Davie
LONDON: Tim Davie, the Director-General of the BBC, assured editorial staff that they should freely express their concerns in the wake of public pressure on the broadcaster for its decision not to label Hamas as a “terrorist organization.”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also encouraged the BBC to “unambiguously address the situation for what it is.”
Meanwhile UK’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, during a live broadcast urged the BBC to use the term “terrorists” in reference to Hamas.
Davie, acknowledging the “horrific” events in Israel and Gaza, conveyed his message via email to the staff. He said, “This is an incredibly intricate and challenging narrative. Our coverage has been resolute in revealing the gravity of the atrocities and their global repercussions.”
He noted that the team had implemented several resources to provide support. They have a clear message of maintaining a supportive environment for all employees at the BBC.
Davie included a letter from Deborah Turness, the Chief of BBC News, defending the network’s stance of not categorizing any group as terrorists.
Turness explained, “This is a standard practice followed by numerous reputable news organizations worldwide, including those under my leadership in the UK, Europe, and the United States. The term ‘terrorist’ is highly politicized and is often employed as a weapon during conflicts.”
Turness further elaborated, “If we were to appear partisan in any conflict, it would jeopardize our ability to operate safely in hostile regions and witness firsthand the ongoing events.”
This correspondence followed a week of mounting pressure on the BBC for not designating Hamas as a “terrorist organization” in light of the Israeli attack. It is worth noting that the UK officially labeled Hamas as a “terrorist organization” in November 2021.
Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, confirmed that it was within the BBC’s discretion to determine how it described Hamas.
Mishal Husain, the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program, told UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps that the BBC was adhering to the Ofcom code by not referring to Hamas as “terrorists.”
However, Shapps insisted that the broadcaster should classify Hamas as a “terrorist group” due to its legal proscription.
