The BBC’s coverage on certain issues (asylum seekers, trans, disability, etc) has been inexcusably bad and has been for a while.

When I compare the BBC and for example The Guardian reporting on such topics to, say, The Telegraph and any of the trash tabloids I see a big difference. The latter quite often push an agenda or try to engineer rage engagement, whereas the former don’t.

I think a much bigger problem and the root cause for how BBC reporting comes across in the kinds of topics you mention is the abysmal quality of political discourse in the UK. Too many bigots have gained too many supporters, which has given them too loud a megaphone.

I don’t think it is the BBC’s or any other journalistic organisation’s job to take that megaphone away. Their job is to report facts and ensure countering perspectives are being aired on all important topics.

I think it’s perfectly fair to hold the public broadcaster to a high standard.

I agree. For me the standard I expect is reporting facts and different perspectives so that I gain information and can make up my own mind.

… quality of their journalism has plummeted since, the whole thing needs serious reform …

Here I disagree with you, although perhaps only on the seriousness of the situation. Any big organisation will have aspects that need reform, including the BBC. I don’t agree that their journalism would have plummeted substantially. It is the political discourse that has gone to the gutters.

You wrote them out, so the thoughts clearly did cross your mind? I don’t even know why you’re trying to deflect this, it’s not unreasonable to think foreign intelligence would try to undermine trust in the BBC, they’d be dumb not to.

I can see that I should have added /s to that and couple of other points in my post.