OVER 100 BBC journalists have signed an open letter to the broadcaster’s top bosses condemning its editorial stance on the genocide in Gaza.
Joined by 306 prominent media figures, 112 journalists at the BBC have written to general director Tim Davie and the Board of Governors to voice concerns of censorship, bias, and undermining journalistic integrity by refusing to air the documentary Gaza: Medics Under Fire.
The signatories have accused top bosses of being “crippled by the fear of being perceived as critical of the Israeli government”.
The letter reads: “We believe the refusal to broadcast the documentary ‘Gaza: Medics Under Fire’ is just one in a long line of agenda driven decisions.
“It demonstrates, once again, that the BBC is not reporting ‘without fear or favour’ when it comes to Israel.
“We understand that a decision not to broadcast the investigation has been taken by senior BBC management despite the film’s content being signed off in accordance with BBC guidelines and editorial policy.
“This appears to be a political decision and is not reflective of the journalism in the film. A recent statement from the BBC said broadcasting the film ‘risked creating the perception of partiality’.
“This illustrates precisely what many of us have experienced first hand: an organisation that is crippled by the fear of being perceived as critical of the Israeli government.”
The letter continues on, accusing the BBC’s coverage of being fuelled by anti-Palestinian racism and being “increasingly out of step with reality”.
Journalists at the corporation have also called the future of Robbie Gibb into question and noted concerns that an “individual with close ties to the Jewish Chronicle” has had a say in the decision to pull the Gaza documentary from the service.
Prominent media figures who have co-signed the letter include Owen Jones, Miriam Margoyles, Zawe Ashton and Catherine Happer of the Glasgow University Media Group.
You can read the full letter here.
