Have a look at the images below.
Consider that at the end of the first week of election campaigning for the 2011 Holyrood election, during which we witnessed the first televised 'leaders' debate, it has been universally perceived that Iain Gray, the Labour Party candidate for First Minister, has had a disasterous week.
There is talk of deep schisms within the Labour party. Labour MP's and MSP's are briefing our media on the negative effect Mr Gray is having on the Labour Party's electoral chances. Ed Milliband has had to fly in one of his assistants to help bolster his regional parties support. The opportunistic Sun newspaper openly ridiculed Gray for his performance in the televised debate, highlighting the fact that 87% of respondents believed that Alex Salmond gave, by far, the most commanding performance. The polls saw the SNP take the lead for the first time.
Now take another look at the photo from BBC Scotland's online news page.
Is it fair to say that we have three party leaders here and one deputy leader? Why is there no photograph of the Alex Salmond who is standing for post of First Minister? Do BBC Scotland not have a photograph of Alex Salmond? If they do have a photograph of him, why have they chosen not to use it?
Look at the photograph again, let's go counter clockwise.
Is it fair to say that Nicola Sturgeon looks pensive in the photograph, particularly in the week when her management of the Scottish Health sector saw the abolition of prescription fees?
Similarly, is it fair to say that Tavish Scott has the concerned look of a man who only received 2% support in a poll on the person favoured to be next First Minister?
Does Annabel Goldie look fraught with worry at the end of a week when her jolly hockey sticks sensible persona has seen her win renewed respect from political correspondents?
Now take a long hard look at Iain Gray. He's smiling. I'll repeat that again. Iain Gray is smiling.
Political anoraks who watch FMQ's diligently each Thursday know that a smiling Iain Gray is as rare as a guaranteed Scottish summer.
This is a man without troubles to seek, he's flip flopped on four years of relentless negativity opposing nigh on everything the Scottish Government have attempted to legislate.
Yet here he is smiling. Smiling suggests confidence, assurity, a winner.
Why is Iain Gray smiling? Has he suddenly become credible?
BBC Scotland are by their very constitution tied to the continuation of Union. They are supposed to be the last bastion of freedom of speech, their doctrine is apolitical, they are bound by rules of impartiality.
Yet someone in our very own state broadcaster, in their shiny but ever so dysfunctional building decided that these photographs are merely reportage.
Was it Atholl Duncan Head of News and Current Affairs who believes that the veteran host of his flagship news programme can ridicule the First Minister in an avowedly Labour supporting newspaper and continue to be seen as impartial?
Or maybe the unnamed state reporter ran the photo selection and copy by the keen eyes of Alasdair MacLeod, BBC Scotland's head of Editorial Standards and Compliance.
Either way, any complaints of subtle propaganda by our state broadcaster are always met with complete denial and infantile excuses. As anyone who has ever read the non blethering with Brian 'blog' knows, complaints are never justified.
Let me repeat again.
Sturgeon not standing as First Minister - Pensive.
Scott- Concerned.
Goldie -Fraught.
Gray - Credible.
Aye right.
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