Impartiality Review Schedule Announced
Deadline for submissions: 25th Nov.
SEE BBC WEB SITES
http://www.bbcgovernors.co.uk/
http://www.bbcgovernors.co.uk/docs/rev_israelipalestinian.html
Background and terms of reference. pdf file
Israeli-Palestinian Impartiality Review
BBC Governance Unit
Room 211, 35 Marylebone High Street
London, W1U 4AA
email to israelipalestinian.review@bbc.co.uk
In October the Governors published details of the review into impartiality in the BBC’s coverage of the Israel/Palestine conflict. November 25th is the deadline for viewers to submit an opinion.
In brief: it must be noted that the review will focus on transmission within the time scale when broadcasters were forewarned that a review of “impartiality” was pending. It is a possibility, with the acute focus on coverage of the issue by outside observers, that the “partiality” towards Israel - as analysed by Glasgow Media Research in the book “Bad News From Israel” - could soften and be morphed into a more balanced coverage.
There is a fundamental flaw in any review, however independent, if those to be reviewed are prepared for any test. This point could be made in letters to the BBC. However, despite the review, BBC reporting continues to be skewed in favour of Israel.
For example in Aug. 05 on R4 @ 10 (pm) a piece about violence in the Gaza strip concerning Palestinian attacks on Israeli troops. The reporter referred to “disputed territory”, which of course it is. But would the BBC have referred to disputed territory when covering the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait or when Nazi armies were facing bloody resistance from Russians on the outskirts of Leningrad 1941? The R4 report was around the time of the Israeli army’s internationally condemned attacks on the Jegnin refugee camp. The reporter obviously had not heard of the review or perhaps had taken in too much BBC reporting himself.
The Gaza strip and West bank are occupied territory as defined by the UN. Israel has been the target of at least 65, Chapter 6, UN resolutions regarding invaded lands and crimes against humanity. The US has vetoed 28 resolutions against Israel.
The BBC is not Fox News but the subtle fog it disperses is far more damaging by creating a mirage of “balance”. An insidious, perception distorting, drip of half truths, together with an enormity of omission. The greatest casualty is our understanding of history which allows evil and injustice a free hand.
Letters to each and every one of the BBC Governors may be appropriate in addition to submission to the review panel. The names and a contact address are on the BBC Governors web site. A short hand written letter is considered by some, as better value than a long typed detailed analysis, although I can’t always limit myself as such.
John Yates 25th Oct. 2005
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Fair Play at the BBC?
SPINNING THE FOG CONTENT
Nothing, I feel, can change dramatically for the better unless the means of communication are wrested from vested interest. Fox News through to the BBC constantly pump what General Haig ( US Sec of State 1981/2) described as “a little fog content” that clouds and confuses issues at best and at worst, creates totally false historic perception. Spin, as they call it now, is much more sophisticated today.
Thus far there has been little success in the global struggle for adequate representation in broadcast or written media. Yes there is Chomsky, Michael Moore, John Pilger, Panorama, the Independent Newspaper and thousands of excellent revealing special investigation programmes on tv/radio and independent film productions. Statistically they involve a very small minority who have their minds tuned to question and understand the intricacies of this amazing yet threatened world. The majority of British people obtain their view of the world from the main BBC1 and ITV news broadcasts.
BBC
The BBC is uniquely respected and valued as an impartial and honest reporter of world events. This assumption is challenged by the Glasgow University Media Group report “Bad News From Israel”, an analysis of TV coverage of the conflict with the Palestinian people. The BBC Governors are now committed to an independent review of impartiality in coverage of the conflict. It is not clear how important the Glasgow study was to the Governors decision to hold a review but it is recognised as relevant by Richard Tait governor responsible for complaints.
THE REVIEW
Bringing one piece of a complex jigsaw into focus may offer effective means to communicate a wider view of an obscured reality. The BBC review offers a valuable opportunity to challenge the coverage of this key issue in the story of the dominance and exploitation of this region by outside forces. Bias and superficial coverage favouring Israel would be a major cause for the ignorance and confusion in the public mind over rights and wrongs regarding terrorism, occupied territory, WMD states, oil, Islam. Zionism etc.
ZIONISM
Zionist forces have been devastatingly influential with the new right in the USA with a coincidence of interest in engaging the US militarily in the region. Israel and Zionism could be the tail wagging the rapacious wild dog of Bush’s America.
DOUBLE STANDARDS
Double standards, heavily laced with hypocrisy, escape the attention of millions in the developed world. The dubious “values” of the western world are increasingly over powering both educated and uneducated minds connected to the Middle East. In Britain, even trying to understand, to question the reasons of bombers, was seen as unpatriotic and bad taste around the time of 7/7. Now PM Blair spins that history is irrelevant. I am not alone in thinking that the infidel effect - translated to the streets of New York, Madrid, London etc. as bombings - is related to history and perceived injustice.
