Broadcasting
English
LANGUAGE
ADVISER

  THE SOLUTION

The BBC as the most influential broadcaster should set the example. Its example would have an immediate effect upon independent radio and television in Britain. This independent broadcasting is funded by advertising, and its advertisers would be forced by public opinion that had been sharpened by the BBC, to look more critically at themselves.

All regular BBC staff on production, announcing or commentating in English who are below first-rate should be weeded out, and only top-class replacements should be taken in. The main criterion should be ability in English. This criterion should, of course, apply to disc-jockeys and sports-commentators.

I am convinced that the BBC, despite the many talented and highly cultured servants that it has, is now unable to purge itself. That pockets of ignorance have been there so long continuously strengthening themselves, often aggressively, against the cultured, proves that the cultured within the BBC are not strong enough to stop the inward rot. For the following actions the whole weight of the British government coupled with public opinion will have to be thrown into the scale.

1) The charter of the BBC should be withdrawn and a new charter given only after a satisfactory reorganization.
2) A secretary of state for the BBC should be appointed to plan and oversee the reorganization.
3) He should choose a committee of wise and cultured advisors. At least two Americans should be invited to be on the committee.
4) No member of the BBC should be on the committee.
5) No member of any other broadcasting organization should be on the committee.
6) Main entrance to employment in BBC broadcasting should be by a stiff annual competitive examination. The secretary of state for the BBC and his committee should plan its institution. Advice from broadcasters and journalists should, of course, be canvassed.
7) One other entry to employment in broadcasting should be by the collective discretion of the board of governors of the BBC (all appointed by the secretary of state). This entry would be for those who had already given proof of genius or high talent.

These actions, by drawing on the finest talents in Britain, would make the BBC the paramount and most worthy exemplar for the nation. Every school and university would be profoundly influenced. Soon --- insincerity, unintelligence and bad English in advertisements would come to be spotted even by primary-school children, and advertising agencies would be forced to a weeding.

To the inevitable criticism that the bulk of the British do not like intellectualism, I reply that the new BBC of excellent discrimination would not need to be told that: all its light programmes, like the good old ballads, would be free from intellectual heaviness and preaching; there would be plenty of good pop music, and, especially, in programmes for children and teenagers, good songs and dances from the past as well.

If the British government has the will to tackle the BBC, it has a fund of good precedent to guide it from the annals of a mighty mercantile company’s connection with India.

Up to the last quarter of the 18th century the British East India Company was, by charter of the crown, the paramount ruler in India. Most of the company’s British officials were honourable and efficient, but British reputation was tarnished by ineptitude and dishonesty of a minority. In consequence, the home government wisely curtailed more and more of the company’s power and, finally, after the Indian Mutiny middle of last century, it assumed complete responsibility for governing its Indian empire. The worst officials of the company were discharged or retired, and the best retained as servants of the new British government in India. The crown of administrative excellence was finally achieved when competitive examination was made the sole entrance to the higher ranks of the Indian Civil Service.

The British government has one other rich fund to draw on: the good sense of the British people. If it puts the case for drastic action in a straightforward manner to the nation, I believe it will gain majority approval.

"For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Matthew 12 – 37

"Speak, that I may see thee....No glass renders a man's form or likeness so true as his speech." Ben Jonson