BBC & Gaza: Win-Win?

Keach Hagey at The National (Abu Dhabi) is reporting that BBC Arabic's handling of the Gaza-charity drama "was a testament to BBC Arabic’s methodical multimedia strategy that, when its listeners, viewers and readers did choose to voice their opinions about the broadcaster’s decision not to air a charity appeal for Gaza, it was able to use every form of mobile, online and traditional media at its disposal to make its audiences feel heard." (For some background on the story line, see previous post here).

So let me get this straight: (1) the BBC decides to not air the appeal for aid to Gaza, (2) a decision that sparks widespread protests, both physical (5000 outside the Bush House in London) and virtual (check out the online discussion here). As a result of the protests, (3) the appeal for aid actually gets more media attention than it would of had it simply been aired on the BBC, and (4) because "BBC Arabic used its newly expanded television schedule and multimedia channels to host a live debate about the decision," the BBC's image is actually strengthened as well. These times, they are a changin'