BBC on the Gaza blockade: the roles of Israel and Egypt

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BBC on the Gaza blockade: the roles of Israel and Egypt

Just Journalism has today published a study suggesting a shift in editorial policy at the BBC News website regarding the blockade of Gaza. ‘BBC on the Gaza blockade: the roles of Israel and Egypt’ shows that for most of 2009, the Gaza blockade was associated solely with Israel, rather than with Israel and Egypt. However, more recently, the Corporation’s website has reflected more consistently the role of Egypt in enforcing the blockade at its shared border with Gaza.

A likely outcome of this development is that the BBC News website makes plainer to users that the Gaza blockade is upheld by two countries and not one. This would be an important step towards creating a more accurate picture of the factors currently impacting on the Gaza strip.

Just Journalism presented the results of this study to the BBC in advance of publication and invited their comments, specifically in reference to the following questions:

1. How does the BBC account for the recent increase of instances in which Egypt, as well as Israel, is identified with the Gaza blockade?

2. What is the BBC’s policy on attributing responsibility for the Gaza blockade?

Middle East Editor of the BBC News website Tarik Kafala thanked Just Journalism for the opportunity to comment but declined to do so.
 

8 February 2010