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'

Is the UK becoming too Insular?

Via Phil Harding (former director of news and English networks at the BBC World Service) at the Guardian:

In a report called The Great Global Switch-Off, commissioned by Oxfam, Polis and the International Broadcasting Trust, I come to a disturbing conclusion on the future of one of the most distinctive aspects of Public Service Broadcasting, television's coverage of international issues and stories. Unless urgent action is taken now, such programming could, in effect, have disappeared in four years' time - and this at a time when, from the credit crunch to migration to climate change, understanding the world around us has never been more important.

An amazing finding given the role that the BBC World Service has as a global leader in international news. Also interesting references to AJE. Perhaps the report fails to credit the role that the Internet (and Internet broadcasting) has on how Britons get their international news? Full report can be downloaded here. We'll revisit this when we discuss media globalization on April 9th.