BBC scuppers TV fundraising appeal for Gaza victim

[joliet]

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 agreement dates back to 1963, when big aid charities first came together for a joint appeal, and has the approval of broadcasting regulators. Under its terms the main broadcasters get together and agree what footage to use, and often provide the spokesman for the appeal. The script is agreed and then signed off by the DEC.

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5568735.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797093

The difference between this conflict and that of, for example, the Congo is that the good guys and the bad guys are more clearly defined in the Congo. With the Middle East situation the line is so blurry you begin to wonder if there was a line to begin with.

I think the BBC have made the right choice. The alternative is that two appeals go out. One for those affected by mortar attacks in Israel and the other for the victims of the airstrikes in Gaza. Truely giving the British people the choice to donate to their cause of choice, or not at all.

[avieder]

Jan 23, 2009 10:30:05 GMT joliet said:

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 agreement dates back to 1963, when big aid charities first came together for a joint appeal, and has the approval of broadcasting regulators. Under its terms the main broadcasters get together and agree what footage to use, and often provide the spokesman for the appeal. The script is agreed and then signed off by the DEC.

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5568735.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797093

The difference between this conflict and that of, for example, the Congo is that the good guys and the bad guys are more clearly defined in the Congo. With the Middle East situation the line is so blurry you begin to wonder if there was a line to begin with.

I think the BBC have made the right choice. The alternative is that two appeals go out. One for those affected by mortar attacks in Israel and the other for the victims of the airstrikes in Gaza. Truely giving the British people the choice to donate to their cause of choice, or not at all.

"because the BBC fears that it would damage confidence in the corporation’s impartiality."
You make me laugh:
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232292938156&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
They don't know what impatiality means.

[joliet]

How can the BBC be expect to accurately report on the conflict when Israel wouldn't let them into the area?

[VikingHumpingWitch]

Hmm, not sure the JP is entirely impartial either.

[tedward]

WTF ??...if people need urgent help they need urgent help, sod what people might think

[policecar]

what about Somalia? It's being reinvaded by Islamic militias as we speak and the Islamic Courts are causing carnage with their medieval sentencing. Where's the appeal for Somalia? Or Zimbabwe, or Congo, or the Sudan..........

[tedward]

The BBC has to be PC PC.

[limeylily]

Jan 23, 2009 11:12:30 GMT tedward said:

The BBC has to be PC PC.

It also has to be careful - along with the UN - not to offend the Islamic world by over-publicising the genocide, slavery, mass rape, torture and devastation committed on a daily basis in Darfur by the Islamic government in Khartoum. The best course is to concentrate on Israel's alleged crimes as it attemps to defend its citizens against the terrorists' daily barrage of rockets.

[VikingHumpingWitch]

Um. Are you being funny or are you actually suggesting that the UN's failure to act in Darfur is for fear of offending Musmlims?

[Gort]

As policecar said above what about all the sh*t the islamists are dishing out around the world so why should we give a toss about Gaza why should we raise funds for them, let Iran and the saudis fund the rebuild, why should the Brits give money to a people who would'nt give us the steam of their sh*t if we were gasping for a drink in the desert they hate the west so only a naive PC annie lennox type would support that.

[puffin]

They don't appeal for Congo and Darfur..... really?

www.dec.org.uk/item/316

www.dec.org.uk/item/48

[puffin]

They are still working in both places. Because they don't go around trumpetting their daily work, but just get on with it, doesn't mean it's not being done.They work with no regard to the race, religion or ethnicity of those in need which is exactly as it should be for any humanitarian group.
It would do well for some to establish the facts before they criticise.

[Gort]

My point was its muslims who are the cause of just about every conflict in the world just now and why should we raise funds for them when they would never lift a finger to help non muslims. Then again if you are liberal or PC minded you would be blind to these facts.

[puffin]

WE raise... sorry people like you don't of course... to help other human beings who are in dire need.
When someone is starving, without waterand shelter or in need of medical aid anyone with a shred of humanity doesn't ask them who they pray to.

[puffin]

ITV, Channel 4 and Five are to show a charity appeal for Gaza amid a row over the BBC's decision not to run the film.

Ministers urged the BBC to recognise "immense human suffering" and show the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal.

At least 200 people protested in London at the BBC's decision. The corporation fears compromising its impartiality in covering the Israeli offensive in Gaza.

The BBC and other channels previously agreed not to show the appeal. Five now said the issue "transcends politics".

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7848673.stm

[Gort]

Puffers, I personal donated £200 of my hard earned money to the tsunami online appeal and at least 70% of the people effected by the disaster were muslim so I have no shame when it come to what I have personaly donated to relief charities but that was a disaster not of mans making where as my attitude has changed and as for Gaza they brought that on themselves. As for helping other human beings who are in need I have given £100s to charities over my life time, I just no longer have time for the islamic world.

[Muz]

Jan 24, 2009 18:50:00 GMT puffin said:

WE raise... sorry people like you don't of course... to help other human beings who are in dire need.
When someone is starving, without waterand shelter or in need of medical aid anyone with a shred of humanity doesn't ask them who they pray to.

That's nonsense even for you Puff. Why should we help? Have we not got enough of our own problems to deal with?

Also, there may be appeals for Darfur and the like, but they're not on the BBC. The BBC is spot on with this.

[puffin]

You see this is where we differ. If an area has desperate needs I don't see Muslims, I see suffering human beings.
A starving, injured child doesn't choose their place of birth or the politics of the leaders. A homeless old woman can't overthrow the militants who may be the cause of her homelessness.

[Gort]

I use to think like you Puffters but I was blind and naive and now Im wise and can see thru the haze of over compassion cos that homeless old woman gave birth to the millitants and the injured child is just a fledgling militant thats what I now see and unfortunately it has been the actions of muslims over the past 15 years or so that have changed my opinion of them, not all muslims are bad I respect the ones who get on with life and are willing to adapt and apreciate the standard of life that my country offers those who have chosen to settle here, but although not all muslims are terrorists all terrorists are muslims.

[newyorker]

Jan 24, 2009 17:55:42 GMT Gort said:

As policecar said above what about all the sh*t the islamists are dishing out around the world so why should we give a toss about Gaza why should we raise funds for them, let Iran and the saudis fund the rebuild, why should the Brits give money to a people who would'nt give us the steam of their sh*t if we were gasping for a drink in the desert they hate the west so only a naive PC annie lennox type would support that.

Nice.

Gort, you want to work in shifts?

I'm on NY time so I'll take evenings. ;D