Biased Journalism in the UK

Another disturbing story out of the UK:

Prosecutors accuse Channel 4 of distorting footage of Preachers

By Jonathan Brown
Published 09 August

Channel 4 found itself engulfed in another row over an alleged fake programme last night after West Midlands Police complained to Ofcom about the editing of one of its documentaries.

Police had been asked to investigate the Dispatches film "Undercover Mosque", made by Hardcash Productions, in January because of concerns that it contained scenes that may have stirred racial hatred.

Shot at a number of mosques across Britain, including the Green Lane Mosque in Birmingham, it featured a preacher apparently praising the Taliban for killing a British soldier. Another was shown deriding homosexuals and non-believers. In its pre-broadcast publicity, Channel 4 described the programme as an extensive investigation revealing how a "chilling" message of "hatred and segregation" was being preached in UK mosques. But after viewing 56 hours of material, only a fraction of which made the final cut, a lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) claimed the editing process had "completely distorted" what speakers were saying and advised police to drop their criminal investigation. >> more

With all the real abuses in need to exposing, what malice could motivate this kind of religious intolerance. Are the media that interested in their ratings that they would foment hatred and potentially violence by this kind of irresponsible action.

Freedom of Press should carry with it responsibility to report accurately to the best of one's ability. This is all too familiar, a la John Sweeney of Panorama infamy.


^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}