maintaining Lancasters at the time, and my grandfathers were not called up for service due to their age. Next...

4) UNLIKELY SUCCESS STORIES - Finally, have you never sent a text or an email, do you have the reading age of a two year old and are you financially illiterate… but yet, like Harry Redknapp, have you been very successful in life? : Again no, that's not me. My parents have never sent a text or an email, but they can read. Does that count? And I wonder how many people with the reading age of a two year old just read this on your web page....?

So, nothing today again then. What a shame.

The Jeremy Vine Show - football is more important than real news, every day