Latest news with #RobbieGibb
UAE Moments
a day ago
- Politics
- UAE Moments
BBC Staff Accuse the Broadcaster of Forcing Israeli PR
More than 400 media figures, including 111 current BBC journalists, have signed an open letter condemning the corporation for acting as 'PR for the Israeli government and military,' following a series of editorial decisions perceived to downplay Palestinian suffering and prioritize Israel's narrative. Core Allegations The letter claims the BBC's coverage 'falls short' of its own impartiality standards, failing to analyze UK government arms sales or airlifting narratives critical of Israel's actions . BBC's decision to shelf 'Gaza: Doctors Under Attack' and 'Gaza: Medics Under Fire'—films with harrowing footage of attacks on Palestinian medics—was seen as political censorship, driven by fear of appearing anti‑Israel. Staff condemned Sir Robbie Gibb—a BBC board member with close ties to the Jewish Chronicle and Conservative circles—accusing him of ideological interference in editorial affairs. Employee Testimonies An anonymous BBC insider said the following about the broadcaster: 'All too often it has felt that the BBC has been performing PR for the Israeli government and military.' Another insider also said, 'Opaque editorial decisions and censorship … we believe the role of Robbie Gibb … is untenable.' They also warn that staff are being 'gaslit' and that editorial standards are being suspended to accommodate political agendas. BBC's Response and Repercussions The BBC leadership has defended its editorial integrity, citing guidelines and internal checks for content decisions. However, these reassurances have done little to quell criticism. Critics, including prominent public figures like Miriam Margolyes and Mike Leigh, have called for Robbie Gibb's removal, arguing his presence undermines credibility. This revolt compounds other recent controversies: live-streaming anti‑IDF chants at Glastonbury, delayed removal of footage, and earlier suspensions of Gaza-related documentaries—all prompting over 400 current staff to demand an internal reckoning and renewed commitment to impartial reporting. This article was previously published on qatarmoments. To see the original article, click here
Saba Yemen
a day ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
UK Celebrities Call for BBC Board Member's Removal over Pro-Israel Bias
London - Saba: Over 400 prominent British figures in culture, arts, and media have signed a letter demanding the removal of BBC board member Robbie Gibb, accusing him of pro-Israel bias. The letter cites concerns over editorial transparency and Gibb's past ties with the Jewish Chronicle, warning these connections undermine the BBC's impartiality. Signatories include actress Miriam Margolyes, writer Alexei Sayle, director Mike Leigh, and 111 anonymous BBC employees. The letter also criticizes double standards, highlighting disciplinary actions against journalists who criticized Israel, while Gibb retains a powerful position. Criticism intensified after the BBC canceled the airing of the documentary Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, citing neutrality concerns. Critics argue this reflects broader editorial bias in the BBC's Gaza coverage. The documentary was later aired by Channel 4. Since October 7, 2023, Israel's war on Gaza has drawn accusations of genocide, with widespread destruction and civilian casualties, despite international calls to halt the assault. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Middle East Eye
2 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
BBC faces new questions over board member Robbie Gibb's Gaza coverage influence
The BBC is facing new questions over the role pro-Israel board member Robbie Gibb may have played in the broadcaster's Gaza coverage, with a report in Prospect Magazine alleging he may have held discussions with the BBC's director general and chairman about the network's reporting. Alan Rusbridger, the editor of Prospect Magazine and a former editor at the Guardian, wrote on Wednesday that the BBC had told him Gibb had not recused himself from any discussions "about the BBC's coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict". Rusbridger wrote that he further asked the BBC whether Gibb had any conversations about the Gaza: Doctors Under Attack documentary, and received a "somewhat cryptic response". A BBC spokesperson reportedly said that "[Gibb] had no formal role in any of the discussions or decisions about whether the BBC should run the film - I'm afraid I have no way of knowing whether BBC board members have had discussions about various live issues affecting the BBC but as I've said before, the decisions about the film were taken by BBC News." Rusbridger concluded that it was "reasonable to assume, I think, that Gibb may have had informal discussions." