Monday, March 24, 2003
Andrew Sullivan is doing a great job keeping on top of media war spin, particularly from the BBC. He even has some BBS insiders emailing in with info from the inside:
Earlier in the evening I saw CNN (Pool pictures I guess) of Kurds in Ebril moving out of the town and away from the possible Iraqi incusion into the Kurdish area. An interview with one villager saying life was tough and she and her family wanted to be safe etc etc. Imagine my suprise to find the same pictures and interview turn up in a BBC report about how citizens of Bagdad were fearing the US bombing to come. Withoput explaining that the people of Ebril were escaping Saddam's violence, the commentary said, "And as in Bagdad so it is throughout Iraq" - cue Ebril material and interview. The implication being the Kurds (they weren't described as such) were afraid of US bombs. (in fact later in the oriinal piece, they welcome US intervention). Just one small example. I am wondering how I can go about shaming my former employer (30 years working in the Beeb). Any suggestions?