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| Emma Jane |
You won't be surprised to hear that this morning's Broadcasting House on Radio 4 also dwelt on the migration crisis in Calais.
The opening report from Emma Jane Kirby interestingly juxtaposed two contrasting yet complementary points of view from the French inhabitants of Calais - (1) a restaurateur whose business has been severely hit by the crisis (with far fewer English customers and no Italians) and (2) a couple who love the migrants as if they were family - one of whom (the woman) gives the migrants foot massages.
The foot-massaging couple, who had oddly baby-like names - Nana and Dom Dom - will have either struck listeners as adorably well-meaning or nigh-on certifiable.
The curious thing was that, though the love Nana and Dom Dom felt for the migrants wasn't shared by the unfortunate restaurant owner, the latter was surprisingly complimentary about the migrants too, stressing that they are no danger and quite nice.
He seemed keener...or Emma Jane seemed keener, whichever...to suggest that the British media was over-egging the danger...
...though he did, in rather embarrassed fashion (according to Emma), add that the Australian way of dealing with things might be a bit harsh, but....(and that was left hanging in the air like a thrown boomerang paused on a YouTube video).
Was this biased?
Why did I come away, on first thoughts, thinking that the migrants were not so dangerous as I originally thought?
Why, on reflection, did I then distrust those first thoughts - and the BBC reporter?
And why, on writing this post, did I apparently conclude [as it appears I've done after all] that I was being led by the hand by Emma Jane in the very direction that the BBC seems to want its audience to be led?
You are, of course, free to listen and decide for yourself.
