Impartiality and the ABC: the Middle East doco rejected for broadcast
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ABC Television will “consider” broadcasting a Middle East pro-peace documentary it had previously refused to show after pressure from the film’s distribution company. An initial offer to broadcast the independent film Hope in a Slingshot was retracted by the ABC earlier this year due to “impartiality” concerns, but Crikey can reveal that ABC management will now reconsider its decision. Hope in a Slingshot is the work of Australian/Maltese documentary filmmaker Inka Stafrace and portrays her experiences in the contested West Bank region of the Middle East. While the film is critical of Israel’s occupation of Palestine, it was partially funded by Jewish and Palestinian communities within Australia and is focussed on attaining a peaceful resolution to conflict in the area. A press release from the film’s distribution company, Ronin Films, expressed disappointment at the retraction of the ABC’s offer, saying that a worthwhile debate was being halted: “The ABC’s policy of maintaining ‘balance’ on ‘contentious’ issues runs the risk of halting dialogue and censoring innovative points of view.” In a letter to Ronin Films, the ABC’s director of television Kim Dalton explained the film would not be shown due to its opinionated content:
Clause 6.1 of the ABC’s editorial policies states “opinion content” is permitted for broadcast based on the understanding that “such content can add to public understanding and debate on issues”. A spokesperson for Dalton told Crikey that while opinion content is permitted for broadcast the film was not shown due to concerns about “impartiality”. “Given the documentary reports on the issue from a particular perspective ABC TV is required to demonstrate impartiality,” the ABC says. Clause 6.6.3 of the editorial policies would require the ABC to provide “content of a similar type and weight and in an appropriate time-slot” in order to balance the views expressed in Hope in a Slingshot. The ABC told Crikey it can’t find content “which would put an alternative view and therefore we would be unable to meet the impartiality requirement”. The decision not to broadcast the film has attracted the ire of the Friends of the ABC group. Victorian campaign manager Glenys Stradijot told Crikey the ABC had gone too far. “If the ABC’s editorial policies that deal with bias and balance are now so restrictive that ABC audiences could be prevented from understanding the lives of a large group of people, then the ABC will fail in its responsibilities to inform and educate,” she said. The extent to which the ABC tried to find an alternative view program is not clear, but in a March 26 email to the ABC’s head of programming, Marena Manzoufas, Hope in a Slingshot’s creator Inka Stafrace offered one possible option: “It seems the onus is on me and my distributors to offer you these alternative POV films. I began my search yesterday and found The Case for Israel.” The ABC never responded to the suggestion, maintaining its decision not to broadcast the film. After Crikey sent Stafrace’s original email to the ABC, asking why it had not been considered, a spokesperson said the decision not to broadcast the film would be revisited. “We will be happy to have (Ronin Films) suggest a program that balances out the views expressed in Hope in a Slingshot, for ABC TV to consider,” a spokesperson said. Ronin Films managing director Dr Andrew Pike welcomed the news: “I’m happy to hear they will look into it.” |
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10 Comments
What a ridiculous and lcd policy - we can’t see a documentary on a serious issue because they cant find a balancing argument. What if the issue is blatantly wrong - say Nazi’s gassing Jews, gypsies etc - does that mean the ABC will not show anything that is against this unless it can find something pro Nazi?
Get a backbone auntie and give the Australian people some credit for being able to explore alternate views on topics by themselves.
So the hunt is on to find a film supportive of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, and focuses on perpetuating conflict in the region… Good luck with that - Colin Rubinstein might have something.
Interestingly enough I didn’t see ABC looking for an alternative viewpoint when it ran the film about Rebiya Kadeer, but then that’s China so it’s OK.
Please Auntie, show the film.
Yet another example of the ABC’s fear of upsetting the pro-Israel lobby in Australia.
The ABC’s viewers have a right to see documentaries, even if they do upset Colin Rubenstein.
The struggle for peace and justice in the Middle East is a critical issue, so critical that our Federal Government felt compelled to expel an Israeli diplomat over the fraudelent use by Israel of Australian passports. Israelis as well as Palestinians are craving for peace. Why are ABC executives too scared to let us learn more about what’s really going on in this vital region?
I’m with Mark, this policy is skewed and illogical.
We’ve seen plenty of negative stories about Catholic priests and child abuse - so where are the stories showing the positive side of this behaviour? There are endless other examples, I will spare the reader…
The far right Zionist racist propaganda that any criticism of Israel MUST be anti-semitic, has long been debunked by humanists around the globe. It just doesn’t have any traction these days, as the truth about aparthied Israel emerges daily.
However, dear old Aunty hangs on to the past with both hands fearful of upsetting the Christian Zionists who abound in both major political parties (e.g. Rudd & Gaza Gillard, Abbott & Bishop)…how sad.
“30 pieces of ‘the Right’ silver” still Morry Newman’s “going rate”, for editorial content?
He’s just run this past “Rupert and Tony”, then?
Or is this going to present Senator Eric “Charlie McCarthy” Abetz with another opportunity to criticise “ABC content”?
Nothing surprises me about the ABC these days. They treat climate change loonies with the same respect as people who actually know what they’re talking about and let right wingers take over Q & A and rave as long as they like. The standard of debate in Australia at the moment is lamentable.
KEITH - I agree - it’s most disturbing! It would be terrible, if after all the Israel/US slant on the occupation of Gaza etc in recent years, that a contrary point of view might be shown? I find it the worst form of censorship. we need to put a ‘new broom’ through the ABC. Rudd should’ve done it at the same time as he got rid of the Howard hangers-on in the public service! I said at the time, that he’d rue the day that he said he wouldn’t ‘touch them’? But, if your only intention is more of the same - conservative views and priorities, why get rid of them?
I’m with Mark — it’s always risky to default to a “Reductio ad Hitlerum”, but I don’t understand how not being able to find an alternative viewpoint becomes a reason for not showing something. The logical consequence of such a policy is that the stronger and less contestable the argument of a documentary, the less likely it will be broadcast. If this isn’t a text-book example of perverse logic I’m not sure I can think of another.
@KEVIN H - You’re so right! Sickening isn’t it? Israel - the oppressed are now the oppressors. I don’t feel one bit sorry for them any more! Not a bit! For those who were murdered, yes - for those who are dishing out the same to the impoverished Palestinians - NO! I’ve read, that even the food allowed into Gaza is restricted. Israel has done the calculations re how much nourishment needed just to exist - and that’s what they’re allowing in. Every day people die at the checkpoints - children are jailed by the scores if not hundreds; soldiers point loaded guns at little kids on their way to school, and people and their homes are still being bulldozed - regardless of how many inside! And that’s just a small ‘snapshot’ of their reality! Horrendous!
Once you know the truth, you can’t support the Zionists or those who remain silent for their own personal ends! Shame! I have respect for the minority of Israelis, who voluntary keep vigil at checkpoints just to let ‘them’ know they’re being observed. Some of these brave people have lost children too!