Trust backs BBC's decision not to air DEC Gaza appeal

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The BBC Trust has backed the corporation's decision not to broadcast the Gaza Crisis Appeal from the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) .

In response to an appeal made by two residents of Gaza and a UK citizen against the BBC's decision, the Trust's report said that BBC director general Mark Thompson 'acted correctly throughout' and that it was satisfied the decision had been taken to protect the impartiality of the BBC.

"[I]t was in this case impossible to separate the political causes of the dispute from its humanitarian consequences. By its very nature the appeal would show only one aspect of an ongoing and controversial news situation," said the Trust's report.

The broadcaster's refusal last month to show the appeal on its channels and website was met with strong criticism from supporters , with campaigners projecting Gaza images onto BBC Broadcasting House in protest . [See Journalism.co.uk's timeline below]

"The danger for the BBC is that this could be interpreted as taking a political stance on an ongoing story. When we have turned down DEC appeals in the past on impartiality grounds it has been because of this risk of giving the public the impression that the BBC was taking sides in an ongoing conflict," said Thompson in a blog post at the end of January.

The Trust said Thompson had consulted with the necessary bodies, including the DEC, before reaching his decision and it had not discriminated against residents of Gaza or prevented the appeal from being aired elsewhere.

Thompson has been asked by the Trust 'to explore any wider lessons' learnt from this case and asses whether the BBC's agreement with the DEC 'are still appropriate for today's broadcast environment', Sir Michael Lyons, chairman of the Trust, said in a release.

The Trust's full report into the DEC decision can be read at this link .

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