There was an “institutional issue” with the BBC in its coverage of the 2014 independence referendum, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Scotland’s first minister said it “felt sometimes as if the BBC were on one side of the debate”.
But she said she did not believe the broadcaster was biased and hoped things had “moved on” since then.
The SNP leader was taking part in the BBC 5 Live Breakfast radio programme when she answered a question sent in by a listener via Twitter asking how “biased” the BBC is.
Ms Sturgeon said: “I think there was an institutional issue with the BBC to some extent (during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum).
“I don’t think it was down to individuals or journalists. It felt sometimes as if the BBC were on one side of the debate but that’s then, I hope things have moved on from that.”
Just days before the referendum, independence supporters staged a demonstration outside BBC Scotland’s Glasgow HQ in protest at the corporation’s coverage of events.
Ms Sturgeon said she believed BBC journalists do a good job.
She said: “Journalists should never be partial, I don’t think it should be a case of them trying to do any favours to the independence cause.
“I think it should be a case of quality, impartial journalism and I’ve got great respect for BBC journalists because I think, by and large, they do a good job.”
