Post by Teddy Bear on Mar 4, 2008 16:33:54 GMT
Consider this article in today's Times:
There's quite a bit here to get disturbed about. Even from the opening paragraph The BBC has promised that its journalism will remain impartial after unveiling a £25 million Arabic television news service funded by the Government.
'Remain impartial'
In other words, it will continue its coverage in the same biased vein that it has been doing and getting away with uptil now. Do you think for a moment that those repressive regimes that allow the BBC to broadcast to its citizens will permit coverage from the point of view of our society, or will it have to be 'modified' for their consumption? In other words - far from impartial!
'Funded by the government' That's supposed to make license fee payers feel better, but in case you've forgotten, it's you and me that give the government those funds through regular taxation.
But you see the real aim of the BBC to extend its global reach - and therefore understand the purpose of its hitherto biased coverage - a 100 million more suckers.
Paul Revoir, writing for the Daily Mail on the same subject, is not looking for a future job with the BBC, and has no problem telling it like it is, especially with this line: Another MP, who did not wish to be named, said: "It is basically a propaganda exercise. The question is: Will the propaganda be good enough? I have to say I fail to see much difference between the BBC and Al Jazeera much of the time anyway."
Like being impartial is important to the Arab world 
BBC launches Arabic TV news service
Adam Sherwin
The BBC has promised that its journalism will remain impartial after unveiling a £25 million Arabic television news service funded by the Government.
Designed to compete against al-Jazeera and other satellite channels, BBC Arabic Television is seen as a major intervention in the battle to win hearts and minds in the region. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office agreed to fund the first UK state-backed international television channel after the BBC said it was failing to reach a potential audience of 100 million viewers. Launched next Monday, the Arabic-language service will also operate as a BBC website and be available on mobile phones and hand-held computers. Ultimately, the BBC hopes the service will be broadcast in the US and Europe.
Critics say the BBC has little chance of supplanting the established al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya channels and would have to avoid offending Arab Governments to survive. Ten World Service radio stations, mainly in Eastern Europe, have been axed to fund the channel.
Adam Sherwin
The BBC has promised that its journalism will remain impartial after unveiling a £25 million Arabic television news service funded by the Government.
Designed to compete against al-Jazeera and other satellite channels, BBC Arabic Television is seen as a major intervention in the battle to win hearts and minds in the region. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office agreed to fund the first UK state-backed international television channel after the BBC said it was failing to reach a potential audience of 100 million viewers. Launched next Monday, the Arabic-language service will also operate as a BBC website and be available on mobile phones and hand-held computers. Ultimately, the BBC hopes the service will be broadcast in the US and Europe.
Critics say the BBC has little chance of supplanting the established al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya channels and would have to avoid offending Arab Governments to survive. Ten World Service radio stations, mainly in Eastern Europe, have been axed to fund the channel.
There's quite a bit here to get disturbed about. Even from the opening paragraph The BBC has promised that its journalism will remain impartial after unveiling a £25 million Arabic television news service funded by the Government.
'Remain impartial'
In other words, it will continue its coverage in the same biased vein that it has been doing and getting away with uptil now. Do you think for a moment that those repressive regimes that allow the BBC to broadcast to its citizens will permit coverage from the point of view of our society, or will it have to be 'modified' for their consumption? In other words - far from impartial!'Funded by the government'
That's supposed to make license fee payers feel better, but in case you've forgotten, it's you and me that give the government those funds through regular taxation.But you see the real aim of the BBC to extend its global reach - and therefore understand the purpose of its hitherto biased coverage - a 100 million more suckers.
Paul Revoir, writing for the Daily Mail on the same subject, is not looking for a future job with the BBC, and has no problem telling it like it is, especially with this line: Another MP, who did not wish to be named, said: "It is basically a propaganda exercise. The question is: Will the propaganda be good enough? I have to say I fail to see much difference between the BBC and Al Jazeera much of the time anyway."
BBC will splash £25m on Arabic channel to compete with Al Jazeera
By PAUL REVOIR
Taxpayers will hand over £25million a year to fund a BBC channel which no one in Britain will be able to watch, it has been announced.
The corporation is launching an Arabic television service next Tuesday, which it hopes will compete with Al Jazeera and other channels across the Middle East.
Like the rest of the World Service, it will be paid for by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office - and ultimately, by British taxpayers.
The BBC claimed that its reputation for being trusted and impartial would make it attractive to the Arab world.
By PAUL REVOIR
Taxpayers will hand over £25million a year to fund a BBC channel which no one in Britain will be able to watch, it has been announced.
The corporation is launching an Arabic television service next Tuesday, which it hopes will compete with Al Jazeera and other channels across the Middle East.
Like the rest of the World Service, it will be paid for by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office - and ultimately, by British taxpayers.
The BBC claimed that its reputation for being trusted and impartial would make it attractive to the Arab world.
Like being impartial is important to the Arab world 
But politicians have called the move "empire building".
Tory MP Philip Davies, who sits on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, said: "I can't see what the point of it is. We seemed to have managed without one and I don't see what the need is to throw £25million into it."
He added: "I'm not entirely sure I would share their confidence that all the punters out there will think it is marvellously impartial, particularly given that it is funded by the Foreign Office.
"I can't see Osama Bin Laden giving his latest tapes over to the BBC."
Another MP, who did not wish to be named, said: "It is basically a propaganda exercise. The question is: Will the propaganda be good enough? I have to say I fail to see much difference between the BBC and Al Jazeera much of the time anyway."
The scheme for the Arabic channel has already come under fire as ten other services were dumped to make way for it.
As part of a £30million restructure, ten foreign language services - including Greek, Czech, Polish and Thai channels - were all axed, and 218 jobs were lost.
There are also concerns that a previous Arabic TV service by the BBC, in conjunction with Saudi company Orbit, ended in 1996 over disagreements about editorial control.
The British government funds the BBC World Service because it claims its independent approach to journalism brings credit to Britain.
Broadcasting costs are met by a parliamentary grant through the Foreign and Commonwealth office.
The new Arabic channel, which sits alongside existing online and radio services, is being offered free to those with satellite dishes or a cable connection in North Africa, the Middle East and the Gulf.
World Service director Nigel Chapman said the service would have exactly the same editorial standards as those in the UK.
Tory MP Philip Davies, who sits on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, said: "I can't see what the point of it is. We seemed to have managed without one and I don't see what the need is to throw £25million into it."
He added: "I'm not entirely sure I would share their confidence that all the punters out there will think it is marvellously impartial, particularly given that it is funded by the Foreign Office.
"I can't see Osama Bin Laden giving his latest tapes over to the BBC."
Another MP, who did not wish to be named, said: "It is basically a propaganda exercise. The question is: Will the propaganda be good enough? I have to say I fail to see much difference between the BBC and Al Jazeera much of the time anyway."
The scheme for the Arabic channel has already come under fire as ten other services were dumped to make way for it.
As part of a £30million restructure, ten foreign language services - including Greek, Czech, Polish and Thai channels - were all axed, and 218 jobs were lost.
There are also concerns that a previous Arabic TV service by the BBC, in conjunction with Saudi company Orbit, ended in 1996 over disagreements about editorial control.
The British government funds the BBC World Service because it claims its independent approach to journalism brings credit to Britain.
Broadcasting costs are met by a parliamentary grant through the Foreign and Commonwealth office.
The new Arabic channel, which sits alongside existing online and radio services, is being offered free to those with satellite dishes or a cable connection in North Africa, the Middle East and the Gulf.
World Service director Nigel Chapman said the service would have exactly the same editorial standards as those in the UK.