Ware hits back?

John Ware has apparently replied to my criticisms of his Panorama film about Interpal. This was posted on the Pickled Politics thread on the topic:

Osama Saeed and I may well look through the telescope from different ends. But the gap between those like us is always going to be unbridgeable if even the most basic facts can’t be agreed. Categorically we on Panorama did not “mock up” the classroom scene at the orphange. The class that we filmed was most emphatically not arranged at our request. We don’t do “mocking up” on Panorama. Neither I nor the producer Tristan Quinn would ever be party to that kind of stunt television. The relationship between Osama’s other “we-now-know” assertions about the programme and the facts is equally non existent.

If this is indeed his reply, then I'm astonished. I really doubt he would accept this kind of answer from someone he'd put questions to.

The "telescope" has nothing to do with it, but it is interesting to see he's admitting a bias on the topic, rather than some kind of objective observer status. The fact is that I've put some rather serious points to him that his documentary, which claimed to show that Interpal had helped build Hamas, actually did nothing of the sort.

As well as saying he mocked up a scene, I've said that that the BBC has been used as a mouthpiece for Mossad propaganda - the film would have been nothing without them (they should complain that they weren't given "special thanks" in the end credits).

He additionally needs to demonstrate why Interpal were uniquely singled out for criticism, when the Palestinian institutions in question have been funded by a host of other (non-Muslim) European and US charities.

Ware also got it very wrong about the songs and about the Hamas flag. He may well say "we-now-know", but he should have known this before he broadcasted.

Comments

[aafreen]

His reply is as lame as the original unprofessional and biased doc! i would advise people keep complaining to BBC John Ware has bought down the standards of what used to be an objective programme.

[joe90]

I am not one to tell you your buisness Osama - you know more than me and work a lot harder mate, but the lads and lassies at

http://www.medialens.org/

will lap this stuff up - maybe you should get in touch with them because they love examples and case studies of BBC journalism in action.

Have a look round their website for all the usual dodgies the 'objective' so-called journalists get up to at the BBC -

All the best Osama!

[George Carty]

Incidentally, what is the difference between green, black and white flags bearing the Shahadah?

[joe90]

I see an article by your good self Osama, has been posted to UK Watch

http://www.ukwatch.net/article/2137

All the best mate!

[Osama]

Yes, thanks for the advice Joe. SpinWatch also published it.