Saturday 11 October 2014

Hospital Drama



Julia McFarlane is beside herself with joy! “O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!  The BBC has gone to town with my colourful but moving report on the gruesome injuries in Gaza, complete with graphic images.” 



Next up, Julia McFarlane takes her camera to Kobane to capture poignant images of civilians caught in the battle between the Kurds and ISIS. Not.

Okay, so there’s nothing wrong with highlighting the courage and hard work of those doctors who had to struggle with an overwhelming number of casualties  in extremely difficult circumstances. But it does seem gratuitous to open it all up again at a time when there are other, possibly much more violent things happening right now. 

I know Lyse Doucet explained why journalists are unable to cover events in Iraq and Syria, unlike in Gaza, where they are welcomed with open arms.  And I realise that the BBC loves a colourful tale about suffering in Gaza, and Gaza loves the BBC in return, but is it really necessary for the BBC to pick at this particular scab rather than leaving it to heal in good time, by itself.
The amateur video showed scenes of chaos - tens of doctors jostling from wounded to wounded; journalists with bulky TV cameras swarming around beds where dark red patches bloomed through patients' dressings.”

A bit like Holby City. (But I don’t suppose Holby City is a Hamas headquarters.)

3 comments:

  1. Even the Egyptians understand that Hamas is the problem. Why can't the BBC? If they truly cared about the safety and successful future of the heroic Palestinians, they'd want Hamas out. I think they have a different ultimate motivation......

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  2. Yes, I thought D.B. had flagged her up before. I’m sure there was another mention of her too - maybe something to do with Jon Donnison's infamous Twitter feed?

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  3. Jon Donnison approves:

    Jon Donnison @JonDonnison · 16h 16 hours ago
    Good BBC piece by @juliamacfarlane on the incredible work done by Gaza's doctors and nurses.

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