Read this: 07/04/2023 Radio 4 Feedback

BBC sounds music Radio podcasts with me Andrea catherwood in a cost-of-living crisis the BBC reports on the economy is more important than ever it commission to review to investigate if it's coverage on government spending was prone to bias or today joined by its authors to discuss the results and of course will hear your views, but I notice that on the Maiden Radio 4 News programmes Paul Johnson of the ifs is very free Korean food Matters I would prefer an academic from recognised University rather than anybody that produces no from think tank and walk up to music at the BBC this time at BBC Radio Scotland the jazz program has gone and I'll be a lot fewer live music set.

Classical and piping programs will be discussing the impact on the musical community.

How can you justify part of cultural life from Scotland also is there's one thing that annoys Lord Blunkett it's the sound quality or indeed the lack of Sound all together on radio interviews it seems to him that as technology has improved.

We are more rather than less likely to lose the line.

I think I'm one of thousands of listeners.

Who must be quite bewildered by now the number of times that the signal for Radio 4 controller mohit bakaya joins US to respond to Lord blankets concerns, but first there are gaps and functions in the BBC's coverage of public spending that could put its impartiality at risk that was the conclusion of a report to BBC published earlier this year.

It's the first.

Review of WhatsApp to be a mammoth 10-part impartiality plan is being achieved in reporting across the BBC One covering tax a public spending government borrowing and debt it also looked at whether the BBC reflected abroad enough range of Voices and viewpoints and it conclude while it was why depreciation of the BBC's coverage overall it could do better the review was carried out by broadcasters Michael blastland and surround rebuilt not who created BBC Radio 4 is more or less programme research.

They spoke to over 100 people inside and outside the BBC and examined 11000 pieces of content overall you a message in this review was calm BBC do a bit better the what I think is very important to point out is that you came to the conclusion?

But there was no prevailing biased left or right so while you might have accused of my day felt that the journalists where been led by politicians.

It wasn't quality one side or the other of the Debate overall.

How did you reach that conclusion because in this area thinking that debt is always everywhere bad that might seem like a bias to the right kind of thing but we also found that there seems to be a bias toward thinking that public spending was almost always a good idea so increasing public spending on health or child care.

What is a good thing to the left and I can't use it was actually political people right or left one of the criticisms that you did make that.

I think we turn our listeners is the comment that too many journalists lack understanding of basic economics or lack confidence in reporting it we found.

The journalist producers and editors that they were aware of feeling vulnerable in this space we found speaking to many of these journalists that they say that they were exposed and wanted something to lean on in this very important area.

What do you think that that lack for house of grasp of economics is likely to put impartiality risk that was the overview of this whole review was to look at impartiality in this area.

Yes in a word.

Yes, it is a threat to impartiality because it leads you to a particular perspective on debt which can be contested.

If you're unaware of the way in which these arguments are contested and contestable then it's very easy for you and on one side of that argument and forget about the other and you doing that not because you're bringing a bias to the argument.

You just unaware of the variety of arguments that could be brought to bear.

No one area that concerns our listeners particularly is the choice of contributors hello by Martin Smyths I live in a village near Tunbridge Wells partner, but I noticed that on the Maiden Radio 4 News programmes today what a pm Paul Johnson of the ifs is very free Korean food for comment on economic matters also get these commentators.

Play a vital role.

How do I get chosen is it to someone that reducing dose myself? I prefer and Academic from recognised rather than anybody that produces no from think tank time for Paul Johnson to share out the airtime you currently dominates Michael think about it from the perspective of a journalist program.

Just remember they have a very short amount of time.

They need someone who's fluent.

They need someone well informed.

They need someone with authority ideally somebody give the audience will recognise.

The demands of stuff to get people who can do that role effectively and the sense that there aren't very many of these I think quickly becomes ingrained in your if you've only got five minutes set something up you say will let's go to them.

They reliable there a banker and that I think is how the car sing gets constrained, so it's a constant struggle.

I think broaden your Horizons again, but it's imperative that you do and the temptation.

I think to go to The Usual Suspects it needs to be resisted.

There are good reasons.

Why Paul Johnson is very often, can I see very fluent very articulate very well-informed commentator, but there are other people out there as well and other people might take different views which areas of the audience which sections of the audience.

Do you think are the most underserved as well the most is difficult again.

I don't think I'm able to compare who suffers most.

