Please learn to spell "consensus"

A. Heyes, Stockport, U.K.

O tempora! O mores!! The media editor of the Times can't spell 'consensus' (it's from the Latin verb con//sentio, so there couldn't be a 'c' after the first 'n'). I assume that means he thinks 'media' is singular, as well...

Alan Wesson, Exeter, UK

George

pe·dan·tic
–adjective 1. ostentatious in one's learning.
2. overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, esp. in teaching.

Murph, Dublin,

"The BBC coverage of the Middle East is remarkably balanced for a western broadcaster ". What a strange remark, John. What we want for our money is for the BBC to be balanced, period! At the moment it is not, and to take Roz's point as an example, the BBC does tend to blame Israel for everything bad that happens in "Palestine". It is also strange to imply that the BBC has a "Middle East Policy". What does that mean? The only policy the BBC should have is to be impartial. Perhaps we should dispose of all these "star quality" newsreaders and interviewers pushing their own views and get back to reporting the news. Just give us the facts and then we can make up our own minds. If we wanted biased views we could just listen to the "man in the pub"!

Al, Weybridge,

I heard a BBC World Service presenter groan indignantly before catching himself when a caller on a show about Blair's resignation made a positive statement about Margaret Thatcher's achievements. Also, in covering international affairs the BBC makes little mention of British foreign policy but much of European policy. Presumably, the BBC, and the World Service's paymaster, the FCO, are laboring under the impression that the European Constitution has already been implemented?

NIcholas Keen, Philadelphia, USA

The BBC used to set the standards in impartial & facts based reporting,
sadly this is no longer the case. It's coverage of the middle east consists of relaying terrorist propaganda for the likes of hamas and hezbollah, while taking any and every opportunity to belittle the efforts in Iraq, a country of 26 million yet we hear only the voice of fanatics in the car-bomb-of-the-day headlines/

jharek, Poole, UK

A sad day when even the editors of the Times cannot spell.

Concensus????

Consensus: Agreement in opinion (from the Latin consensus = agreement)

George, Elgin,

The BBC also needs to look at its News presenters, with their off the cuff comments. Just prior to the recent G8 Ms Kaplinsky was reading an item about President Bush having said something about Russia, then added the comment 'so that will help then' afterwards. Perhaps she has some great insight into the machinations of both the American and Russian presidencies, but I feel this extremely unlikely. It' however, demonstrates that she, at least, feel that whatever Russia does is fine, whilst demonstrating an overt anti-Americanism.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Roz, you are absolutely right. They are still refusing to publish the Malcolm Balen report on their Mideast coverage. What are they hiding? My nephew once saw a bunch of BBC employees picketing outside their office. 'Giving Israel a day off, are you?', he asked.

Lily, London,

The BBC's funding needs to change. It's wrong that those who don't wish to watch the BBC's biased broadcasting are still forced to fund it. I'd prefer to see the BBC's output encrypted like Sky. Those who wish to watch must pay for a subscription, and those that don't are over £100 a year better off.

John, Bracknell,

May be Mme Kadir will be moving to watch Al Jazeera? I sense that her point of view stems from incomplete experience and another opportunity to push for her cause. The BBC coverage of the Middle East is remarkably balanced for a western broadcaster - she should try Al Jazeera AND US broadcasters. Then she would be sure to get all the truth, and she would see the quality and breadth of BBC output for what it is - the highest quality journalism with remarkable balance and reliability.

John, Warrington,

The BBC needs to look at their middle east policy and stop bashing Israel at every opportunity. According to them everything that happens to the Palestinians is Israel's fault. Their biased reporting is inexcusable. I don't watch the BBC news anymore.

roz kadir, Kingston, surrey

Everyone knows that the bbc is londocentric and leans way to the left. It is obviously controlled by a small group of like minded people who's political views are easy to judge by the range and type of programs commissioned. This would be fine if it wasnt paid for by everyone. We need to rein in this beast.

Chris, wirral,