BBC war propagandists twanged on F14
not Manchester Uni | 17.02.2003 12:52
Auntie is silent on ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, DU, and Turkish bombing of the Kurds. On Valentine's Day 60 demonstrators entered Bush (sic!) House in central London to register a complaint with the BBC.
At about 8pm on Friday 60 protesters from Manchester University and the Central London Peace group burst into BBC Bush House on Kingsway, home to World Service radio. Placards were secured to the railings, reading 'Lies cost lives' and 'Voice of Empire', and factual leaflets were distributed to the public, and also to employees. The team was able to range widely inside the building, at one point reaching the top floor.
The reaction of many BBC workers was positive and supportive, although one female seemed quite irate, and stated that the World Service was far less biased than other sections of the Beeb.
After about an hour the demonstration moved back out to the pavement, where about 10 police were now in attendance. The debate with the BBC's Ms 'Look, Jenin was not a massacre' continued, despite police attempts to make her leave the protestors alone.
Having stated their case, and showed solidarity to those within the Beeb trying to get the truth out the party left and joined with the occupation at SOAS.
The reaction of many BBC workers was positive and supportive, although one female seemed quite irate, and stated that the World Service was far less biased than other sections of the Beeb.
After about an hour the demonstration moved back out to the pavement, where about 10 police were now in attendance. The debate with the BBC's Ms 'Look, Jenin was not a massacre' continued, despite police attempts to make her leave the protestors alone.
Having stated their case, and showed solidarity to those within the Beeb trying to get the truth out the party left and joined with the occupation at SOAS.
not Manchester Uni
Comments
Hide the following 2 comments
Auntie not anti-war or anti-system
17.02.2003 13:43
In my time, quite a few BBC staff members thought Channel Four news was more objective than the BBC's output.
Steve
Steve
opportunity missed
19.02.2003 20:09
opportunity missed
http://media.guardian.co.uk/radio/story/0,12636,897591,00.html
Which appeared on indymedia too
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=54152&group=webcast
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=54271&group=webcast
But I just spoke to Matt Wells - he tried to find out what it was all about but couldn't - only managed to get rumours from Bush hoose staff - and BBC press office refused to explain anything what the protest was about - Matt admitted he bumped up the terrorism side of it because of the timing but genuinely didn't know what the point of it all was.
I don't want to appear too critical but it highlights the necessity to press release and/or have someone doing press work with actions like this.
Looks like a reel chance to get the word out has been missed and the BBC press office spin surgeons will be delighted.
Tony
Bristol branch - National Union of Journalists
10-12 Picton Street
Montpelier
BRISTOL
BS6 5QA
http://lists.southspace.net/listinfo/nuj_bristol/
http://www.gn.apc.org/media/nuj.html
http://www.nuj.org.uk
0117 944 6219
Tony Gosling
e-mail: tony@gaia.org
Homepage: http://www.bilderberg.org/milne.htm