Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been labeling various media outlets on Twitter, including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), as “government-funded media” or “state-affiliated media.” The BBC rejected the label in a post on its official Twitter handle and claimed to be in talks with Musk’s company regarding the matter. This move comes after Twitter announced its new label for state-affiliated media outlets, which Musk has been using to label various media outlets.
BBC’s Independence and Funding
In its response, the BBC stated that it is and has always been an independent organization, and the license fee is how the British people pay for its services. The BBC claims that the license fee, which is legally required to watch live broadcasts or streaming in the UK, is set by the government but is paid for by individual UK households. The license fee is currently £159 per year.
Twitter’s Definition of State-Affiliated Media
Twitter defines “state-affiliated media” as outlets where the state controls editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or production and distribution control. Twitter has added the label to media entities where the state is affiliated, and their editors-in-chief or distinct staff may be marked. Tweets that contain links to media websites affiliated with states will also have labels added to them.
BBC’s Response and Talks with Twitter
The BBC has rejected Twitter’s new label and claimed to be in talks with Musk’s company regarding the matter. The new tag is not available for other BBC Twitter handles, including the sports and news pages. On the other hand, American broadcaster NPR initially referred to as “state-affiliated media,” was later renamed “government-funded media.” NPR has promised to quit tweeting until Twitter fixes the name.
Conclusion
The labeling of media outlets by prominent figures like Elon Musk raises questions about media independence, funding, and accountability. While Twitter’s definition of state-affiliated media is clear, it remains to be seen how media outlets will react and how this will impact their reputation and credibility. For now, the BBC has rejected the label and is in talks with Musk’s company, indicating that the debate over media accountability is far from over.
