More than 100 BBC employees have put their name to a letter accusing the corporation of bias in its coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The Independent newspaper reports that, in a letter sent to director-general Tim Davie, more than 230 members of the media industry, including 100 BBC staff members and several public figures, accuse the BBC of favouring Israel in its news broadcasts and lacking “consistently fair and accurate evidence-based journalism in its coverage of Gaza.”
The letter seen by the newspaper asks the BBC to “report without fear or favour” and to “recommit to the highest editorial standards – with emphasis on fairness, accuracy and due impartiality” with commitments to include:
- Reiterating that Israel does not give external journalists access to to Gaza
- Highlighting insufficient evidence to back up Israeli claims
- Making clear where Israel is the perpetrator in headlines
- Including regular historical context
- Challenging Israeli state representatives in interviews
The Independent newspaper adds that the BBC has denied these claims, insisting it “strives to live up to our responsibility to deliver the most trusted and impartial news.”
