This house believes that the BBC should air an appeal on gaza

Context

The British Broadcasting Corporation has defended its decision not to participate in a television fund-raising appeal for Gaza, saying it did want to avoid compromising public confidence in its impartiality.

Normally all broadcasters show Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeals without charge, but in a statement on Friday, the BBC said: "Along with other broadcasters, the BBC has decided not to broadcast the DEC's public appeal to raise funds for Gaza.

"The BBC's decision was made because of question marks about the delivery of aid in a volatile situation, and also to avoid any risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC's impartiality in the context of an ongoing news story."

Sky news and a few other channels followed BBC's decision.The DEC is an umbrella organisation representing a number of aid agencies (13), including Action Aid, Save the Children, the British Red Cross, Islamic Relief and Oxfam.

PROP

1.  We say that the two Justifications that BBC gave is screwed:

1) Aid delivery:

2) Impartiality:

• Impartiality means reporting true facts as well as giving equal air time to both sides of a story and has nothing to do with children dying and the need to save them.
• What about Darfur,Burma and other instances? how come they dont break impartiality ?
• The claim that partial would mean asking for aid for the Israel side too is BULLOCKS (note the British word) because Israel doesnt have a dire humanitarian situation! (show stats)
• Most of the stats that are mentioned in the appeal are cited from the UN and other impartial bodies.
• Supporting HAMAS......we can always say NO WE MAKE SURE THAT DOESNT HAPPEN....but we need a more principle based argument.
• The add itself says that it's not about who is right and who is wrong its about saving the children..
• Not airing it has made them look partial like they support the Israeli viewpoint.

2.  It should be left to People's freedom to decide - It is up to the people to decide whether they won't to give aid or not. So bringing the persisting situation to the attention of the people is in fact not contrary to journalistic impartiality. Selling premade bias views to the public is what is contrary to journalistic responsibility. But bringing a reality (because people suffering in Gaza is a reality) to the attention of the people is in fact very much, what a journalistic organization ought to do. The decision is always left to the people.

Opp

1. Control over the material broadcasted

The Gaza issue is a very sensitive political issue, and in broadcasting something involved with such sensivity BBC should be wary. The BBC has brought to the awareness of the people the humanitarian issue that persists in Gaza, through it's segment on it. So refusal to air the appeal is justified, since if it complies, it will have no control over what is aired on this sensitive issue. So keeping everything related to the Gaza issue under its oversight is a worthy decision taken by the BBC.

2.  Biased public view

The public view on this whole issue is very complex. There are many who support the Israeli action, and many who condemn it. So in such a situation even a minute seemingly bias statement could cause the BBC impartiality to be challenged in the eyes of the public. Hence the decision to keep this matter under control is very important, and so the BBC's decision is justified.