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Middle East Eye reached out to the BBC for comment on Rusbridger's claims but did not receive a response by time of publication. Earlier this week, more than 400 cultural figures signed a letter calling on Gibb to resign from the board over fears he is harming the broadcaster's credibility. A range of filmmakers, actors and journalists - including Miriam Margolyes, Alexei Sayle, Juliet Stevenson, Mike Leigh and William Dalrymple - signed the letter, which raised "concerns over opaque editorial decisions and censorship at the BBC on the reporting of Israel/Palestine". Gibb's role 'untenable' Gibb was part of a consortium that bought out the Jewish Chronicle outlet in 2020 and still declares on the BBC website that he has a 100 percent holding of the outlet. '[The] inconsistent manner in which guidance is applied draws into focus the role of Gibb, on the BBC Board and BBC's editorial standards committee," said the letter this week, which was signed by 111 BBC journalists. They also referenced the BBC's decision not to air Gaza: Doctors Under Attack over alleged concerns about its impartiality. Media figures demand resignation of pro-Israel BBC board member Robbie Gibb Read More » "We, the undersigned BBC staff, freelancers and industry figures are extremely concerned that the BBC's reporting on Israel and Palestine continues to fall short of the standards our audiences expect," reads the letter. "We believe the role of Robbie Gibb, both on the board, and as part of the editorial standards committee, is untenable. We call on the BBC to do better for our audiences and recommit to our values of impartiality, honesty and reporting without fear or favour." The BBC has faced criticism from pro-Palestinian campaigners over its coverage of the war in Gaza since October 2023. They say they it has unfairly and disproportionately featured Israeli perspectives on the network. A report released by the Centre For Media Monitoring last month said that the BBC gave Israeli deaths 33 times more coverage per fatality and ran almost equal numbers of humanising victim profiles, despite 34 times more Palestinian deaths. Last year Rusbridger, who has previously investigated the Jewish Chronicle's ownership, called into question Gibb's position on the BBC's editorial standards committee. 'I can't see how he can possibly sit on that committee and portray himself as a beacon of impartiality, sitting in judgement on BBC journalists,' Rusbridger told LBC Radio.
Middle East Eye
3 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Media figures demand resignation of pro-Israel BBC board member Robbie Gibb
More than 400 cultural figures have signed a letter calling for the resignation of pro-Israel BBC board member Robbie Gibb over fears it is harming the broadcaster's credibility. A range of filmmakers, actors and journalists - including Miriam Margolyes, Alexei Sayle, Juliet Stevenson, Mike Leigh and William Dalrymple - signed the letter which raises "concerns over opaque editorial decisions and censorship at the BBC on the reporting of Israel/Palestine". The number includes 111 BBC journalists who signed the letter anonymously. They specifically referenced Gibb's former directorship of the right-wing Jewish Chronicle outlet. Gibb was part of a consortium that bought out the long-running outlet in 2020 and still declares on the BBC website that he holds a 100 per cent holding of Jewish Chronicle Media. '[The] inconsistent manner in which guidance is applied draws into focus the role of Gibb, on the BBC Board and BBC's editorial standards committee," said the letter. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters They also referenced the BBC's decision not to air the documentary Gaza: Medics Under Fire over alleged concerns over its impartiality. It is set to be broadcast on Channel 4 on Wednesday instead. Channel 4 to show Gaza war crimes documentary rejected by BBC Read More » 'We, the undersigned BBC staff, freelancers and industry figures are extremely concerned that the BBC's reporting on Israel and Palestine continues to fall short of the standards our audiences expect," reads the letter. "We believe the role of Robbie Gibb, both on the board, and as part of the editorial standards committee, is untenable. We call on the BBC to do better for our audiences and recommit to our values of impartiality, honesty and reporting without fear or favour.' The BBC has faced criticism from pro-Palestinian campaigners over its coverage of the war in Gaza since October 2023, saying they have unfairly and disproportionately featured Israeli perspectives on the network. A report released by the Centre For Media Monitoring last month said that the BBC gave Israeli deaths 33 times more coverage per fatality and ran almost equal numbers of humanising victim profiles.
