More backside covering at the BBC

When the BBC refused to get involved with the DEC appeal for Gaza, I noted the possibility that this could be an arse-covering exercise ahead of their being forced to publish the Balen report into biased reporting of the Palestine conflict.

There's more of the same reported in the Graun, which carries the news that the corporation has now refused to broadcast a controversial play about the history of the state of Israel.

In an email seen by the Guardian, Radio 4's drama commissioning editor Jeremy Howe said that he and Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer thought Churchill's play was a "brilliant piece".

But Howe wrote: "It is a no, I am afraid. Both Mark [Damazer, Radio 4 controller] and I think it is a brilliant piece, but after discussing it with editorial policy we have decided we cannot run with it on the grounds of impartiality – I think it would be nearly impossible to run a drama that counters Caryl Churchill's view. Having debated long and hard we have decided we can't do Seven Jewish Children."

Comments

[F Smith]

A 'brilliant piece'? I haven't seen it, but the reviews I read had it down as sheer, gross propaganda intended to generate hatred and to hell with the truth. Since that ties in with the BBC bias, I would have expected them to show it. So, I share your curiosity as to the motivation here.