Lobby the BBC

If you think that the BBC's reporting on the monarchy is biased against the republican view, you can help us put it right. Take part in our Lobby the BBC campaign.

THERE ARE THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO

You can make general or specific complaints to the BBC's complaints department. Their number is 08700 100 222. You can also use their online complaint form or write to them at BBC Complaints, PO Box 1922, Glasgow G2 3WT. It's usually best to have specific incidents or reports which you can refer to when contacting the BBC.

You can contact a programme to contribute your view or make a specific complaint. The main BBC Switchboard number is 020 8743 8000. Or you can email the programme direct - the email address will end with @bbc.co.uk and will usually begin with the name of the TV or radio programme, such as breakfast@ or today@ and so on.

You can make use of the viewers/listeners feedback programmes. For BBC TV you can contact Points of View by email: pov@bbc.co.uk, by telephone: 0870 908 3199 (local rate) or by writing to them at: POV, BBC Birmingham, The Mailbox, Birmingham B1 1RF. For BBC Radio contact Feedback by writing to Feedback, PO Box 2100, London W1A 1QT, by calling 0870 803 4544 or by emailing feedback@bbc.co.uk.

You can also help Republic monitor reporting on the monarchy, by the BBC and other TV news outlets. If you see a news broadcast which you think is biased toward the monarchy, let us know. Send an email to g.smith@republic.org.uk or write to Republic, PO Box 69, Brighton, BN50 9GS.
Be sure to give us the programme name and date of the broadcast.

Republic's view on BBC bias

Republic respects the BBC's reputation as a world leader in news and entertainment broadcasting and as a popular British institution. However, we do have serious reservations about the manner in which the corporation reports on issues to do with the monarchy and the royal family.

We believe there is a clearly identifiable institutional bias, particularly within the BBC's national news output, toward presenting the Monarchy in a manner that is favourable to the institution and to members of the royal family. They routinely play down any opposition to the individuals, their activities and to the institution itself while at the same time over-emphasising the level of public support for the monarchy.

The BBC also plays a strong role in promoting royal events and occasions, which are in essence little more than PR exercises for the monarchy. In doing so the BBC implies that 'royal' events are synonymous with 'national' events, thus excluding those who oppose the monarchy.

While we accept that accusations of bias are routinely directed at the BBC, we question whether the manner of royal reporting would be tolerated if it were applied to party political coverage. As with party politics the monarchy is a contentious and contested issue. A substantial section of the British people oppose its very existence.

We believe the institutional bias in the BBC is the result of a cultural attitude rather than a deliberate decision making process. It may also reflect the social demographics of staff and journalists within the corporation. Whatever the cause, we will be routinely reminding the BBC of the words of Sir Michael Lyons, the new Chair of the BBC Trust, who said on April 5th 2007: "Under my leadership, the Trust will continue to safeguard the BBC's editorial independence and ensure that is impartial."

Republic has expressed its concerns in a letter written to the Director General in April 2007. The letter was copied to a number of relevant senior staff and news editors. Read the letter here.

We will continue to speak up for the substantial section of the British population which would prefer to see a more balanced coverage of the monarchy.