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
111 BBC journalists demand change as Israel reporting 'crippled'
Some 111 BBC journalists have called for Robbie Gibb, the controversial BBC board member for England, to be removed from the role over his impact on the broadcaster's reporting. Gibb's position on the BBC editorial standards committee is also 'untenable' as his well-known political affiliations mean the BBC is not reporting on Israel 'without fear or favour', a letter coordinated by BBC insiders says. READ MORE: UK Government refuses to reveal assessment of Israel's nuclear weapons Gibb, who was Theresa May's director of communication in No 10 and an early editorial adviser to the alt-right broadcaster GB News, led the buy-out of the Jewish Chronicle in 2020 and remained a director of Jewish Chronicle Media until August 2024. The Jewish Chronicle – whose current owner is controversially kept secret – was then plunged into crisis after it was found to have published a series of fake series about Gaza and Hamas, both before and after Gibb was a director. In their letter, published on Wednesday, 111 BBC journalists said the broadcaster was 'crippled by the fear of being perceived as critical of the Israeli government', adding that the 'inconsistent manner in which guidance is applied draws into focus the role of Gibb, on the BBC Board and BBC's editorial standards committee'. 'We are concerned that an individual with close ties to the Jewish Chronicle … has a say in the BBC's editorial decisions in any capacity, including the decision not to broadcast Gaza: Medics Under Fire,' it states. BBC board member Robbie Gibb (Image: BBC) The BBC has refused to broadcast the Gaza: Medics Under Fire documentary for fear of appearing biased. Channel 4 has stepped in and will show the film on Wednesday evening. The journalists' letter says the episode shows that the BBC is 'not reporting 'without fear or favour' when it comes to Israel'. They raise 'concerns over opaque editorial decisions and censorship at the BBC on the reporting of Israel/Palestine'. The letter goes on: 'For many of us, our efforts have been frustrated by opaque decisions made at senior levels of the BBC without discussion or explanation. Our failures impact audiences. READ MORE: BBC accused of 'spurious' defence over Gaza documentary axe 'As an organisation we have not offered any significant analysis of the UK government's involvement in the war on Palestinians. We have failed to report on weapons sales or their legal implications. These stories have instead been broken by the BBC's competitors.' It claims Gibb has a 'conflict of interest' that would not be allowed for reporters, who have 'experienced censorship in the name of 'impartiality''. The letter goes on: 'In some instances staff have been accused of having an agenda because they have posted news articles critical of the Israeli government on their social media. 'By comparison, Gibb remains in an influential post with little transparency regarding his decisions despite his ideological leanings being well known. We can no longer ask licence fee payers to overlook Gibbs's ideological allegiances.' The letter concludes: 'We, the undersigned BBC staff, freelancers and industry figures are extremely concerned that the BBC's reporting on Israel and Palestine continues to fall short of the standards our audiences expect. 'We believe the role of Robbie Gibb, both on the board, and as part of the editorial standards committee, is untenable. We call on the BBC to do better for our audiences and recommit to our values of impartiality, honesty and reporting without fear or favour.' While the 111 BBC journalists to have signed the letter have done so anonymously, other figures to have put their names to it include actors Miriam Margolyes, Alexei Sayle, and Juliet Stevenson, and esteemed Scottish historian William Dalrymple. Gibb, an outspoken Brexiteer whose brother Nick was a Tory MP until 2024 and minister until 2023, was described as an 'active agent' of the Conservative party by former Newsnight host Emily Maitlis in 2022. READ MORE: Scots back independence as Keir Starmer's popularity at record low, new poll finds Maitlis said that on the BBC board an 'active agent of the Conservative party – former Downing Street spin doctor, and former adviser to BBC rival GB News – now sits, acting as the arbiter of BBC impartiality'. A BBC spokesperson said: 'Robust discussions amongst our editorial teams about our journalism are an essential part of the editorial process. We have ongoing discussions about coverage and listen to feedback from staff and we think these conversations are best had internally. 'Regarding our coverage of Gaza, the BBC is fully committed to covering the conflict impartially and has produced powerful coverage from the region. Alongside breaking news, ongoing analysis, and investigations, we have produced award winning documentaries such as Life and Death in Gaza, and Gaza 101.'
