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<TITLE>FW: [GSAW] Reply from the BBC after picket</TITLE>
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from Glasgow Southside Against War<BR>
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<B>From: </B>"Kev Kiernan" <kevkiernan@hotmail.com><BR>
<B>Reply-To: </B>GSAW@yahoogroups.com<BR>
<B>Date: </B>Mon, 28 Apr 2003 15:18:50 +0000<BR>
<B>To: </B>GSAW@yahoogroups.com<BR>
<B>Subject: </B>[GSAW] Reply from the BBC after picket<BR>
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<TT>Greetings all.<BR>
<BR>
For those who may be interested, I received this today - a good number of <BR>
weeks after the anti-war picket outside the BBC in Glasgow. This was a <BR>
response to the statement we handed in at the time demanding that the BBC <BR>
puts an end to its mass censorship of the anti-war movement and blatant <BR>
pro-war propaganda.<BR>
Please try not to read all of it as it may fucking bore you all to death.<BR>
<BR>
Kev<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
24 April 2003<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Dear Sirs,<BR>
<BR>
Thank you for your recent letter regarding the BBC's coverage of the <BR>
anti-war movement and the conflict in Iraq.<BR>
<BR>
On the day of demonstrations held around the world on Saturday 22 March the <BR>
BBC had rolling coverage on News 24 - along with debates and reports on all <BR>
other networks. The protests, particularly the largest in London, were given <BR>
extensive coverage, both before and during the march. On the day itself, the <BR>
rally was reported on all the BBC ONE bulletins and it also featured heavily <BR>
in a number of reports on Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live. BBC News 24 was also <BR>
broadcast on analogue for most of the day and included interviews with the <BR>
organisers as well as several of the more high profile supporters.<BR>
<BR>
Political coverage of the war has also been in depth with the cabinet rift <BR>
dominating the news for several days - up to and including the resignation <BR>
of Robin Cook. Furthermore the views of political parties, such as the <BR>
Liberal Democrats, SNP and Plaid Cymru, as well as the main parties who were <BR>
in favour of the war, have been sought to reflect the breadth of opinion <BR>
across the UK.<BR>
<BR>
Regarding the use of images; I am sorry you feel that the BBC is sanitising <BR>
its reports. Often the pictures available are extremely graphic. The <BR>
editorial decision can be finely balanced, but when we feel certain pictures <BR>
are unnecessarily disturbing, they will not be broadcast. Others can only be <BR>
shown after the 9pm watershed. Some pictures shown in other countries would <BR>
be deemed inappropriate to broadcast in the UK.<BR>
<BR>
As a public service broadcaster the BBC does not support any viewpoint; <BR>
instead we seek to provide sufficient information to enable viewers and <BR>
listeners to make up their own minds about all differing aspects of this <BR>
conflict. The BBC's news output strives to identify all significant opinions <BR>
and test them rigorously on behalf of the audience. In an effort to ensure <BR>
the public receives the sort of comprehensive coverage they would expect <BR>
from the BBC, we will reflect the differing range of opinion, both in the UK <BR>
and across the world.<BR>
<BR>
This means reflecting equally the views of those who support the war and <BR>
those who don't.<BR>
<BR>
Yours faithfully<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
(John McCormick)<BR>
<BR>
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