[Media-watch] FW: Al-Basra massacre news footage censored

Tue Mar 25 12:24:12 GMT 2003

I don't know if you get this, but just in case...

Barry White
CPBF.
-----Original Message-----
From:	MWAW press [SMTP:mwaw.pr at virgin.net]
Sent:	24 March 2003 15:55
To:	Recipient List Suppressed:;
Subject:	Al-Basra massacre news footage censored

NEWS RELEASE:  Monday 24 March 2003
CONTACT:  Dave Crouch  07801 789 297
EMAIL:  david.crouch at emap.com
http://www.mwaw.org

***this is a message from Media Workers Against the War***

Why weren't these images shown in Britain?

Al-Jazeera Uncover the Truth

Horrific images were shown yesterday on the Arabic satellite channel 
Aljazeera of the victims of U.S. bombardment of Al-Basra and the 
positions of two Islamic groups in Iraq's Kurdistan.

The Al-Basra victims, 50 of whom have met their death while more 
than a hundred have been wounded, were all civilians. It is extremely 
worrying that these reports and images, which have been carried out 
or shown on Aljazeera TV and are posted on the Aljazeera website
http://www.aljazeera.net/news/arabic/2003/3/3-22-26.htm
<http://www.aljazeera.net/news/arabic/2003/3/3-22-26.htm>

have not been reported or shown on any of the British or American TV stations.

According to reports from Washington, the U.S. authorities are 
imposing a total blackout on these reports and the images of the 
victims.

Since the start of this war both American and British military and 
political spokespersons have been boasting of a precise targeting". 
Faced with massive opposition to the war, both domestically and 
internationally, both governments have been concerned about any 
reaction to reports of indiscriminate killing or maiming of Iraqis.

Although, such critical reports of human deaths and suffering were 
supported by evidence and broadcast through international media such 
as Al-Jazeera, the British media have failed miserably to report 
civilian casualties of American and British military forces' use of 
overwhelming force to attack Iraq.

Mainstream British media's continuous failure to maintain unbiased 
reporting of events taking place in Iraq, casts dark shadow upon its 
so called democratic values of journalistic conduct, sadly at the 
same time questioning integrity of some elements of the media.

The British public only demands to know what is going on, what is the 
truth, so it is the responsibility of the media to exercise unbiased 
reporting during such a critical time.

We call on all of you to contact media and ask them why they did not 
show these images.

  <http://www.mwaw.org>

********************

Media Workers Against the War

Reporting War on Iraq:
The Challenge for Public Service Broadcasting

With speakers:
Mark Damazer, Deputy Director, BBC News
Andrew Murray, Chair, Stop the War Coalition

Thursday, March 27
7pm
Stanhope Centre for Communications Policy Research
Stanhope Place, London W2
(200 yards from Marble Arch tube)
Tel. 0207 479 5900

You are invited to take part in this important debate for media
professionals.

R.S.V.P. to david.crouch at emap.com

organised by Media Workers Against the War
www.mwaw.org
Tel 07801 789 297

Title: Al-Basra massacre news footage
censored

NEWS RELEASE:  Monday 24 March 2003
CONTACT:  Dave Crouch  07801 789 297
EMAIL:  david.crouch at emap.com
http://www.mwaw.org

***this is a message from Media Workers Against the
War***
 
Why
weren't these images shown in Britain?
 
Al-Jazeera
Uncover the Truth

Horrific images were shown
yesterday on the Arabic satellite channel Aljazeera of the victims of
U.S. bombardment of Al-Basra and the positions of two Islamic groups
in Iraq's Kurdistan.

 The Al-Basra victims, 50 of whom have met their death while more
than a hundred have been wounded, were all civilians. It is extremely
worrying that these reports and images, which have been carried out or
shown on Aljazeera TV and are posted on the Aljazeera website
http://www.aljazeera.net/news/arabic/2003/3/3-22-26.htm
<http://www.aljazeera.net/news/arabic/2003/3/3-22-26.htm><br
>

have not been reported or
shown on any of the British or American TV stations.

According to reports from
Washington, the U.S. authorities are imposing a total blackout on
these reports and the images of the victims.

Since the start of this
war both American and British military and political spokespersons
have been boasting of a precise targeting". Faced with massive
opposition to the war, both domestically and internationally, both
governments have been concerned about any reaction to reports of
indiscriminate killing or maiming of Iraqis.

Although, such critical
reports of human deaths and suffering were supported by evidence and
broadcast through international media such as Al-Jazeera, the British
media have failed miserably to report civilian casualties of American
and British military forces' use of overwhelming force to attack
Iraq.

Mainstream British media's
continuous failure to maintain unbiased reporting of events taking
place in Iraq, casts dark shadow upon its so called democratic values
of journalistic conduct, sadly at the same time questioning integrity
of some elements of the media.

The British public only
demands to know what is going on, what is the truth, so it is the
responsibility of the media to exercise unbiased reporting during such
a critical time.

We call on all of you to
contact media and ask them why they did not show these
images.

<font face="Times New Roman"
size="+2"> <http://www.mwaw.org>

<font face="Times New Roman"
size="+2">********************

<font face="Times New Roman" size="+2"
color="#FF0000">Media Workers Against the War

Reporting War on Iraq:
The
Challenge for Public Service Broadcasting

With
speakers:
Mark
Damazer, Deputy Director, BBC News
Andrew
Murray, Chair, Stop the War Coalition

Thursday,
March 27
7pm
Stanhope
Centre for Communications Policy Research
Stanhope
Place, London W2
(200 yards
from Marble Arch tube)
Tel. 0207
479 5900

You are
invited to take part in this important debate for
media
professionals.

R.S.V.P. to
david.crouch at emap.com

organised
by Media Workers Against the War
www.mwaw.org
Tel 07801
789 297