mutemotions :: media ethics and society

muteness. loudness. [e]motions.

February 20, 2009 • 11:47 pm 0

BBC staff files a petition against BBC

A petition against BBC’s refusal to broadcast Gaza’s appeal signed by 400 BBC employees was handed to Director General Mark Thompson today whose managerial decision was disapproved of by many BBC journalists. BBC Trust, which backed up Thompson’s decision yesterday, will receive a copy of the petition.

Ever since BBC refused to show the appeal, which other UK broadcasters aired in the end of January, the decision has been a matter of wide discussions. Among others, Geoffrey Alderman’s “such appeals are not made in a vacuum” opinion favoured the pseudo-argument of impartiality. Effectively Alderman sees the appeal for civilian aid as incited by the political bias of DEC. Thus, for him, the BBC is right to not broadcast it. Why then previous DEC appeals for, among others, Burma, Kosovo, Niger, Liberia and Sudan have been broadcasted by the BBC?

What the professor fails to recognize is that the pragmatic nature of appeals for aid is combined with an incentive for humanity. Discussions on political conflicts often do not have the privilege to adopt a polar approach restricted simply to the dimensions of “right side” and “wrong side” towards expression of opinion, for in between the blamers and the blamed are those who are directly affected by the political decisions of their governments.

Filed under: Media

January 26, 2009 • 1:25 am 0

The BBC’s refusal to broadcast a charity appeal for the population of Gaza

Last week the BBC decided not to broadcast the plea from the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) for aid to Gaza. The director general of the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, Mark Thompson, announced that the ad will be a breach of the BBC’s commitment to impartiality.

Initially, not broadcasting the appeal was a collective decision taken by the major British broadcasters led by the BBC. After heavy criticism from MPs and journalists, thousands of complaints, as well as public protests in England and Scotland, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 announced on Saturday, 24th of January, that they will screen the appeal. However, the BBC has not yet reviewed its decision.

So far the Israeli-Gaza conflict has resulted in 1,300 Palestinian fatalities, one third of which are children. 60% of Gaza’s population is living on poverty, there is a shortage of food and medical aid and the area is facing a major public health risk resulting from the erratic electricity supplies which the water and sewage system of Gaza are dependent upon.

The BBC’s explanation that broadcasting the appeal will compromise impartiality might have been substantial if the plea was devoted to political and not humanitarian ideals. When however that Gaza’s population is undergoing a humanitarian crisis is a fact not a political hypothesis, the BBC is not committing itself to impartiality. It is abridging its principle of impartiality.

By refusing to broadcast a charity plea, the British Broadcasting Corporation indicates that a humanitarian appeal expresses a political position.  In other words, campaigning for aid for the Gaza civilians would be politically offensive to Israel. The absurdity of such implications only suggests that the grounds of the BBC’s decision lie either in the mistaken morality, or in the political bias of the BBC’s managers.

Demonstrations outside BBC offices in London

Demonstrations outside the BBC offices in London

The conflict in Gaza

One in seven of the central territory's buildings in Gaza has been completely or partially destroyed

Filed under: Media , , , , , ,

January 15, 2009 • 5:20 am 0

The face equality campaign





The UK charity Changing Faces is currently running a campaign for face equality. A research conducted by them showed that 9 from 10 people have prejudices against people with disfigurements which can result in discrimination at work and in public.

“Face equality is about being treated fairly and equally irrespective of facial appearance. It is about creating a society in which everyone is valued for the unique contribution that they can make to society.”

Lend your face by uploading a picture of you to show support for the campaign.

The campaign is displayed throughout the London Underground network, using advertising space donated by TfL. The adverts feature four men and women, and two children, who have facial disfigurements, and carry powerful messages such as “If you can hold my gaze, we could hold a conversation”.

Filed under: Society , ,

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About me

Pavlina

I'm currently studying Communications & Marketing in London Metropolitan University and working in the field of Communications Management and Web Design. This blog will reflect on current media ethics and social issues aiming to generate awareness and explore problematic aspects.