Politics and the BBC

[tobyaw]

With news yesterday that the head of the IAEA has refused to do an interview with the BBC, as he is boycotting them over the BBC’s decision not to show the DEC Gaza charity appeal, it makes me think that the BBC were wise not to show the film; anything that is controversial enough to lead people to protest could undermine their editorial independence.

Yes, I know the BBC have shown plenty of controversial programmes in the past, but there is a big difference between showing and standing by their own programming, and being pressured into showing an advert that was not created or commissioned by them.

Comments

Re: Taking sides

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Aid should go where there is greatest need. And your analogies are spurious, given that the UK is not a participant in this conflict, any more than it is in Darfur or Congo or Rwanda. I hold no brief for Hamas, but denying aid to civilians because there is a risk of misappropriation (which also happens in other conflict zones, but again does not prevent appeals being made) only plays into their hands because they can then pretend they are the "only people who can help".