[antiwar-van] BBC DIRECTOR GENERAL ATTACKS AMERICAN TV/RADIO

[Carole Karkhairan]

Dyke attacks American media networks for 'gung-ho'
coverage of Gulf conflict
By Ian Burrell Media and Culture Correspondent
25 April 2003
Independent.co.uk

Greg Dyke, director general of the BBC, attacked
American television and radio networks for their
"shocking" and "gung-ho" coverage of the Iraq conflict
yesterday. He also issued a warning against US
companies being allowed greater ownership of British
media.

Mr Dyke said that changes to legislation proposed by
the Government would allow American media companies to
take a greater share of British television and radio,
which could lead to a loss of impartiality in news
coverage.

"We must ensure that we don't become Americanised," he
said. Mr Dyke also accused the Government of trying to
"manage public opinion" and "apply pressure" on the
BBC.

In his first public comments since the war, Mr Dyke
said America had "no news operation strong enough or
brave enough to stand up against" the White House and
Pentagon. He said: "Personally, I was shocked while in
the United States by how unquestioning the broadcast
news media was during this war."

Mr Dyke said that since the 11 September terrorist
attacks, many American networks had "wrapped
themselves in the American flag and swapped
impartiality for patriotism".

He said: "I think compared to the United States we see
impartiality as giving a range of views, including
those critical of our own Government's position. I
think in the United States, particularly since 11
September, that would be seen as unpatriotic." Mr Dyke
said that on a recent visit to America he was "amazed
by how many people just came up to me and said they
were following the war on the BBC because they no
longer trusted the American electronic news media". Mr
Dyke reserved some of his strongest criticisms for
Clear Channel, the largest operator of radio stations
in America. The company is likely to be a beneficiary
of government plans to open up ownership of commercial
radio in Britain.

He said: "We were genuinely shocked when we discovered
that the largest radio group in the US was using its
airwaves to organise pro-war rallies. We are even more
shocked to discover that the same group wants to
become a big player in radio in the UK."

Mr Dyke attacked Fox News and CNN for what he
described as "gung-ho" coverage.

In contrast, the BBC was an "800lb gorilla" that was
capable of holding off the Government's attempts to
interfere in editorial decisions, he said. 


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