So, the BBC and the Gaza DEC appeal

Ooooh, I was about to post this very thread! I'm torn too. I kind of get the Beeb's point, but it does seem a bit churlish. There's a good opinion piece in today's Times about it.

The truth is I don't understand the middle east situation well enough to be even close to having an informed opinion.

I think there's a very real danger of the beeb appearing to be biased in favour of Israel through this whole issue. However, I too see their point.

The DG was on Breakfast this morning talking about this, but he didn't make a coherent argument for the decision and in fact basically (obv paraphrasing) said, "well, you'll see the same footage on the news as in the appeal, we have links to the DEC, this is publiciising the DEC, so we're essentially doing our bit".

I'm sick of people trying to bully the BBC into being all things to all men - they seem unable to do right for doing wrong. I couldn't give a crap whether they broadcast it or not. I am more worried about this sodding database my kids are on, because we all know how well the govt. do data security.

What database LTP?

I kind of agree about the BBC and am getting a bit tired of it being the main headline on the news at least once a week, but I think as it's paid for through the public purse, then there's a genuine feeling that actually it does have to be all things to all men.

Http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090126/tuk-child-database-plans-unveiled-dba1618.html

I'm all for the BBC being answerable to the licensefee payer, but the media frenzy baying for BBC blood every time they do something that SOME people might not agree with - I feel it's just ridiculous. How can they possibly do their job - public service broadcasting - in an impartial fashion if they are spending so much farking time having to justify their every move to the Daily Hate.

Agree with you on that 100%

Hadn't seen that. I agree with you.

I also agree re the current feeding frenzy on the Beeb. I think we're in real danger of losing Auntie in her current form if we're not careful.

I think the BBC are out of order in not showing the appeal. And I don't say this as a license-fee payer, I say it as a human being.

I'm also fence sitting, and have been waiting for Hitched to tell me which side to come down on for a day or two now ?. I'm sure the DEC appeal for Darfur was shown, and that's a man made disaster? I can see the point about impartiality but there are issues in Gaza of homelessness, imminent danger to health/life from the conditions which don't pertain in Israel, so from that POV I think they probably should show it. But then, and then...

Agree with you, LTP, that it's open season on the Beeb in some quarters of the media.

Me too ?

Agree with LTP too about open season on the Beeb.

I just don't really understand why this is different and I do think they risk sounding pro-Israel. Without seeing the appeal it's hard to really know what the issue is (and of course my knowledge of Middle Eastern politics is shameful). It just seems like a lot of fuss from the Beeb and I don't really understand why it's so different from all the other DEC appeals. I'm not worried abotu DEC losnig out though - with all the discussions over the appeal they're getting far more publicity than usual.

Definitely the right decision. Unlike ITV, who have failed to invest properly in newsgathering and reporting in recent years, both the BBC and Sky have international reputations. The BBC in particular is widely perceived to report on most international issues without a particular agenda, which is why it is so important for them to maintain the appearance of impartiality.

With reference to Darfur, there was a wide consensus on the rights and wrongs of the situation. With Gaza, this isn't so straightforward.

The plight of the Palestinian citizens is truly tragic but arguably the BBC's reputation as an impartial observer has done their cause more good than harm in recent years and to appear to favour them would be worse in the long run.

WHS - Also, whilst half-listening to radio 4 this morning, whoever John Humphries was quizzing over this said that the BBC had refused to broadcast other DEC appeals - so this is not an isolated incident, just one that has received more publicity. Let's not forget that the papers who are constantly criticising the BBC are it's competition(I forget which tabloids are owned by people who also own rival TV channels) and so have a vested interest in causing a stink over everything the Beeb does.

lilly i didnt know about this database, thats made me really cross- im a civil servant and we are being hammered over lost data (i dont work for the dept that is responsible but its had real consequences for us) and i am horrified at the thought of my kids details being helpd. staff in my office were affected a few years ago when their identities were stolen due to loss of data and their info used to make fraudulent claims.

We have some Israeli friends and they (and they're representative of quite a lot of Israelis I *think*) feel the BBC is very pro-Palestinian tbh.

I think it's the right decision, especially given the above mentioned perceived bias already.

If I'm not mistaken, the BBC was the only broadcaster other than Al Jazeera to have a news gathering capacity in Gaza.

Well said that woman !

One of the things that has been picked up, is the amount of coverage given to Israel being so much more than the coverage given to Palestine. I'm guessing that a lot of people don't know that because the Israelis control the border into Palestine they can stop both journalists and technical equipment getting into the country. Hence, less boradcasting - as there are fewer journalists to ask the questions, and no equipment to transmit the answers.

Greg *** appeared on Newsnight supporting the BBC and Sky for not showing the appeal.....

My own seperate view is that anybody that needs help and support should get it. Tonight I had a regular taxi driver taking me home from a corporate job......he is Jewish and was very critical of the BBC not supporting the Gaza appeal........that sort of says a lot IMO.

LOL.....apparently Greg *** has a surname that is banned by hitched!!!!

That is D Y K E ......it is a ditch not a profanity...and an ex DG of the BBC

Apologies for the flippancy on a serious subject.......

I saw something on the Beeb last night that they hadn't shown certain other appeals. I think they said Afghanistan and Lebanon but I might have got that wrong.

I think it's a broadcasting channel.