I think we can pick out certain groups so for example if you listen to an argument on just about any Media really BBC everybody else if they talk about taxes mean income tax cuts, what about one-third of the adult population of the UK doesn't pay any income tax but they do pay VAT listen for a serious discussion about VAT and affects different groups of the population.

You'll be really lucky to hear one.

You're here a lot about VAT as a business, but not really as it affects poor people within Society that's a failure of impartiality between the tax paying interest of different groups within the economy within Society generally interesting as I noticed that also brought up the point that when we look at transport costs, we often talk about train fares and not bus fares once again that probably is looking.

People who go into big garden centres to work and not potentially poorer people who are getting buses in that that's the bare-bones as a babysitter said to us when we get these slight preferences for these perspectives.

Have a look at the the nearest BBC producer somebody who travels in on the train and basil of income tax for less concerned about VAT so possibly it's no coincidence that we see see the world because these are the things that affect us.

There's no doubt.

There's a bias towards thinking about capital investment trains not buses on the whole trains are not the preserve but overwhelming you're more used by the better off than buses which my use by the turn off.

That's not to say that the whole of the coverage is Imposter in that direction, but there's certainly evidence that in these cases there may be some mothers.

That's a challenge to be addressed.

What do you

The listeners will notice if your report is implemented not what the journalist will do differently but will listeners notice.

Hi will the coverage for them? I think I'd like them to notice it is more questioning and less certain that more often one of things the BBC can do is so amazingly puncture what appears to be a universally accepted truth and make people just parcel about it.

I agree very strongly with that.

I don't think the BBC should feel that it has to deliver answers in this area.

I think it has to ask the right kind of questions and those questions to feel to the listener.

I think not to be the end of aggressive confrontational stuff that I think everybody has kind of grown to expect from some areas of broadcasting, but they're challenging in a different way, they just introducing a wider.

What city of ideas and perspectives and to hear the perspectives of different parts of the audience put two people in power? I would just like to hear a little bit more of that as a list of myself or thanks to Michael Breslin and surround rude, but would like to hear what you think about the BBC's coverage of economics and do share your thoughts on anything to do with BBC or you can send us an email to feedback at bbc.co.uk voice message on 0345 for you.

Can't Wheatus at BBC R4 feedback you can write to us PO Box 672 34 London se1p 4ax on last week's feedback in a discussion about the woman's hour power list of women who have made a significant impact in sport a question arose about the issue of trans women competing in women's sports.

It was asked by the power is did not include someone like Sharon Davis who was incorrectly described as a proponent of making sure that trans women are not in sport in fact play the support the inclusion of trans women in sport in their own or open categories and we're happy to make that no one returning to it seems to be a familiar topic on feedback cuts to music I put at the BBC after the long-running Ferrari over the scrapping of the choral choir BBC singers who know I appear to have been given a free and the ongoing concerns over cuts to BBC orchestras this week.

It seems the axe is falling in BBC Scotland 3 long-running music programs Radio Scotland Classics unwrapped jazz nights and pipeline came to an end recently sparking and outcry.

I'm on the music community in Scotland

The stunning Matt Carmichael there with madam I'm Fergus McCreadie and I'm a jazz pianist based in Glasgow the BBC Radio Scotland jazz programme when I was really young.

I think probably about age is going to be such a getting lost for the same because that's the place where people send their debut album.

That's the place where people do the first live radio station.

That's the place where people first start getting recognised.

Welcome to this our last ever Classics unwrapped celebrating the immense wealth of musical Talent and I do step in Scotland Glasgow a few years ago and I was still a student at the conservatoire.

I was asked to come along on to the show Classics unwrapped and share a piece that are written for the radio and really exciting but also a huge confidence boost and a huge platform for me at the time but more than this.

I think that Classics unwrapped was really showcase of the amazing things happening in classical music in Scotland in Scotland can often be overlooked in this classical music world, so it's a real real best no longer exist.

Pass on the baton, my name is Connor Sinclair from Crieff in Scotland for myself pipeliners has been a big part of my development.

You know some of the best record come out of the pipeline sessions.

I know from personal experience.

I did one or two of them in a note for me.

It was great experience and re-exposure accent assured Scotland sings Crazy only one was available from BBC Scotland to discuss their decision, but they did send a press release which says that new classical and piping programs will replace old ones professor Simon McCarroll is head of media and music at Glasgow Caledonian University and is a Piper himself.

