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It was “inappropriate” for a BBC journalist to brand The National as “propaganda”, an expert has said, as he criticised remarks made on a Radio 4 podcast.
Tom Mills, who released his book The BBC: Myth of a Public Service in 2016, said he was “surprised” the word was used by business and economy editor Douglas Fraser when the journalist was describing the newspaper on an episode of The Media Show last week.
During the panel appearance, Fraser suggested that independence hadn't been as important for newspaper sales and loyalty as expected after the 2014 referendum in Scotland.
"One title with a strong propaganda approach to supporting independence, The National, a sister paper of The Herald, based in Glasgow, makes some waves politically through its propaganda," Fraser told the programme.
He added that it didn't seem there was "much to be gained commercially" from taking sides on the constitutional debate.
Mills (above), who lectures in sociology at Aston University in Birmingham, said he was surprised by the remarks given that every newspaper in the UK has a political stance.
He told The National: “I am surprised a senior BBC journalist would describe a newspaper this way.
“The British press have always assumed editorial positions on key political issues, and most titles are aligned with political parties.
“Yet it is very rare for The Daily Telegraph, for example, to be described by BBC journalists as producing pro-Tory propaganda."
Mills said the journalist had called into question The National's "political legitimacy and integrity" by using the term, adding: “I don’t think this use [of the word] is appropriate.”
In his book in 2016, Mills argued that despite its claim to be independent and impartial, the BBC “has always sided with the elite” and “has been in thrall to those in power” throughout its existence.
After being asked how Fraser’s comments met impartiality guidelines, BBC Scotland said it accepted that the word "propaganda" should not have been used, but the corporation has not made any apology.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: "In a live BBC radio interview Douglas was making the point that The National is strongly supportive of one side of the constitutional debate, but we accept he should not have used the word propaganda."
The National is explicitly pro-independence, with a tagline under its masthead stating it is “the newspaper that supports an independent Scotland”.
However, the publication – which is marking its 10th anniversary this year - does not support any one political party.
The BBC was approached for further comment.
