WHAT I TOLD THE BBC ABOUT THEIR SPACE COVERAGE.

[mattblack]

I filled out an online complaint form to the BBC that said:<br /><br />Although nothing is immune to criticism:<br />I wish to observe that the coverage of the mission of Space Shuttle Discovery this week has been almost uniformally negative on BBC World in particular. I have detected on many occasions a tendency to play up the danger of the mission and to snipe about the costs and value of human spaceflight. Nearly every space consultant and expert interviewed about the mission has been badgered to justify the cost and value of manned spaceflight, in a way that borders on the sarcastic. One might almost suspect that the presenters involved have been editorially directed to run down Nasa in particular, as if for a Left-Wing only demographic!!<br /><br />Thank you for your attention.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[chriscdc]

So the right wing demographic is in favour of the $1billion per launch. Perhaps the BBC and the rest of the public would look more favourably on manned flight If it had achieved something useful down here for a decent price. So we have stuff like the MRI because of the shuttle, but could that have been developed for less than the $100+billion spent on the shuttle programme.<br /><br />What is it with the assumption that this is a problem with left wingers. Sure there are a few of the anti-nuclear and environmentalists out there, but don't even get me started on the flag waving, space for the military, peace is for wusses right wingers out there. <br /><br />Even the media has noticed that the russians can get into space far cheaper than the americans.

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Bang on Matt. I sent something similar after Paul "Hitman" Hill slapped down their journalist student who was tasked with covering NASA for the web.<br /><br />They aren't left wing, they are Ultra Liberal (their coverage of Iraq is terribly lobsided).<br /><br />The BBC have gone terribly downhill over the last 10-15 years.

 

[mattblack]

I know what you're saying but you're missing my point almost entirely. The Shuttle is merely the spearpoint of their objections, not the cause. The BBC is down on ANY spaceflight, be it manned, unmanned, Nasa, Russia or ESA. Do a search through their archives and you'll see I'm right. <br /><br />Even after all of the Discovery crew's achievements, the BBC seems almost eager for something bad to happen to Discovery!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[shuttle_rtf]

No - the media has on the whole done a piss poor job on getting their facts right and going for a negative angle, that is what Matt is talking about, rightly.<br /><br />Also, the BBC shouldn't care about cost - it ain't our tax money <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[gregoire]

"The Sky at Night" beats almost anything produced in the "mainstream " USA media for a very long time, with the exception of a few Nova episodes.

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Although Sir Patrick is getting hard to understand in his old age. However, no one can touch him for knowlegde and insight.<br /><br />Ironically, Sir Patrick is a HUGE Shuttle fan. He was on Sky News shortly after launch of Discovery and noted this.

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Don't start me off about missing Hotol <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" />

 

[chriscdc]

Well perhaps 30 years of not having many space related headlines might make an editor wonder what it is all for. <br />Yes there have been headlines but it is rather difficult to beat a moon landing. I mean we have not even gone around the moon since.<br /><br />Yes I hate the way space is covered in the media. Channel 4 news couldn't even get who was in charge of nasa right. On a side note it was nice to hear a commercial music channel (XFM) news show cover the shuttle and mention you could watch it live.<br /><br />Well there is no news like bad news. I'm sure all the media companies would love for something to happen and the ratings they would get. I'm just happy that they are covering it at all. Honestly how many of us really followed the average shuttle launch like the average person is covering this.<br /><br />I'm sure the population will not turn against manned space flight, it's too much of popular culture (just imagine the response the space programme would get if they discover an earthlike planet around another star). The critism now will just open the way for a reasoned debate on what sort of CEV we get. <br />Pointing out the dangers of the shuttle design will prevent us going with another fancy looking but inefficient design. Contracts will be scrutinised further for political intrusion.