The Matrix Project is an effort to document personal factors that undermine powerful journalists’ claims of objectivity and impartiality. Are factors such as an elite education, establishment connections, personal wealth and interests in rival fields compatible with journalistic integrity? 

This page looks at BBC presenter Emma Barnett For more information on the database click here.

Education

Learn about the significance of a private/Oxbridge education here

Emma Barnett attended independent school Manchester High School for Girls (source)

She graduated with a degree in History and Politics from the University of Nottingham

Revolving Door

Learn about the significance of the Revolving Door here

Emma Barnett has no significant professional experience in politics or business.

“Establishment” Connections

Learn about the significance of Establishment Connections here

Primary

None

Secondary

According to the Jewish Chronicle, Barnett is “former chairman of the UJIA’s Jewish media network” and chair of networking group for Jewish women “the Skirt Network” – “Fifty young professionals socialised and swapped business cards over sushi and cocktails at the launch of the Skirt Network, a UJIA networking group for women, at the Arts Club in Mayfair on Sunday…”

Salary/Indications of Wealth

Learn about the significance of journalists with an unusual level of wealth here

Emma Barnett was paid £240,000-£249,999 in 2020/21 by the BBC (source)

As a point of reference, the Office for National Statistics list the average UK salary for 2021 as £26,193

Complaints / apologies / Controversies

Learn about the significance of complaints/apologies here

Conviction of parents – In 2010 Barnett’s father, Ian Barnett, was “jailed for three years and eight months after pleading guilty to keeping brothels with a turnover of more than £2.5m in Manchester centre, Levenshulme and Cheetham Hill. He also pleaded guilty to controlling the prostitution of a woman who was trafficked into this country from Lithuania by an Albanian crime gang who promised her a job as a cleaner”

Barnett’s mother, Michele Barnett, was “convicted of laundering thousands of pounds made by her husband’s string of brothels” (source)

Nationalising sausages – Barnett’s impartiality was questioned when she called Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour the “party of the Big State” and asked Angela Raynor if Labour would “nationalise sausages” during a BBC Question Time debate (source)

Zara Mohammed interview – One hundred public figures (including former Tory cabinet minister Sayeeda Warsi, Labour MP Diane Abbott and union leader Jo Grady) signed an open letter to the BBC criticising the “strikingly hostile” tone of Barnett’s interview with Zara Mohammed, the first woman to lead the Muslim Council of Britain (source)

Summary

Emma Barnett was privately educated, earns in the region of 10 times the salary of the average Brit and has affiliations to Jewish groups which could call into question her impartiality as an interviewer.

Independent? Impartial? Holding power to account?

Learn more about the Matrix Project here.

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