Elon Musk defined the BBC as “a few of the least biased” media establishments after Twitter mistakenly labelled the brand new employer as “authorities-funded media”. The BBC contacted Twitter after the designation turned into connected to the main @BBC account- linking via to a web page on Twitter`s assist centre that defined “state-affiliated media” as retailers in which the authorities “physical activities manage over editorial content”.
“The BBC is, and constantly has been, independent. We are funded through the British public via the licence fee,” the BBC stated in a statement. Since 1927, the BBC has been operated via a Royal Charter agreed with the United Kingdom authorities. As in step with the charter, BBC “need to be independent”, in particular over “editorial and innovative decisions, the instances and way wherein its output and offerings are supplied, and withinside the control of its affairs”.
In reaction to the BBC`s complaint, Elon Musk asked, “Is the Twitter label accurate?” In an e-mail to the BBC, Elon Musk wrote as in step with Guardian, “We are aiming for max transparency and accuracy. Linking to possession and supply of budget likely makes sense.”
“I do assume media establishments must be self-conscious and now no longer falsely declare the entire absence of bias. All establishments have bias, a few glaringly lots greater than others. I must observe that I comply with BBC information on Twitter, due to the fact I assume it’s miles a few of the least biased.”
Earlier Twitter additionally specific America`s National Public Radio (NPR) as “state-affiliated media”- however the description turned into later modified to the same “authorities funded media” tag as given to the BBC.