Impartiality review for BBC ‘Arab Spring’ coverage
Rebecca Hawkes ©RapidTVNews | 29-10-2011The BBC Trust has launched a review into the impartiality of the BBC's reporting during the past year's Arab uprisings, in the latest of a series of evaluations on the broadcaster's neutrality when covering news events.
The review will be led by Edward Mortimer, senior vice president of the Salzburg Global Seminar, former UN director of communications and expert in Middle East affairs.
Beginning with Tunisia's revolution in December 2010, the review will also encompass the BBC's coverage this year in Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria and Yemen. 'Arab spring' reports on TV, radio and online will all fall under the terms of the Trust's reference.
"The events that came to be known as the Arab Spring were extremely fast-moving and complex. That makes it a difficult story to cover. The challenge for the BBC, as with all controversial areas, is to ensure that it maintains the high standards of impartiality and accuracy that audiences expect, both in the UK and around the world, where many rely on the BBC's international news services," said Alison Hastings, BBC trustee and chair of the Trust's Editorial Standards Committee.
"We are delighted that Edward Mortimer has agreed to lead this important review for the Trust – his distinguished record, and expertise, in both Middle East issues and journalism, will be a great asset."
Edward Mortimer said: "I am honoured and excited by this assignment. Events in the Middle East during 2011 up-ended many widely accepted notions about the region. Such stories are always the most exciting for journalists to cover, but also present many challenges. It will be fascinating to examine in detail how the BBC rose to these."
The findings will be published in autumn 2012, following extensive content analysis, interviews and audience research, according to the BBC Trust.
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