Teach the controversy
What counts as controversial, and who decides?
BBC staff have accused the corporation of double standards after they were told not to attend a march against anti-Semitism this weekend. Staff working in current affairs and factual journalism who have sought permission to go to the Campaign Against Antisemitism march in London have been referred to guidelines that tell employees not to take part in public gatherings about controversial issues.
They have told bosses that “racism is racism” and that if the BBC believes racism is not acceptable in any form, it should allow staff to show their opposition to it. They point out that BBC staff are allowed to take part in marches supporting other causes, such as Pride, which are not seen as controversial by the broadcaster.
But the broadcaster is telling staff they must adhere to the same guidelines that have prevented them from attending pro-Palestinian rallies in recent weeks. According to the impartiality rules, editorial staff “should not participate in public demonstrations or gatherings about controversial issues”.
That’s so interesting given the way the BBC reports on trans issues and especially on women who reject trans ideology.
Easy, the woke decide. If woke people might not support it, then it is “controversial” in the BBC’s eyes.
A good example here is Gary Lineker (famous footballer turned broadcaster, highest paid BBC star). He regularly lambasts government policy on social media. This is fine, though, this is not “controversial”, and does not violate BBC impartiality, because of course all the woke would agree with him. No woke person would be in favour of the current Tory government.
But attending a march in favour of Jews/Israel is no longer allowed because Jews are now “white” (and thus disfavoured by the woke).
And, of course, supporting the inclusion of trans-IDing males in women’s sport or prisons or whatever is fine. That’s not “controversial” because that’s woke ideology, whereas a talk by Kathleen Stock would be “controversial”.
And how could I have forgotten, having just mentioned Gary Lineker (the BBC’s biggest star)?:
A couple of days ago, Owen Jones interviewed an academic who called Israel’s current acts “a textbook case of genocide” (amongst many other anti-Israel remarks). Gary Lineker re-Tweeted this saying “Worth 13 minutes of anyones time”.
So far the BBC have not told him off. Presumably accusing Israel of “genocide” is not “controversial”.