Ms. Kim Shillinglaw, Head of BBC Two and BBC Four
Madam Director,
We would like to make a formal protest in connection with bias and failure to editorial standards in an episode of the BBC series entitled . “Newsnight”, given on 21 January 2016.
In our opinion, reportage Fri. “Is Poland a putinizuje?” Presented the current political situation in Poland in a superficial and distorted, without maintaining journalistic standards that one would expect from the BBC, and expressly denying some of its own guidelines editorial.
When you watch the program were particularly concerned about the following issues:
1. Subjective message material:
very first words of commentary ( “the atmosphere in Poland is changing, and fast” in 00: 24:19), delivered on a dark background shots streets in Warsaw, bring in the viewers a feeling of anxiety and fear. This tone is then consistently supported by the report through a series of ambiguous feelings expressed by some interviewees (0:02:54, 0:03:34), which vividly contrasts with paragraph 4.4.13 BBC Editorial Principles (professional manner issuing ratings, evidence-based)
2. Imprecise, emotional language
term “atmosphere” seems too vague to serve as a basis for the analysis of the political situation in the country and to express categorical judgments about the state of its democracy.
In addition, the issue of the assessment in the report repeatedly used vocabulary emotionally charged, eg. using the word “independent” in reference to the weekly “Liberal Culture” (0:03:15), publishing, which is neither neutral nor independent both in its general editorial line, as well as in relation to specific controversy political presented in the report.
our opinion violates the above paragraphs 4.2.2 and 4.4.14 Rules.
3. If you forget an important point of view, unjustified conclusions
evidence provided by manufacturers to support the claim that the atmosphere in Poland is changing rapidly, show only that the atmosphere is changing among some groups of political opponents PiS – nothing more.
Among supporters government (most active voters) rather persistently cheerful mood of the presidential elections in may 20,015th Similarly, it seems that the atmosphere of total indifference to the policy of 49% of Poles who did not vote did not change.
Presenting moods particular group so if involved the entire population of the country is a blatant example of unjustified extrapolation, not supported by the facts and standing in contradiction with section 4.4.2 Editorial Principles BBC.
4. Impartiality and simplification (points 4.4.14 and 4.4.30 Principles Editorial)
lack of precision in language and reasoning resulted in uncritical acceptance of the narrative only one part of the conflict, namely the PiS opponents, who claim that at the moment the biggest rift in Polish politics occurs between an oppressive government and civil society, seeking to defend their fundamental rights (0:03:41).
Summary CODE speech activists, journalists support the civic Platform and anonymous members of the public on the one hand and politics on the other PiS party argues that authors of the report have signed to this point of view.
political situation in Poland, however, is more complicated and interesting, because it splits run in different directions throughout civil society. A PiS government is only democratically elected representation of one of the parties.
5. Gathering insufficient information and lack of knowledge of the context:
The most glaring example of encouraging a reporter to the version of one of the political spectrum is a passage in 0:58:12
“It’s been in power for only two months,” says Katie Razzall “but the ruling Law and Justice party has already made some pretty big changes. He pushed through reforms to increase its influence in the highest court in the country. She slowed managers and journalists in the state-owned television and radio stations. Makes purges in the civil service and increases the powers of police surveillance and secret services. “
Only the last of these all charges – relating to the powers of surveillance – can be justified as an attempt to change the existing rules. Other whether one wants it or not, they are well-established practices in Polish politics. Since the fall of communism all newly elected authorities, including the office of the Civic Platform, influence the Constitutional Court, taking control of the public media, they slowed the work of managers of companies controlled by the state and cleared the civil service of his political opponents.
So suggest that the current government of Law and Justice is doing something alarmingly unusual and extraordinary is simply wrong.
6. Lack of knowledge of context 2:32:10
“rating agency Standard & amp; Poor’s on Friday downgraded Polish saying that PiS has weakened key institutions. “
Decision S & amp; P downgrade Polish was widely commented upon and often criticized as economically unjustified, because the GDP forecasts have not changed significantly since the election, the economy is not shows signs of deterioration, inflation tends slightly upward, and so on.
reportage authors may not agree with these objections, but they should at least be aware of them and try not to present an opinion S & amp; P as undeniable and absolute.
7. Conflict of interest
Invitation Maya Rostowski to participate in the production of a news program about politics in Poland arouses our deep concern about the impartiality of the “Newsnight” as defined in the Rules of BBC editorial, par. 15 Conflict of interest: Introduction: “In certain circumstances, you should consider whether the family situation and the close personal contacts do not constitute a potential conflict of interest.”
Ms. Rostowska is the daughter of former Polish finance minister and deputy prime minister Jan Vincent Rostowski, senior policy platforms civic and fierce opponent of Law and Justice.
in 2010. worked as an adviser to foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in the government of the civic Platform in 2013. was an analyst of the government of the Polish Institute of International Affairs. Her appointment sparked public controversy and was widely criticized as a blatant example of political cronyism.
We hope that in the future, describing the political situation in Poland and other Eastern European countries will be more objective and based on accurate information, as required journalistic standards of public service broadcasting and the BBC Editorial Principles.
Sincerely,
Artur Dmochowski
spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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