The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) is pleased to announce the success of its Zoom event “Spotlight on the BBC”, held on Tuesday, 17th September 2024. The event featured prominent litigation solicitor Trevor Asserson in conversation with solicitor and activist Robert Festenstein. The discussion centred on Asserson’s recent report which revealed that the BBC breached its guidelines 1,500 times in its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.
Asserson, recognised as one of the UK’s leading litigation solicitors and head of the largest international law firm in Israel, highlighted the systematic failings of the BBC’s complaint system and its entrenched institutional bias. He stated, “The complaints system simply doesn’t work… so many people have given up.”
The report, which exposed 1,500 instances of bias, is described by Asserson as a “very significant underestimate,” demonstrating not just individual journalistic errors but an institutional lack of accountability. “The worst problem of all is the combination of institutional bias and lack of management control,” Asserson emphasised during the event. He further detailed how BBC journalists, such as Jeremy Bowen, believe that impartiality means “giving the truth,” as they see it, rather than offering balanced coverage.
The conversation also touched on the broader implications of the BBC’s failings, with Festenstein asking, “What do we do now?” Asserson responded that while the complaints system is frustrating, he encouraged continued efforts, urging attendees to support the possibility of bringing a judicial review.
The NJA thanks all those who participated in this critical event. As misinformation continues to shape public opinion, particularly in the context of Israel, the NJA remains committed to holding media outlets to account for balanced and fair reporting.
To watch the recording of our event, please click here: https://youtu.be/ZE47wHaCkeQ
