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Flagrant bias from the BBC

Media workers against war | 21.03.2003 13:36

In this message:
1. Flagrant pro-war bias on News at 10
2. BBC news chief to debate anti-war leader

1. Mass anger is not "news" for the BBC

On its 45 minute flagship news bulletin at 10pm last night (March 20), the BBC ignored the powerful protests that took place across Britain.

The bulletin showed the protests at parliament only as a background for a report from Westminster. And it only mentioned protests abroad, saying that they were "mainly in Muslim countries".

Please phone and email your disgust to BBC complaints on 08700 100 222,  info@bbc.co.uk

FACT: The protests at Parliament last night entirely occupied Parliament Square and forced police to close Whitehall, blocking off Downing Street.
The police initially barricaded off Parliament Square, but the barricades were breached by thousands of school students in the afternoon.

FACT: There were huge protests across the world yesterday, including the USA, Belgium, Egypt, Spain, India and Switzerland. Channel 4 called it "one of the largest days of world demonstrations".

FACT: Police in San Francisco arrested 1,025 people at an anti-war demonstration. Anti-war demonstrators in New York completely blocked New York's Broadway for two blocks below 42nd Street

FACT: London will be brought to a halt tomorrow by another massive, angry national demonstration against the war. Millions have been inspired by the school students, who don't want a future of war and terror.

The BBC is still treating the anti-war movement as "just another demo". It has not understood the chasm that has opened up between parliament and public opinion.

It is a gross distortion to devote bulletins to uninformative and repetitive reports from behind UK/US lines in Iraq, while ignoring the battle to stop
this war.

The BBC is manifestly failing in its duty as a public service broadcaster to reflect truthfully the course of events and allow democratic expression of
majority views.

Please phone and email your disgust to BBC complaints on 08700 100 222,  info@bbc.co.uk

2. BBC news chief to debate anti-war leader on coverage of Iraq "Reporting War on Iraq: The Challenge for Public Service Broadcasting"

Join this debate!

With speakers:
Mark Damazer, Deputy Director, BBC News
Andrew Murray, Chair, Stop the War Coalition

Thursday, March 27
7pm
Stanhope Centre for Communications Policy Research
Stanhope Place, London W2
(200 yards from Marble Arch tube)
Tel. 0207 479 5900

Media workers against war

Comments

Display the following 9 comments

  1. I used to think the BBC was OK — Thomas J
  2. disgusted with the media!! — The duck!!
  3. Flagrant bias from the BBC — David
  4. BBC — Mutiny
  5. Balenced News — Tony Webb
  6. A lost story... — Maz
  7. Here's mine - feel free to comment — Joe P.
  8. Like this article..... — PhillC
  9. The Beeb — Steve