One more Letter about one more BBC Bias

August 1, 2007

For the attention of Nuala Hyde

admin@national.core.bbc.co.uk

Dear Ms Hyde,

Thank you for replying to my email.

I do not feel, however that my concerns have been addressed sufficiently.

Also (I apologise for not mentioning this in my earlier email), there was a significant snub recently by the BBC to a group which was campaigning for the release of Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser, Eldad Regev and other Israeli soldiers illegally detained by Hamas, Hizbullah and other terrorist organisations. The group approached the BBC to ask if Alan Johnston could be made available to comment and to add his voice to theirs and request their immediate release.  The BBC refused, saying "such an action would compromise their objectivity.

I find this attitude duplicitous, to say the least. Alan Johnston made his support solely for the Palestinians evident in each of his broadcasts from Gaza. I suggest by this that the objectivity of the BBC was compromised before they were approached by the campaign group.

You write " However, it is not always possible or practical to reflect all the different opinions on a subject. Editors are charged to ensure that over a reasonable period they reflect the range of significant views, opinions and trends in their subject area."  I beg to differ. Your brief is to inform the British public and as such when you screen a news story your main purpose should be to do this. You do not, and it is evident.

There is still a widely held view (and not just in the Jewish community) that the BBCs suppression of the Balen Report, which would have showed evidence of bias against Israel, was because it was in their interests to hide it from public view. It is lamentable.

Ilana Rosen

UK