BBC refusal to screen Gaza appeal catastrophic
The BBC’s decision not to screen a humanitarian appeal for Gaza at the request of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is catastrophic for the corporation’s reputation for impartiality.
Ironically the BBC cites impartiality as a reason for refusing the broadcast. It also questioned the effective delivery of aid.
The Disasters Emergency Committee represents thirteen humanitarian agencies, organisations of the calibre of Oxfam and the British Red Cross. The idea that the BBC is better placed to determine whether aid can be delivered effectively is without credibility.
More to the point it is not the role of the BBC to determine who is worthy of a DEC appeal. Such a task really would undermine the corporation’s credibility.
Instead, the decision should rightly be devolved to an expert panel. That panel is the Disasters Emergency Committee and either there are processes by which the DEC can request an appeal or there are not. Refusing the DEC is a political decision that should only have been taken in exception circumstances the BBC has yet to explain.
Having made a political decision the BBC has surrendered its impartiality and invited the government criticism it has received. A question mark will now hang over its coverage of the Israel/Palestine conflict, which is terribly unfair on its hard working journalists.
Comments (2 comments)
You have to wonder what influence is being brought to bare by HM Govt and the pro-Israeli lobby. Seems that the BBC’s notion of independence has been ever so fragile since the Hutton Enquiry. DG Mark Thompson was given a pretty rough ride this morning on the Today programme and failed to convince anyone of the reasoning behind the decision.
I note that Sky News is also refusing to air this appeal. Our friend Rupert has well documented sympathies in this area.
Brayster / January 26th, 2009, 12:56 pm / #
This is an incredibly difficult area for an organisation like the Beeb and whichever way they go they risk upsetting someone, somewhere along the line and in some cases depending which way they call things their decision could inadvertently put correspondents at risk in some of the world’s hot spots – be interesting to hear what the view on the inside is – any Beeb folk read this blog?
Jim Rothnie / January 27th, 2009, 4:47 pm / #
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