BBC: Flotilla investigative report accurate, impartial
British network receives 2,000 complaints after broadcasting show about IDF raid on Mavi Marmara ship last May. 'Despite three breaches in guidelines, it was an original, insightful piece of journalism,' says chair of BBC Trust editorial standards committee
The body responsible of mediating between the British Broadcasting Corporation and license fee payers, the BBC Trust, has rejected criticism against an investigative report about the IDF navy raid on the Gaza-bound flotilla last may.
The trust's editorial standards committee stated that "the film achieved due impartiality and due accuracy and did not uphold the complaint overall".
Reporter Jane Corbin was given authorization to interview navy combatants that participated in the raid, as well as Turkish passengers.
In one of the interviews, the wife of an activist killed on board the Mavi Marmara told Corbin that her husband wanted to be a "Palestinian martyr."
Finally, the committee examined a total of 19 complaints that raised 51 "substantive points."
'Well-researched piece'
According to a report published by British newspaper Guardian, "Complaints on three of these points were upheld by the trust – two relating to breaches of the BBC's editorial guidelines regarding accuracy and one on impartiality.
"The accuracy breaches related to the failure to include preliminary autopsy reports into how activists died and more details of the exact nature of the aid for Gaza being carried by the flotilla," it read.
The BBC Trust also found the report was in breach of the impartiality guidelines, because it failed to verify that the Israelis treated the injured passengers well following "allegations of mistreatment of some of the casualties."
Chairwoman of the BBC Trust's editorial standards committee Alison Hastings said that "Despite the three breaches, for which the trust apologizes on behalf of the BBC, this Panorama was an original, insightful and well-researched piece of journalism and we commend the BBC for having tackled this issue.
"It revealed important new evidence in a much-publicized story and, overall, the program was both accurate and impartial. However, these breaches are a firm reminder that the BBC must take great care over accuracy and impartiality, particularly when the subject matter is as controversial as this," she noted.
A BBC News spokesperson noted that "BBC News welcomes the findings of the trust on the Panorama Death in the Med," adding that the network "will consider seriously any lessons to be learned."
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
