BBC Watch: Protesting the BBC in Glasgow
January 17th, 2009 § 1 Comment
John Hilley of the Glasgow Palestine Human Rights Campaign has an excellent report on yesterday’s protest outside the BBC headquarters in Glasgow. I would also like to commend John’s superb efforts sedulously investigating and challenging the journalistic malpractices of BBC and other liberal media institutions in Britain.
Around 150 caring people stood defiantly outside the BBC HQ in Glasgow last night and proclaimed loudly:
“Occupation is a crime, why not say it on prime time?”
A colourful array of banners and flags accompanied a more sombre presentation of white-clothed baby figures lying in a long row along the BBC steps, a stark reminder of the murdered infants of Gaza.
Predictably, no BBC reporter ventured out of this shiny new glass building to do that most basic thing: report what we were doing. Instead, some stood looking out, while many others, on finishing their workday, walked briskly by, eyes averted. Someone beside me, a recent employee, said that there was a virtual atmosphere of intimidation when it came to staff voicing their opinions on such matters.
And the chant went on:
“Killing children is a crime, why not say it on prime time?”
Professor David Miller (Strathclyde University) and Nicola Fisher (Co-chair of Glasgow Stop the War Coalition) were permitted to meet with Ian Small, the BBCs Director of Public Affairs, to air the movement’s views and hand him a 9 point letter of complaint.
David reported back to the gathering that Mr Small had been attentive and apparently in agreement with some of the points. He has agreed to forward the letter to Helen Boaden, Mark Byford and other senior BBC directors. A detailed reply has also been promised.
As David noted, no one is expecting any radical change of policy. But, of course, that’s never the point of such demonstrations. It’s all part of a cumulative effort to highlight media complicity in Israel’s war crimes.
Later, Peter Murray, Vice President of the BBC’s NUJ section, told the gathering how BBC journalists and Palestinians had stood in common support of Alan Johnston during his captivity. Now, he said, an entire population is detained and the BBC turns the other way.
And the chant went on:
“Ethnic cleansing is a crime, why not say it on prime time?”
Other speakers included ex-Glasgow councillor Alex Mosson, who made a spirited appeal for continued action. My own modest contribution included an appeal to flood the BBC with complaints – and, of course, to read Media Lens.
And the chant went on:
“Genocide is a crime, why not say it on prime time?”
A last interesting snippet to emerge. After the 10,000 strong demo in Edinburgh on Saturday, the BBC called Stop the War to ask if they could give them some photos of the event, as they didn’t have anyone there to get a picture. Says it all, really.
what does sedulously mean?
anyway, good on yez. was planning to come but was sick in bed…