They cut Late Junction and amplify Israeli hasbara.
That may seem like juxtaposing the apparently trivial with the deadly. But it is a good metric for describing the priorities of BBC management.
At any rate, one cannot imagine Raffi Berg listening to the subversive strains of Late Junction whilst he waters down Israel’s atrocities.
In an article on Drop Site (The BBC’s Civil War Over Gaza), Guardian columnist and podcaster Owen Jones provides a meticulous insight into how the BBC is facing an internal revolt by senior journalists over its biased reporting on Israel’s war on Gaza. The accusation of bias is not taken lightly by Jones. He does not base it on simply listening to BBC output. Jones provides copious evidence sourced from BBC journalists themselves, in particular highlighting how Berg, as BBC News online’s Middle East editor, shapes the coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza, editing articles to minimise Israel as perpetrator and dehumanise Palestinians.
Jones reports that in their complaint, senior journalists who spoke to Drop Site News believe the imbalance is structural, and has been enforced by the top brass for many years. They also requested that the BBC make a series of specific changes, namely:
“reiterating that Israel does not give external journalists access to Gaza, making it clear when there is insufficient evidence to back up Israeli claims, highlighting the extent to which Israeli sources are reliable, making clear where Israel is the perpetrator in article headlines, providing proportionate representation of experts in war crimes and crimes against humanity, including regular historical context predating October 2023, use of consistent language when discussing both Israeli and Palestinian deaths, and robustly challenging Israeli government and military representatives in all interviews.”
I should also add the BBC might restore the 90 minutes, thrice weekly broadcasts Late Junction once enjoyed, before this “radio jewel”, as described by Peter Mills in Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, was cut to just 90 minutes a week. “Journeys in music, ancient to future. The home for adventurous listeners,” as the broadcast bills itself, the reduction in output is likely indicative of broader institutional priorities. This jewel is also likely feared by those who do not wish us to venture out of the box they would like to put us in.