BBC REVIEW
The mind boggles but I like to think of limited but achievable goals. Helping stimulate interest and participation in the BBC review is the target for my “fighting against” efforts. The review offers a valuable opportunity to challenge the coverage of this pivotal issue in the story of the exploration and control of the oil that is fuelling our rush to explore the limits of ecological tolerance on Planet Earth. I hope you will follow links on this site to participate yourself in influencing the BBC over it’s role. You can be sure that organised Zionists organisations and supporters of the Israeli view will be adding their weight to the investigation.
DISSIDENTS SYNONYMOUS
I hope something of this blog may have sparked interest in knowing more and perhaps participating in the murmuring of opposition to the fateful course of events unfolding militarily, economically and ecologically. If your dissent is in anyway synonymous with mine, I wish you luck in that.
John Yates
6th Sept 2005
As of 24th Aug 05, no details of the terms of reference for the review have been posted on the www.bbcgovernors.co.uk web site. If the Glasgow findings are upheld it must raise the question of how seriously media can distort a populations understanding of history - leading to acquiescence in face of zealous advocates for war. The media is a powerful tool. I hope you will join the move to see it controlled more widely
Nothing, I feel, can change dramatically for the better unless the means of communication are wrested from vested interest. Fox News through to the BBC constantly pump what General Haig ( US Sec of State 1981/2) described as “a little fog content” that clouds and confuses issues at best and at worst, creates totally false historic perception. Spin, as they call it now, is much more sophisticated today.
Thus far there has been little success in the global struggle for adequate representation in broadcast or written media. Yes there is Chomsky, Michael Moore, John Pilger, Panorama, the Independent Newspaper and thousands of excellent revealing special investigation programmes on tv/radio and independent film productions. Statistically they involve a very small minority who have their minds tuned to question and understand the intricacies of this amazing yet threatened world. The majority of British people obtain their view of the world from the main BBC1 and ITV news broadcasts.
BBC
The BBC is uniquely respected and valued as an impartial and honest reporter of world events. This assumption is challenged by the Glasgow University Media Group report “Bad News From Israel”, an analysis of TV coverage of the conflict with the Palestinian people. The BBC Governors are now committed to an independent review of impartiality in coverage of the conflict. It is not clear how important the Glasgow study was to the Governors decision to hold a review but it is recognised as relevant by Richard Tait governor responsible for complaints.
THE REVIEW
Bringing one piece of a complex jigsaw into focus may offer effective means to communicate a wider view of an obscured reality. The BBC review offers a valuable opportunity to challenge the coverage of this key issue in the story of the dominance and exploitation of this region by outside forces. Bias and superficial coverage favouring Israel would be a major cause for the ignorance and confusion in the public mind over rights and wrongs regarding terrorism, occupied territory, WMD states, oil, Islam. Zionism etc.
ZIONISM
Zionist forces have been devastatingly influential with the new right in the USA with a coincidence of interest in engaging the US militarily in the region. Israel and Zionism could be the tail wagging the rapacious wild dog of Bush’s America.
DOUBLE STANDARDS
Double standards, heavily laced with hypocrisy, escape the attention of millions in the developed world. The dubious “values” of the western world are increasingly over powering both educated and uneducated minds connected to the Middle East. In Britain, even trying to understand, to question the reasons of bombers, was seen as unpatriotic and bad taste around the time of 7/7. Now PM Blair spins that history is irrelevant. I am not alone in thinking that the infidel effect - translated to the streets of New York, Madrid, London etc. as bombings - is related to history and perceived injustice.
BBC REVIEW
The mind boggles but I like to think of limited but achievable goals. Helping stimulate interest and participation in the BBC review is the target for my “fighting against” efforts. The review offers a valuable opportunity to challenge the coverage of this pivotal issue in the story of the exploration and control of the oil that is fuelling our rush to explore the limits of ecological tolerance on Planet Earth. I hope you will follow links on this site to participate yourself in influencing the BBC over it’s role. You can be sure that organised Zionists organisations and supporters of the Israeli view will be adding their weight to the investigation.
DISSIDENTS SYNONYMOUS
I hope something of this blog may have sparked interest in knowing more and perhaps participating in the murmuring of opposition to the fateful course of events unfolding militarily, economically and ecologically. If your dissent is in anyway synonymous with mine, I wish you luck in that.
John Yates
6th Sept 2005
As of 24th Aug 05, no details of the terms of reference for the review have been posted on the www.bbcgovernors.co.uk web site. If the Glasgow findings are upheld it must raise the question of how seriously media can distort a populations understanding of history - leading to acquiescence in face of zealous advocates for war. The media is a powerful tool. I hope you will join the move to see it controlled more widely
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