Network joins BBC in defying calls from MPs and public on grounds of journalistic impartiality
Jenny Percival and Paul Lewis guardian.co.uk, Monday 26 January 2009 10.07 GMT Article history
Sky News today joined the BBC in refusing to broadcast an emergency appeal for Gaza as the corporation faced renewed pressure from the public and MPs to show the film.
John Ryley, head of Sky News, said screening the appeal, by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), would compromise the network's impartiality.
"The absolute impartiality of our output is fundamental to Sky News and its journalism," he said.
"That is why, after very careful consideration, we have concluded that broadcasting an appeal for Gaza at this time is incompatible with our role in providing balanced and objective reporting of this continuing situation to our audiences in the UK and around the world."
Mark Thompson, the BBC director general, ruled out a change of policy from the corporation, which he said had a duty to cover the issue in a "balanced, objective way".
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Thompson said there would be no change of heart from the BBC because it had a journalistic duty to examine the issues.
"Of course, everyone is struck by the human consequences of what has happened," he said. "And we will, I promise you, continue to report that as fully and as compassionately as we can. But we are going to do it in a way where we can hold it up to scrutiny. It's our job as journalists."
He conceded that one of the BBC's initial objections to the DEC appeal – that delivering aid to victims would be difficult – had "diminished" as a barrier.
But pressure on the corporation will intensify today when more than 50 MPs back an early day motion in the Commons urging the BBC to reverse its decision. Douglas Alexander, the international development secretary, Ben Bradshaw, the health minister, and Hazel Blears, the communities secretary, all criticised the BBC; Shahid Malik, the justice minister, said he had not met anyone who supported the BBC's stance.
Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said the BBC should broadcast the appeal by DEC, an umbrella group of humanitarian charities including Oxfam, Save the Children and the Red Cross.
The Golden Globe-winning actor Samantha Morton joined the protests against the BBC's decision, which has prompted more than 10,000 complaints, saying she would never work for the corporation again if it failed to change its decision. The advert was not a political message but "about raising money for children who are dying", she said.
The appeal will be shown tonight on ITV, Channel 4 and Five.
The Guardian understands that Brendan Gormley, DEC's chief executive, assured senior BBC executives that the money raised was "for all those affected by the recent conflict", including people in southern Israel.
But the BBC said last night: "Whilst our records show that DEC stated in principle the aid could be applied to a wider area, they clearly indicated that the situation with Israel was unlikely to need the help of the appeal, and in practice the request was solely for Gaza."
A DEC spokesman said yesterday: "The DEC appeal is for those suffering as a result of the Gaza conflict. The greatest unmet need is in Gaza itself.
"But DEC members are working in Gaza and Israel, and the Red Cross movement have helped to evacuate people living in southern Israel. We believe that the availability of aid to both Gaza and Israel was understood by the BBC."
The two-minute appeal will be shown on ITV tonight before the main news at about 6.25pm before being broadcast on the other channels.
About 50 protesters last night staged a noisy but peaceful demonstration in the reception area of BBC Scotland's headquarters, in Glasgow. "This is not about taking sides in the conflict," said the Labour MP Richard Burden, who has tabled today's parliamentary motion.
