BBC has given in to continuous criticism of its allegedly pro-Arab bias coverage of Middle East news, and has appointed a special editor to oversee its Middle East coverage. Malcolm Balen, a former editor of the BBC's central Nine O'Clock News edition, will assume the post, working from London but in close cooperation with the BBC bureau in Jerusalem. A BBC spokeswoman denied that Balen's appointment was an admission of anti-Israel bias. She said, "We aim that his appointment will help us to build relationships with all parties in the region. It's obviously a difficult, sensitive area for all broadcasters to work from."
Israel's perception of BBC's bias was so strong that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon barred the corporation from a press conference during his visit to London earlier this year. Media watchdog association HonestReporting.com awarded its Dishonest Reporting Award of last year to BBC, and said that the British corporation had received "a slew of nominations again this year. Members particularly criticized BBC for being caught altering a quote by White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, substituting the word 'terror' with the word 'violence' in reference to Palestinians."
One media watchdog group that concentrates on the European media is Take-A-Pen, and can be visited at www.take-a-pen.org/english/index.html.
Israel's perception of BBC's bias was so strong that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon barred the corporation from a press conference during his visit to London earlier this year. Media watchdog association HonestReporting.com awarded its Dishonest Reporting Award of last year to BBC, and said that the British corporation had received "a slew of nominations again this year. Members particularly criticized BBC for being caught altering a quote by White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, substituting the word 'terror' with the word 'violence' in reference to Palestinians."
One media watchdog group that concentrates on the European media is Take-A-Pen, and can be visited at www.take-a-pen.org/english/index.html.