In July 2020, the BBC released some remarkable numbers: In the previous 12 months, 438 million people had tuned into BBC News, 351 million to the BBC World Service, and 137 million to BBC Global News. All three channels, as well as the BBC’s entertainment channel, had registered double-digit growth. The figures were especially surprising given that, unlike certain U.S. news outlets and online media platforms, “the Beeb” doesn’t rely on polarization as a business model.
The United States, still dealing with the aftermath of years of slanted information, should take note. What the country needs, it may be, is public-service news.