He told me why he thought the changes on BBC Radio Scotland would be so damaging to Scottish musical culture and heritage one of the key things about the pipeline program has been over the years its ability to do both outside.

But also to record live performers in the studio usually once a month or twice a month over many many years over 15-years Beano bagpipe programme on BBC Scotland for 70 years ago, so the real fundamental issue.

Here is that with the new programme going essentially to digital and disc jockey.

There will be no facility for the BBC essentially or a vastly reduced budget at least anyway for them to record regularly the cultural heritage of Scotland in pipe.

Let's talk a little bit of white 7 classical music classics unwrapped is BBC Scotland classical program which is also changing back into effect the classical music community and there is going to be another classical program as well.

My understanding is that it will feature more heavily the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

But really the core issue.

Here is that the idea that BBC Radio 3 or London based services are indeed manchester-based services are going to be able to pick up and excavate and broadcast Scottish Talent I just don't think it's credible a because they don't know who is working in that area for young kids for young adults who are completing their training and moving into the world or professional music-making.

I think this is a devastating loss for Scotland is Rob Adams going from Edinburgh 3-years list of Luke to the BBC Radio Scotland jazz program latterly jazz night to find out about new music.

They should be listening out for and what concerts and festivals are coming up because the BBC set the standard for expertise on these matters for young musicians also there has been the goal of getting the music played on these programs and the encouragement.

Aircraft to be good enough for broadcast the BBC giving all this.

How can you justify cutting such a Bible Park cultural life in Scotland what's your response to the item to the agree with rope? I mean will there be the opportunity put it this way for the next Brian kellock or for the next John Ray or keejays to be hard on the national broadcaster.

If there's no people they're making us programs actively engaged in the scene so I agree with what about the devil and the cultural vandalism other but moreover.

I think really here.

There's a really cute problem.

Which is that if the BBC appears to be measuring its service remix by downloads and by audience research in geographical distribution then those metrics don't capture particularly for niche audiences.

Capture that charter remit and those programs that mentioned you know jazz nights pipeline Classics unwrapped.

They are not commercially viable programs.

They will not be made by Spotify or apple music or any of the Global Digital platforms.

There's just not enough data in it for them.

So it's a really significant loss for the BBC and I think in the long run is quite a dangerous decision for the BBC BBC Scotland commissioners were called to the cultural committee at the Scottish Parliament last month to address these concerns and they did make the point that there has been a freeze in the licence fee and that savings have to be made where you consulted about the idea of making these cuts was the community in Scotland consulted about this.

No not at all.

No not at all the decision was taken before any consultation with the performing community.

And that's a significant weakness.

I think of the process itself those decisions are prioritising mass audience participation and I think that's really at the core of the issue.

So sensually what it looks like.

Therefore is that the BBC is resending itself from those kind of charter Commitments in favour of measuring.

It's essentially by the same standards of the commercial broadcasters in terms of audiences in reaching metrics, but I think some of this also stems from the overall global policy direction in terms of what I understand that the digital first strategy at the BBC and the push towards the platform isation across the entire network so I think actually it's good if we're having a debate about the charter means for small and niche audiences what it means particularly from music programming right across the UK

Is walking self out of music live music programming because it's expensive because it's specialist and it doesn't have large audiences and I think it is part of the outcome of this.

Is it worth having a much more robust debate about the public value of community music and the BBC's roll on that thanks Simon McCarroll and you can listen the two piping signs from Saturday the 8th and classical now from Sunday the 9th of April on Radio Scotland and on BBC signs know the isolation of a pandemic accelerated the use of videoconferencing for many of us.

We became used to its4women picture freezing and the Ensign delays and of course that all too familiar you're on mute radio producers to find that's it's an easy way of getting contributors to take part in programs and nowadays even Hollywood a-listers on device to a quick two-way on zoom.

But those technical difficulties persist and many of you are finding them increasingly annoying or bacon or Middle East correspondent is in Jerusalem take a through what we know Tom nightmare 3 years in a town in the northern part.

Hi westbank with the stick really pulling and turn right out by from Suffolk and this is the first comment ever made about the BBC can you please give me something about the dreadful quality of the sound on BBC no need for us to listen to muffled voices on a mobile phone like anymore get people into studio and interview as in the I haven't complained about paying my licence free but I am in my 80s.

I'm no maybe not appearing as I used to be I am sad.

