BBC Gaza Programme Ruled a 'Significant' Breach of Broadcasting Regulations, Says Ofcom
The British broadcaster engaged in a "significant breach" of broadcasting rules by omitting to mention that the presenter of a programme about the Gaza situation was the child of a Hamas official, according to UK media regulator Ofcom.
An inquiry by the media regulator into Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone has determined that the film was "significantly deceptive".
The head of the BBC had earlier expressed regret, saying there had been "a serious error in relation to truthfulness".
The authority has instructed the corporation to air a prime-time statement about its decisions.
"As this represents a major infringement of our rules, we are directing the BBC to transmit a announcement of our findings against it on the BBC's second channel at 9pm, with a date to be determined," the statement read.
'Potential to Erode Trust'
The regulator's statement stated: "Our probe found that the film's failure to disclose that the voice's parent held a position in the Hamas-run administration was significantly deceptive.
"Consequently that the public did not have critical information which may have been extremely pertinent to their judgment of the presenter and the details he shared.
"Confidence is at the center of the bond between a media organization and its viewers, particularly for a public service broadcaster such as the BBC.
"This failing had the possibility to erode the exceptionally strong degrees of credibility that viewers would have put in a factual film from the broadcaster about the Gaza conflict."
The documentary was withdrawn from the online platform in the month of February after the boy's personal associations were revealed, and in July an internal BBC review concluded it violated the broadcaster's editorial guidelines on truthfulness.
A BBC spokesperson said: "The regulator's decision is in line with the results of Peter Johnston's review, that there was a serious error in the film in relation to the broadcaster's journalistic policies on factual correctness, which aligns with Rule 2.2 of the authority's broadcasting regulations.
"We have apologised for this and we agree with Ofcom's decision in its entirety. We will comply with the directive as soon as the date and wording are finalised."
