On the heels of reports about Murdoch’s News of the World scandal, a prominent UK newspaper has featured an investigative article into how a public relations company took millions of ringgit from the Malaysian government to make documentaries about the country for the BBC. Continue reading »
Aljazeera has made clear inroads into the traditional Internet domination of the global media giants following its breath-taking coverage and live video streaming of the Arab revolution, which has captured the imagination of the world.
This Alexa graph shows just how much ground it has gained. Continue reading »
Many Malaysians have expressed disappointment over the BBC’s backing down from a ‘HARDtalk’ interview with RPK.
Much of this sentiment, I believe, stems from a perception that the BBC is a bastion of impartial, independent reporting.
Far from it. The BBC reflects the establishment viewpoint in the UK. Its positions on the illegal invasion of Iraq, the US-UK role in Afghanistan and the Israeli occupation of Palestine are well documented. Continue reading »
Photo by Glasgow Palestine Human Rights Campaign
About 50 activists occupied the BBC Scotland headquarters in Glasgow on Sunday, 25 January, to protest at the BBC’s failure to broadcast a Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Gaza.
The DEC is made up of 13 aid agencies, which are leading UK registered humanitarian charities that fulfil certain criteria.
The Committee is traditionally supported by “a network of television and radio broadcasters, the banks, the Post Office, BT, regional and national press and a range of organisations in the corporate sector”. The idea is “to rally the nation’s compassion, and ensure that funds raised go to DEC agencies best placed to deliver effective and timely relief to people most in need”.
Among the activists who occupied the BBC Scotland headquarters was John Hilley, who has written in the past for Aliran Monthly. Here is his account of the “occupation”:
Last night (25 January), saw our inspiring occupation of the BBC in Glasgow in protest at their decision not to air the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal on behalf of Gaza.