BBC in spotlight again over ‘biased’ Syria coverage

BBC in spotlight again over ‘biased’ Syria coverage
The BBC is once again facing charges of bias over its coverage of the conflict in Syria.

Rethink Rebuild Society, an independent organization that provides a voice for the British Syrian community, accused the BBC of siding with the Assad regime.

After reviewing more than 300 online stories, the society said the “misleading coverage by the BBC” has “the potential to skew the public’s perception” of what is happening in Syria.

It isn’t the first time the subject of media coverage of the Syrian crisis has been raised, but these accusations come at a very complex time for the press — not only in the region, but in the entire world.

Bad news for the media

We undoubtedly live in an era of severe turmoil, especially in terms of how to deal with the media and the press. On the one hand, there is a serious decline in the ability of the serious press to publish freely. And on the other hand, there is a dilemma over the credibility of what is published by many media outlets.

There is a war on empowering citizens with knowledge. And that brings an urgent need for the public to be informed and not subject to manipulation.

While the coverage of many international channels has always been a matter of debate, the BBC still occupies a place in our consciousness as journalists. It has been a reference point throughout recent history, even though there have been a lot of question marks in the past.

In light of the enormous polarization in the media and political worlds, there is a mounting need to straighten out the professional debate.

Criticism of the BBC

Since the beginning of the Syrian revolution in 2011, there has been a lot of criticism over the BBC’s coverage of the situation there.

Many people, even Western and independent journalists, have accused the broadcaster of a lack of balance in its approach to the events. 

For example, while the identity of the perpetrator of a crime is often determined when Daesh or other armed groups commit it, when it comes to the Syrian regime and its allies, the perpetrator is questioned and not directly mentioned.

The BBC previously apologized for an incident in which it displayed a televised report about Aleppo, where it said the opposition was bombing. But it used images from opposition areas instead of regime-controlled areas.

Later the BBC displayed a report saying that 44 civilians were killed in the bombing by opposition factions against regime-controlled areas in Aleppo. But it used photos and videos of massacres committed by warplanes of the regime and its ally Russia in neighborhoods controlled by opposition factions.

The BBC relies on the regime-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) as its first source of information on the conflict. Some justify this media practice as a result of the news corporation’s desire to stay inside Syria even if under the terms of the regime, so as not to be absent from the scene.

This ambiguous situation becomes the focus of mounting discontent, especially as it involves the BBC, which presents itself as independent.

We have to raise questions about the reality of “neutrality” in coverage of such a complex situation as seen in Syria, and at this dangerous time for the region and wider world.

Diana Moukalled (Arab News)

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