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 |  Subject: Filth: British broadcasters shun Gaza aid appeal  Sat Jan 24, 2009 7:25 am | |
| Normally when Britain's Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launches an aid appeal, major television channels provide slots for short videos, often fronted by celebrities, explaining the emergency and how the public can donate money.
In late November, for example, when the coalition of 13 British-based aid agencies asked for funds for their work in eastern Congo, the BBC backed the campaign, airing a two-and-a-half minute film presented by actress Juliet Stevenson.
But not this time. Charity sector magazine Third Sector reports that British broadcasters have declined to run adverts for the DEC's latest appeal "to help ease the desperate plight of people affected by the conflict in Gaza", which was launched on Jan. 22.
The DEC told Third Sector broadcasters were not supporting the campaign because they were concerned it would damage their political neutrality.
In most cases, all broadcasters carry DEC appeals for free - which is a major advantage for aid agencies. But if one of them does not agree, then no channel will show the adverts.
The BBC defended its decision not to participate in the Gaza campaign. "Along with other broadcasters, the BBC has decided not to broadcast the DEC's public appeal to raise funds for Gaza," it said in a statement. "The BBC's decision was made because of question marks about the delivery of aid in a volatile situation, and also to avoid any risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC's impartiality in the context of an ongoing news story."
And ITV told the Times newspaper: "We assessed the DEC's request (to support the appeal) carefully against agreed criteria and were unable to reach the consensus which is necessary."
The DEC says its member agencies will focus on providing immediate humanitarian aid, such as food, medicine and blankets, and will not get involved in reconstruction in Gaza.
"We work on the basis of humanitarian need and there is an urgent need in Gaza today," said chief executive Brendan Gormley. "Political solutions are for others to resolve, but what is of major concern to us all is that many innocent people have been affected by the situation - and it is them that we seek to help."
Gormley told the Times he was disappointed the appeal would not be aired on television. "We deeply regret this decision if it means our message doesn't reach those who may want to give to a DEC appeal," he said.
"We will soldier on but we recognise it will be much more of a struggle now to reach donors."
The umbrella group had decided not to use celebrities to promote its cause this time because it was concerned they would not be seen as impartial, Third Sector reported.
Despite its relatively low-profile nature, the appeal - which will remain open until July - is running in the press and on the radio, and interviews are being offered to media.
http://www.alertnet.org/db/blogs/20316/2009/00/23-125700-1.htm |
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| | Subject: Re: Filth: British broadcasters shun Gaza aid appeal Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:23 pm | |
| The BBC faces more pressure to broadcast a charity appeal for funds for people in Gaza, as the Archbishop of Canterbury joined the row and more than 50 MPs signed a motion condemning the move.
The publicly-funded British broadcaster is refusing to air an appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee, made up of charities including the British Red Cross and Oxfam, because it says it could compromise the BBC's impartiality.
The BBC also questions whether aid can be delivered efficiently in the Gaza Strip, where Palestinians say over 1,300 died during Israel's 22-day offensive, despite ministers saying this is not an issue.
The decision drew fierce criticism from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government on Saturday, while thousands of people protested in central London over the move.
The leader of Anglicans worldwide, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, said on Sunday: "My feeling is that the BBC should broadcast an appeal."
The second most senior Anglican clergyman, Archbishop of York John Sentamu, has also said the row is not about impartiality, but humanity.
"This is not an appeal by Hamas asking for arms but by the Disasters Emergency Committee asking for relief," Sentamu said. "By declining their request, the BBC has already taken sides and foresaken impartiality."
A total of 51 MPs backed a parliamentary motion saying they are "astonished" by the BBC's move and calling the BBC's explanations for its decision "unconvincing and incoherent".
BBC director-general Mark Thompson said on Saturday that it has "a duty to ensure that nothing risks undermining our impartiality. It is to protect that impartiality that we have made this difficult decision."
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