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  1. Jac Gallacher says:

    No queue at the loos, every cloud….

  2. David says:

    To be fair, Bella, there are a lots of tits and fannies on the BBC there, it’s just that err none of them are female. 😉

    1. Neil Anderson says:

      I’m sure you meant well David, but that has to be one of the most inappropriate responses to an article in… well, ever.

  3. Ellie says:

    I’m sorry but ‘male, pale and stale,’ is as bigoted as any other form of prejudice and I’m disgusted to see Bella Caledonia jumping on this particular bandwagon. More female and minority voices being seen and heard in the media are very important but it is perfectly possible to argue for that without resorting to snide nastiness to make yourself feel better.

    In the age of Trump and Brexit it is imperative that we hold traditional and alternative media to a higher standard than in the past. With this you fall below that standard, far below.

    1. It’s not and this is palpable nonsense. To highlight that our conventional media is dominated by white men – that dominate our screens is just plain common sense and a point well (and often) made by Kirsty.

      To suggest tat this makes Bella akin to Trump is just so bat-crazy there’s not much more to be said.

      1. John Page says:

        Hi Bella
        I admire your resilience. You get pelters from all sides everyday no matter what you or your guest writers say.
        Take care
        John Page

  4. tartanfever says:

    ‘I for one am finding this fucking RIVETING.’

    Would the content have been any different if it were male or female interviewees ?

    After all, the subject being discussed is the economy, and if that bores you then why are you watching ?

    You have a valid point to make about representation issues, but do you really think comments like this are helpful ?

  5. Alan says:

    This seems par for the course. I suspect their lack of gender balance reflects their general lack of balance. The BBC reflects the British establishment and status quo. It’s also quite impressive that the BBC itself manages to report on the lack of gender balance in politics and political reporting without any apparent sense of self-awareness.

  6. Chris says:

    Where does Kirsty use ‘male, pale and stale’? Maybe she does, but I can’t see it.

    As a pale male, hopefully not too stale, i find that term pretty unhelpful. But with gender (im)balance like this, I forgive some frustration amongst those of us who think it’s important to point it out…

    1. She doesn’t at all. I did in a tweet to promote the piece. Apparently some cheeky alliteration is as bad as a complete imbalance in media representation.

  7. e.j. churchill says:

    Kirsty, BBC reports from a formula that may *evolve, but until then Cookie Cutter N.London Metro Public School are ‘recruits’ & ‘movers’ – and they are well- aware how the system works, even the ‘smart-for-a-girl’ ones.

    There are are sound, historical, traditional, …., … reasons is you are from a Shire, or are be-titted it’s possible you MAY make ‘damn fine staff.’

    … become a ‘name?’ fuggeddaboutit

    rgds

  8. Katrina Finnon says:

    Come on! There are analysts who happen to be female who could be used in such times – not using them is discriminatory – get over it, it is!!!

  9. c rober says:

    Pretty good one K – drive them out in the open.

    But I am sure the wummin are dain splendit work somewhere in politics , as cleaners , cooks , and childcare workers in Holyrood , or as wifes and daughters of male politicians hired as secretaries.

    Jokes aside , Kirsty was right to highlight this , it is efter aw the oldest of the polticial mandates – divide is to conquer , be that men wummin , rich poor , religion against religion , region against region.

    Are we not continually highlighting the White Middle Aged Unionist MAN in control of our media and country establishments often enough on here ? So why the animosity – its not like shes saying jobs for the under qualified girls , well just because they are girls?

    But does Kirsty watch any American news channels – like FOX?

    They have perhaps an over representation of female reporters and pundits , which is also being increased in Sky news , that is only if your eye candy (intellectual optional but not preffered) , so mair fap at 10 than news at 10…. but will Kirsty see this as objectification of wummin , sex sells , or they are the enemy within?

    Personally I dont have a problem with whom gives me the news and their gender , or argues it , its the ones controlling it , directing it , that matters , and as Kirsty has highlighted it nearly always is a man – from the top down.

    Holyrood politics though has an impressive proportion of female leaders – so there should lie the change over within our legislators.

    But given that Labour and the Tories are unionist joined in opposition , thus supporting “the white anglo male agenda” , putting to bed the man hating lesbian myth once and for all perhaps , with one a former BBC employee to boot , then dont expect change anytime soon.

  10. Redgauntlet says:

    In a nutshell…

    …well done. Kirsty.

    Let’s not forget that the “national treasure” Brian Taylor interviewed James Kelman at the Edinburgh Book Festival. I can’t think of anything more decadent and twisted than Brian Taylor interviewing Scotland’s leading novelist…

    …proof positive that the BBC is Philistine to its core. It exists so people forget about culture and just watch the tele instead…

  11. Redgauntlet says:

    I mean, Brian Taylor, that huge pudding of a man, interviewing James Kelman? What? I mean, what is that? How can that be? It’s an insult to Kelman and Scottish letters.

    To conduct a fruitful interview with James Kelman, you would need to be well versed in literature. You would need to have read Kafka and Sam Beckett and Dostoevsky. You’d need to be able to talk to Kelman about which canon he relates to, which tradition he works in, and which he works against: ie, broadly speaking, the English tradition or the European tradition. You’d need to be able to ask him about how he uses language, and you’d need to be able to talk to him about Scottish culture in general.

    Instead the Philistines at the Edinburgh Book Festival pair Kelman with a vacuous political gossip like Brian Taylor….

    1. c rober says:

      He probably resorted to asking him about trump or deep fried mars bars.

  12. john young says:

    Just the “usual suspects” talking round and round and then maybe round again,doing absolutely eff all in the process,gravy trainers the lot of them,we need to abolish politics/politicians in every shape or form and create something new something invigorating something exciting that would hopefully be all inclusive.

  13. kailyard rules says:

    Kirsty Stricklan has the right attitude and temperament to be writing for the New Statesman. Go girl go.

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