From: Daniel Abraham (abraham_d2001@yahoo.co.uk)
Date: Tue Jan 27 2009 - 14:13:29 EST
Nicholas Cecil
26.01.09
BBC bosses faced outrage today from their staff and stars over their refusal to screen an aid appeal for Gaza.
They were accused of losing their “heart, common sense and humanity”. Sir John Tusa, former BBC Worldservice chief, led the criticism.
He said: “This is a sadly wrong decision and I say that as somebody who has worked for the BBC for 50 years.
“When you see images of the devastated landscape, when you see images of dead children and of orphaned families and children, you are appealing to people's common humanity.
“Nobody surely in their right mind can say that is being partial' towards the victims. I think the public response shows the common humanity of looking at those scenes and saying for God's sake, let's help them'.
“How did the BBC feel when it took this decision? I think it thought very, very hard and it left its heart behind. A great organisation has to have a heart. Common sense and some humanity seem to have been left behind.”
BBC director-general Mark Thompson was accused by BBC Radio's Today programme presenter John Humphrys of being “immensely patronising” for blocking the broadcast.
There was also “fury” at the BBC News morning meeting, sources told The Guardian which also reported “widespread disgust” among news reporters.
Mr Thompson defended his ruling not to show the appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee, insisting he did so to protect BBC impartiality. He said: “This is not some new policy or some mad one-off decision. It's absolutely in line with our broader approach both to impartiality and to appeals. We are passionate about defending the BBC's impartiality.”
Mr Thompson won some breathing space from the wave of criticism, which includes more than 10,000 complaints, after Sky also refused to show the advert. Downing Street also toned down previous criticism from Cabinet ministers, insisting it did not want to interfere in the BBC's editorial decisions, and Tory MP John Whittingdale, who chairs the all-party Commons media committee, backed the Corporation.
But by lunchtime, nearly 100 MPs had joined a Commons campaign condemning the BBC's decision which has also been attacked by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
Tory MP Nigel Evans, a long time critic of the BBC, even accused it of “adding to the misery and suffering of the people of Gaza” with its “insane obstinacy.” Stars also turned on the Corporation.
Actress Samantha Morton led celebrities who criticised the BBC's decision at a central London fund raiser for the British aid agency Medical Aid for Palestinians last night.
The 31-year-old Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee said she would never work for the BBC again if the corporation failed to show the charity appeal.
Others at the event in central London included actresses Juliet Stevenson and Julia Sawalha, as well as Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens.
The corporation's rival terrestrial broadcasters ITV, Channel 4 and Five all said they would show the advert.
The DEC emergency appeal is for funds for food, medicine and blankets following the Israeli assault.
Pro-Palestinian supporters were holding a rally outside BBC Broadcasting House this afternoon with hundreds expected to turn up.
A BBC spokesman played down claims of internal conflicts over the appeal, saying he did not “recognise the picture painted” in The Guardian.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23628056-details/Staff+anger+over+BBC%C2%92s+refusal+to+broadcast+Gaza+appeal/article.do