Northern Ireland

BBC insists news coverage does not 'stop at the border'

BBC Director General Lord Tony Hall during a visit to Belfast
BBC Director General Lord Tony Hall during a visit to Belfast BBC Director General Lord Tony Hall during a visit to Belfast

THE BBC has insisted that it is committed to covering stories in the Republic following criticism that its news coverage "effectively stops at the border".

Steven McCaffery, who worked for the Press Association, the Irish News and investigative website the Detail, criticised BBC NI's "disproportionate influence over public discourse".

Now working for the Belfast-based Social Change Initiative, Mr McCaffery said that with most newspapers under pressure and a reduction in UTV's investigative output, debate in the Northern Ireland is "dominated by the mammoth news operation of BBC Northern Ireland".

Mr McCaffery wrote in the Irish Times that the broadcaster's "public face is white and does not reflect the scale of diversity in Northern Ireland".

He also claimed that the BBC's "news coverage effectively stops at the border with minimal reporting from the rest of the island, and for a variety of reasons it rarely produces the kind of content required to champion change for the disadvantaged 'left behind' ".

"If we are to overhaul our broken politics, we should start by debating how to rebalance our media landscape to put diversity and plurality at the heart of public debate," he wrote.

Steven McCaffery from the Belfast-based Social Change Initiative
Steven McCaffery from the Belfast-based Social Change Initiative Steven McCaffery from the Belfast-based Social Change Initiative

However, a BBC spokesman said the broadcaster does cover stories across Ireland.

"Our journalism reflects Northern Ireland in all its changing diversity," he said.

"We deal with a broad mix of stories and issues and provide an important forum for debate. And our news and current affairs output continues to attract significant and appreciative audiences across radio, television and online.

"We have dedicated newsgathering capability in the Republic of Ireland, reflecting the island-wide dimension to stories about social, cultural, economic and political issues.

"As society changes the BBC’s news output will change too. It will also continue to lead the way in ensuring that diverse voices are heard, decision makers are held to account and that people from all backgrounds are involved in our work."