[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [SRRTAC-L:10758] BBC criticises US media coverage of war

[Alfred Kagan]

>Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 11:55:03 +1000
>From: fiona.bradley at sbs.com.au (Fiona Bradley)
>To: SRRT Action Council <srrtac-l at ala.org>
>Subject: [SRRTAC-L:10758] BBC criticises US media coverage of war
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>BBC chief attacks US media war coverage
>http://www.abc.net.au/news/justin/nat/newsnat-25apr2003-12.htm
>
>The head of the BBC launched a broadside against American 
>broadcasters on Thursday, accusing them of "unquestioning" coverage 
>of the Iraq war and blatant patriotism.
>
>BBC director-general Greg Dyke said many US television networks had 
>lacked impartiality during the conflict and risked losing 
>credibility if they persisted with their stance.
>
>"Personally I was shocked while in the United States by how 
>unquestioning the broadcast news media was during this war," Mr Dyke 
>said in a speech at a University of London conference.
>
>"If Iraq proved anything, it was that the BBC cannot afford to mix 
>patriotism and journalism.
>
>"This is happening in the United States and if it continues, will 
>undermine the credibility of the US electronic news media".
>
>US broadcasters came under attack for "cheerleading" during the Iraq 
>conflict, with what some critics saw as gung-ho reporting and 
>flag-waving patriotism.
>
>In one example, a US network described US soldiers as "heroes" and 
>"liberators".
>
>Mr Dyke singled out Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, the most popular US 
>cable news network during the conflict, for its "gung-ho patriotism".
>
>"We are still surprised when we see Fox News with such a committed 
>political position," said Mr Dyke.
>
>"For the health of our democracy, it's vital we don't follow the 
>path of many American networks."
>
>Fox News declined to comment.


-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu