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 Ros Atkins. For more information on the database click here.

Education

Learn about the significance of a private/Oxbridge education here

Ros Atkins attended the independent, fee-paying school Truro School (source)

He graduated with a degree in History from Jesus College, Cambridge (source)

Revolving Door

Learn about the significance of the Revolving Door here

Ros Atkins worked for the Centre for Policy Studies (source), which describes itself as “Britain’s leading centre-right think tank. Our mission is to develop a new generation of conservative thinking, built around promoting enterprise, ownership and prosperity.”

The think-tank was founded by Sir Keith Joseph and Margaret Thatcher and, again in its own words, “was responsible for developing the bulk of the policy agenda that became known as Thatcherism”.

Transparify, who monitor the funding of think-tanks, rate Centre for Policy Studies as “highly opaque” (don’t disclose the identity of their funders) and a 2018 report offers the below observations on their work:

“Establishment” Connections

Learn about the significance of Establishment Connections here

Primary

None

Secondary

None

Salary/Indications of Wealth

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

Ros Atkins doesn’t appear on the most recent list of the BBC’s top earners. It is still likely that he earns significantly more than the average UK salary for 2021, listed by the Office for National Statistics as £26,193.

Complaints / apologies / Controversies

Learn about the significance of complaints/apologies here

There are no significant complaints/controversies involving Ros Atkins

Summary

Ros Atkins was privately educated, attended Cambridge University and worked for an opaque “centre-right” think-tank founded by Margaret Thatcher before becoming a BBC journalist.

Independent? Impartial? Holding power to account?

Learn more about the Matrix Project here.

Do you value the work of The Free Press? If so, please subscribe to our mailing list to receive a monthly e-mail update and use the share buttons to spread the word!