BBC scuppers TV fundraising appeal for Gaza victims

[Sunshinesmith]

BBC scuppers TV fundraising appeal for Gaza victims

I have made a point of not watching as I know too much about it already. I too am disgusted with the BBC and the irony is - as others have alrady pointed out - that in refusing to broadcast this appeal for fear of seeming partial, they have nailed their political colours firmly to the mast. IMO.

Donnie that is exactly what my DH just said...

I think a lot of people are saying it TBH...

sunshine, I think most sensible people would say the Israelis have caused a humanitarian disaster in Gaza.

It doesn't matter if they were right or wrong to undertake action against Hamas. What matters is that thousands of children and innocent civilians have suffered terribly. They had nowhere to go and nowhere to hide.

Even the Israelis said such casualties were regrettable. The very well respected DEC needs to raise some money to help these people fast and I can't see why anyone shouldn't support that. (Nor for the Congo or anywhere else where money is urgently needed).

aaargh, am very very about this.

if it's ok to broadcast for other humanitarian disasters, I remember Congo as being the last one, why not this one? the only thing that can make it different is that the BBC is taking sides. or maybe they don't think there has been a humanitarian disaster

agree, colours well and truly nailed to mast on this one

The Today programme was VERY good on this. As was Tony Benn, bless him. And am very proud of Bill Bailey.

Hmm, whose judgement would I trust, all the decent intelligent people who are criticising this mad decision - or Mark Thompson, the man who has already fucked up again and again?

Ridiculous to claim that an appeal by the DEC - for heaven's sake, you can't get a more respectable body - for humanitarian aid is somehow risking the BBC's impartiality. Has Mark Thompson not seen his organisation's own news footage? Whoever you feel like blaming there are real human beings suffering here.

absolutely baffling.

right then, have just emailed bbc to complain

aaargh again

apparently they can't be sure the money will reach the people it is intended for. maybe we could leave those kind of decisions in the hands of the emminently experienced Red Cross, Save the Children, UNIcef etc. If they think they can do it, good on them. Hardly the BBC's role to naysay with no evidence whatsoever

aaargh

IF the BBC bigwigs have reason to believe the Disasters Emergency Committee can't get relief through to the needy, shouldn't the news bulletins be mentioning it?

Looks like a pathetic attempt to cover their embarrassment to me. I'm sure there are dodgy people and organisations that attempt to divert humanitarian aid but I'm prepared to bet the DEC knows how to get help through to those who need it. Or at least that the DEC should be able to try.

Also, note SKY have joined BBC in refusing to show it. Shame on both of them.

I think Sky broadcasts to Israel, as does the Beeb. Ch4, 5 and ITV don't, as far as I know. Perhaps that's the difference?

Edam, pathetic is not a word to use here. There will be a great deal of soul searching going on.

Where is the story in the "bigwigs" believing money cannot get through? Think about what you need for a story, and think about how it would be impossible to achieve. It does not mean there are not grounds for suspicion.

We have no idea. Perhaps there are briefings from intelligence sources. Who knows? They aren't grasping at straws -- they are trying to do the right thing.

I still think that they have made a brave decision. It would be easy to cave.

Edam I did not mean to sound patronising perish the thort.

I don't think it's a brave decision - I think it's a cowardly one

Yes, that's the easy way to look at it. It is quite a natural reaction I think, that it is through fear of Israel in some way.

But when you look at the coverage you should be able to see that the BBC is not afraid to annoy Israel.

er not deliberately of course but to report facts that would be annoying to the Israeli government

stupid grin
sorry

I don't agree but I forgive you for the stupid grin

stuffit, I am a journalist, so I do understand what is required for a story... but you apologised for possibly sounding a bit patronising so I'll let that one go.

My point was, if there really was something badly wrong with the appeal, BBC journalists would be on the story and reporting it. That's what journalists do. The same impulse that means photographers keep snapping away even in circumstances where the rest of us would think 'run for your life'!

There are thousands of journos at the Beeb, do you really think some exec has more info about what's happening than every single one of them? Everywhere I've ever worked, the journalists knew more than the suits - because that's our job, to find out stuff and work our contacts.

Just think it's an excuse - the DEC is about as respectable as you can get. No way are they acting as a front for Hamas! The idea that the Beeb have had some secret squirrel briefing that money raised would all go to keep terrorists in comfort is just daft.

And I suspect what is really going on is the suits being craven. Something that has afflicted the Beeb ever since the appalling Hutton Inquiry. Even though we now know Blair was lying and Hutton was a patsy.

Yes patronising not good (even to not journos!) but I don't think it's that daft Edam.

But I read my posts and thought I sounded a bit "we should trust those above us, they know what's going on" which is not me at all and not an attitude I like, I am quite a cynical old bastard really.

I suppose I am playing Devil's Advocate because I love the BBC and its attempts to find principle, and the fact that it gets flamed by both sides is one of its greatest achievements.

Now I want to know who you work for (I know that's not going to happen) or what kind of journalist you are. I've noticed that we agree on lots of things but also disagree robustly on others.

Considering that the Israeli official figures of Palestinian dead is 2, yes 2 then there is obviously massive propaganda going on.

The BBC have shown that they have taken sides regardless of the civilian casualties caught in the middle. Remind me, did they take this stance during the Bosnian conflict? Or was that different?

I'm freelance these days and write about health.

Yes, it did sound a bit 'ours not to reason why' which I thought was odd.

There may be massive propaganda going on but not by the BBC.

here

and the BBC is reporting as fact that nearly 1300 people have died.

Thanks Edam.. I will look out for cheese-related bylines..