Please make it worthwhile paying for my licence how worried you are or has sang when you are about the state of the banking system at the moment.

Tell us the Johnny then.

Is not we can't hear you say John nevermind to John what about Lord David last year former home secretary David blankets and I'll Lord Blunkett raise the issue when the controller of radio 4 mohit bakaya.

I think I'm one of thousands of listeners, who must be quite bewildered by now about the number of times that the signal falls out.

It's not just the internet going down which were all familiar with its the use of iPhones which are incredibly problematic and I'm somewhat bewildered as to why people have stopped using the old fashioned landline or in my case the isdn line, which I happened to be on in order to contribute to this program that I was really tickled when the media show had someone presenting as a media correspondent and the quality of their presentation was probably do know lots and lots of people have left.

Just letting it will understand the frustration and I know the program teams were very hard to get people onto secure landlines and isd the truth is in this post pandemic world.

I think people are working from home much more.

I think they expect to be able to contact the program or talking the program through the music choose and that's all from their home in an iPhone and as we know we're home internet where then at the mercy of their that connection and often their iPhone connection and that is frustrating.

I mean one thing it's obviously do is it means we can reach many more people then? We could when we were just trying to get people into Studios but I do accept that sometimes means audio quality has not been what it should does a medium here between reaching out allowing people to contribute from wherever they are and get that completely and trying to do something about the quality including advising.

You using an iPhone not to move about William betson is a former BBC Radio engineer.

Ian thanks so much for joining us tell us first of all.

Why do these problems are quality and lines dropping? I keep resisting.

I think the biggest problem is factors are outside the BBC's control and that's probably the headset on the microphone the interviewees using if they used with a microphone headworn microphone.

That's a lot better than relying on the one on the computer symbol if they used headphones that would mean that they can listen and get a better quality from the studio and that the computer application won't have to do a thing to eliminate feedback that screeching sound that we here sometimes when the microphone picks up the speaker the computer they running on with no idea what other patients it might be running and finally the broadband line that they have there's a thing that the broadband providers don't talk about much which is called contention ratio which means it possibly at sometimes anywhere up to 100.

Might be using the data that's running on your broadband line and taking a piece of the pie which is nibbling away that day to you have an in the end the application.

Just says I can't go on any longer Collider turn the voice into a Dalek or it will just drop what advice can you give to Lord Blunkett who has an isdn line.

They were very popular among people who broadcasts regularly.

Why don't they been used are there being phased out which is the simple answer for BT are facing the ICN line out and it's not entirely BT fault because in Europe for international lines are being phased out for about 506 years now.

So be tea.

Not be the main source of Road here said no longer use the advantages of that the data was all yours was none of these 100 people trying to enable the way your data it used broadcast equipment that had to be hooked up to the highest online which therefore by definition required quality microphones and headphones.

There was a lot more than known factors, so that was.

The system but due to a technical advancements you might argue that is not an advertisement but due to technical advancements by the telephone companies.

They have decided to phase Ice-T and out and move everything too faced such as the applications.

We're talking and on at the moment and do you have any advice for a blanket or indeed any of our listeners who may be asked to appear on the BBC programme about how they can get the very best quality first thing is by yourself headset.

They're not that expensive had a quick look online and they start from about £20.

I would advise headphones with two accounts one on each year and a small Mike especially if nowadays does requirements to do stuff in vision, whether it's for TV or just online so and I said a boom and Mike doesn't look too bad in vision, so that's the first thing you can do your computer itself make sure that it's not running any applications other than the the link applications such as zoom or Skype that you need it to run.

I would also suggest you turn off alerts that come in.

That many times have a blink of some window pops up and also and this is if it's a pre-recorded within the broadcasters remit but sometimes there are hot spots when the internet in your local is going to be used for an obvious example will be on a Friday evening when everybody streaming a film or doing gaming if you could patch probably try and keep it to say between 9 to 5 in your local area.

Yes, there will be people home is not going to be the great excessive data use that streaming a film will have on the internet that can give the internet a fighting chance as well he invites and thank you very much indeed for those tips well.

I'm almost ready to take my headphones off for today.

I hope you enjoy the holiday weekend.

Thank you for listening and for giving us your feedback.

I'm Andrea catherwood the producer is Jill Davies and feedback is a whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4 from BBC Radio 4 and the team behind the hit series sliced bread comes.

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