The Todal
2009-01-23 21:47:25 UTC
The BBC ought to be ashamed of themselves. I hope plenty of people will
respond by donating anyway via http://www.dec.org.uk/ - meanwhile lots of
people are emailing the BBC to complain but it really isn't likely to do any
good.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5568735.ece
"A nationwide appeal for money to help the Gaza relief effort has been
denied free television airtime because the BBC fears that it would damage
confidence in the corporation's impartiality. A 46-year-old agreement with
overseas aid charities guarantees them a two-minute prime-time slot to
broadcast appeals. But the BBC said that the risk of compromising confidence
in its fairness, coupled with "question marks" about aid getting through,
had led to its decision not to go ahead with this one.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) announced its national appeal for
Gaza yesterday, saying that the devastation after Israel's three-week
offensive was so great that the leading aid charities felt "compelled to
act". The committee, which is made up of the 12 biggest aid charities,
including the British Red Cross and Save the Children, co-ordinates
fundraising during international emergencies to maximise the impact of their
efforts.
The big advantage of a DEC appeal is the free airtime given to it by the
major broadcasters.
The BBC statement said: "Along with other broadcasters, the BBC has decided
not to broadcast the DEC's public appeal to raise funds for Gaza. The BBC
decision was made because of question marks about the delivery of aid in a
volatile situation and also to avoid any risk of compromising public
confidence in the BBC's impartiality in the context of an ongoing news
story. However, the BBC will, of course, continue to report the humanitarian
story in Gaza."
Sky immediately denied that it had also had reservations. "We were
considering this request internally when the DEC contacted us to let us know
that the BBC had decided not to broadcast the appeal at this time. As, by
convention, if all broadcasters do not carry the appeal then none do, the
decision was effectively made for us," a spokesman said. "
respond by donating anyway via http://www.dec.org.uk/ - meanwhile lots of
people are emailing the BBC to complain but it really isn't likely to do any
good.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5568735.ece
"A nationwide appeal for money to help the Gaza relief effort has been
denied free television airtime because the BBC fears that it would damage
confidence in the corporation's impartiality. A 46-year-old agreement with
overseas aid charities guarantees them a two-minute prime-time slot to
broadcast appeals. But the BBC said that the risk of compromising confidence
in its fairness, coupled with "question marks" about aid getting through,
had led to its decision not to go ahead with this one.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) announced its national appeal for
Gaza yesterday, saying that the devastation after Israel's three-week
offensive was so great that the leading aid charities felt "compelled to
act". The committee, which is made up of the 12 biggest aid charities,
including the British Red Cross and Save the Children, co-ordinates
fundraising during international emergencies to maximise the impact of their
efforts.
The big advantage of a DEC appeal is the free airtime given to it by the
major broadcasters.
The BBC statement said: "Along with other broadcasters, the BBC has decided
not to broadcast the DEC's public appeal to raise funds for Gaza. The BBC
decision was made because of question marks about the delivery of aid in a
volatile situation and also to avoid any risk of compromising public
confidence in the BBC's impartiality in the context of an ongoing news
story. However, the BBC will, of course, continue to report the humanitarian
story in Gaza."
Sky immediately denied that it had also had reservations. "We were
considering this request internally when the DEC contacted us to let us know
that the BBC had decided not to broadcast the appeal at this time. As, by
convention, if all broadcasters do not carry the appeal then none do, the
decision was effectively made for us," a spokesman said. "