Sky News Nixes Appeal, Cites Impartiality

BBC boss Mark Thompson's original statement defending his decision to not air an appeal for Gaza referred to aid not reaching its intended recipients, not just impartiality. Today, Thompson and now Sky News chief John Ryley only talk about the impartiality issue. Ryley said:

The absolute impartiality of our output is fundamental to Sky News and its journalism. That is why, after very careful consideration, we have concluded that broadcasting an appeal for Gaza at this time is incompatible with our role in providing balanced and objective reporting of this continuing situation to our audiences in the UK and around the world.

Israel's allowing aid in; its only concern is that the assistance not come into Hamas hands. So whether or not the Disaster Emergency Committee's appeal is aired doesn't concern Israel.

Unfortunately it's an open secret that Hamas hijacks aid trucks, sometimes selling the supplies. The Islamists have become so brazen that IribNews, via Soccer Dad, reports Hamas even set up its own board to oversee aid distribution:

The board is tasked to oversight the distribution of a sum of 45 million dollars in aid among the families of martyrs and those who have lost their residence to the destructive Israeli invasion.

Meanwhile, Times of London columnist Andrew Roberts blames the charities making up the DEC for the mess. For more, see yesterday's post: 4 Thoughts on the BBC Brouhaha.

Source : http://backspin.typepad.com