https://substack.com/inbox/post/151024243?utm_campaign=post&showWelcomeOnShare=true

For the attention of BBC Director General Tim Davie and BBC CEO Deborah Turness,

We, the undersigned—a group of diverse industry professionals and concerned parties—are dismayed at the lack of consistently fair and accurate evidence-based journalism in coverage of Gaza across impartial broadcasters. Organisations like the BBC, ITV and Sky enjoy high levels of public trust. These outlets all have a heightened duty to fearlessly follow the evidence, and paint an accurate picture. The BBC, in particular, is licence fee funded, and the erosion of its own editorial standards has put its impartiality and independence at serious risk.


Basic journalistic tenets have been lacking when it comes to holding Israel to account for its actions. We, as a group of largely industry professionals, want to see the best possible journalism coming out of the region and ask these broadcasters for accuracy across the board, including but not limited to: reiterating that Israel does not give external journalists access to Gaza, making it clear when there is insufficient evidence to back up Israeli claims, highlighting the extent to which Israeli sources are reliable, making clear where Israel is the perpetrator in article headlines, providing proportionate representation of experts in war crimes and crimes against humanity, including regular historical context predating October 2023, use of consistent language when discussing both Israeli and Palestinian deaths, and robustly challenging Israeli government and military representatives in all interviews. Many of us have raised concerns across organisations via the appropriate channels, to no avail. 


Israel has now killed at least tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023, including over a hundred Palestinian journalists reporting on the ground. We are appalled to see the same editorial failings repeated across news organisations over a year since this onslaught began, and are dismayed at the targeting of journalists who have either robustly challenged Israel on air, or raised concerns over the quality of coverage. The consequences of inadequate coverage are significant. Every television report, article and radio interview that has failed to robustly challenge Israeli claims has systematically dehumanised Palestinians. 


We now ask broadcasters to recommit to the highest editorial standards—with emphasis on fairness, accuracy, and due impartiality—and to exhibit the editorial bravery we have seen in other story areas. Israel must be held to account for its actions, without fear or favour.


In an open letter, more than 100 BBC employees (and 300+ media figures) state the BBC is a mouthpiece for the Accursed Entity and "performing PR for the I--eli government and military" [Link to full letter inside]