Thompson Made 'Reasonable' Decision On Gaza Appeal

BBC Director-General Mark Thompson (pictured) made a "reasonable" decision in deciding not to broadcast an humanitarian aid appeal for Gaza, the BBC Trust has ruled.
ITV, Channel 4 and Channel Five showed the Disasters Emergency Committee aid appeal. However, the BBC, along with Sky News, did not air the appeal, stating that it might compromise impartiality to do so.
Mr Thompson's decision sparked angry protests and 40,000 complaints to the BBC. A statement issued by the BBC Trust said that it would not overrule on appeal the Director-General's decision against broadcasting the appeal.
Sir Michael Lyons, Chairman of the Trust, said: "We recognise that the Director-General's decision was a matter of great controversy for many members of the public. However, having carefully examined the Director-General's reasons, the Trust believes he acted correctly throughout, and we are satisfied that the decision the Director-General took was reasonable given the importance of preserving the reputation of the BBC for impartiality."
Sir Michael stressed that, under the BBC Charter, the Director-General was Editor-in-Chief of the BBC and it was not in the Trust's remit "to second-guess his editorial decisions, nor should it be". He said: "Our role is to ensure he reaches those decisions with care, and free from undue influence from any quarter. What we reviewed was whether the handling of the request for the DEC appeal complied with the relevant processes, policy and guidelines; and whether the decision reached by the Director-General was within the parameters of reasonable decisions open to him.
"On the handling point, we find that the Director-General acted correctly, sought the appropriate advice, and gave proper consideration to the views of the public and those of DEC.
"On the reasonableness point, the Director-General argued that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is deeply divisive and that the suffering of civilians plays a central part in the political case each side makes in the 'court of world opinion'; consequently it is impossible in this case to separate the political causes from their humanitarian consequences.
"In the Director-General's view, the appeal would, by its very nature, have shown only one aspect of the conflict and broadcasting it, he argued, would have implied a significant level of endorsement by the BBC of the appeal itself - thereby putting
BBC impartiality at risk. We find this to be a reasonable argument, and that the decision the Director-General took on its basis was within the parameters of reasonable decisions open to him."
Sir Michael said that the question of this appeal would not be re-opened, but said that the Trust was "mindful of the degree of public concern it aroused". He said: "We have therefore asked the Director-General to explore any wider lessons that may be drawn from this episode through discussions with DEC and with other broadcasters.
"In particular, we have asked him to take a view on whether the BBC agreement with DEC, which dates from 1971, and the associated criteria for considering appeals, are still appropriate for today's changed conditions."
(KMcA/BMcC)