The Beeb - why are they so good or aren't they?
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 6:42 am
Everytime I see a good documentary, it seems to be produced by the BBC (or sometimes some other Britsh broadcasting company).
When the Soviet Union fell, the Beeb were first out to make two great nature series (with sir David Attenborough) about the realms of former USSR. Areas that had never before been open to the west, were shown for the first time on TV.
Historical documentary, like the series "People's century". The BBC did not only dig up material from their own archives and managed to find people who had actually experienced the big events of the 20th centrury. They also managed to find (and get permission to show) previously secret material from Russia and Japan that had never been showed before.
Countless undercover documentaries about trafficking of women and children, endangered species, drugs etc. The Beeb were first out to show how children from Asia were sold as sex-slaves to European pedophiles.
In countries where it's near impossible for journalists to film, the Beeb has managed to sneak around. The first documentary from North Korea was shown on Swedish TV earlier this year, and showed concentration camps, starving children and atrocities too horrible to write at a public message board.
When the royal family in Nepal was murdered, everybody was worried that the Maoist guerilla would make a move. The Maoist guerilla refuse to have any contact with media, but when the Beeb came, they let themselves be interviewed at night time, with scarves covering their faces.
Now, why don't any other broadcasting company in the world seems to produce this kind of journalism? Is it a question of tradition? Or is it a question of selection? Is, for instance, the US, France or Germany making equally good documentaries, but I never see them? Strange, since most of what's shown of Swedish TV is produced in the US, and we as many German and French TV channels as British.
Anyone has an explanation?
When the Soviet Union fell, the Beeb were first out to make two great nature series (with sir David Attenborough) about the realms of former USSR. Areas that had never before been open to the west, were shown for the first time on TV.
Historical documentary, like the series "People's century". The BBC did not only dig up material from their own archives and managed to find people who had actually experienced the big events of the 20th centrury. They also managed to find (and get permission to show) previously secret material from Russia and Japan that had never been showed before.
Countless undercover documentaries about trafficking of women and children, endangered species, drugs etc. The Beeb were first out to show how children from Asia were sold as sex-slaves to European pedophiles.
In countries where it's near impossible for journalists to film, the Beeb has managed to sneak around. The first documentary from North Korea was shown on Swedish TV earlier this year, and showed concentration camps, starving children and atrocities too horrible to write at a public message board.
When the royal family in Nepal was murdered, everybody was worried that the Maoist guerilla would make a move. The Maoist guerilla refuse to have any contact with media, but when the Beeb came, they let themselves be interviewed at night time, with scarves covering their faces.
Now, why don't any other broadcasting company in the world seems to produce this kind of journalism? Is it a question of tradition? Or is it a question of selection? Is, for instance, the US, France or Germany making equally good documentaries, but I never see them? Strange, since most of what's shown of Swedish TV is produced in the US, and we as many German and French TV channels as British.
Anyone has an explanation?
