(more edits further down: get scrolling)
Russia has attacked Georgia. They are fighting RIGHT NOW. It’s David vs Goliath, and Georgia has requested for US help in defending itself. Should the US accept, we’ll have the US (which may eventually mean UK too) vs Russia. Two of the world’s biggest superpowers.
But hold on, this isn’t big news. Oh no. It’s very insignificant — according to the BBC. There’s an Olympic ceremony going on, didn’t you know, and having spent millions of licence-fee payers’ cash, they seem reluctant to drop the Olympics as their lead story online.
Well it’s not good enough. The BBC, which I was defending all evening a couple of nights back, looks ever more stupid as the hour passes.
Indeed, every other respectable news source seems to have seen how important the conflict is. Over one thousand have died already. And yet, to the BBC, a load of people wandering around with flags is more important. Come on now.
These screen shots were taken at 4:30pm:
The Guardian
Telegraph
CNN
Sky
Even Fox News, for crying out loud!
But not the BBC. I’m gutted.
*sigh*
Sometimes it takes the bravest of editors to stand back and prioritise, even when millions of pounds, and hundreds of reporters, have been dedicated to one story. The BBC editors have a lot to answer for.
I’m pleased to say that the BBC News Channel seems to be reporting on Georgia heavily, with some good analysis. But part of me thinks if they could get away with having on instead they would do. But, alas, it’s all over BBC1.
EDIT:
It now seems that the international edition of the BBC website leads with Georgia. But still not the UK. Why?
ANOTHER EDIT:
This is being debated, a little, on the BBC Editors’ Blog. I have a feeling the second comment maybe from the Guardian’s Matt Wells, but I can’t be sure.
MORE:
The Press Gazette’s Martin Stabe twittered wondering if once the Olympic ceremony was over the Georgia story would take lead. It did:
Katharine Lackey, also via Twitter, alerted me to USA Today. The story is almost beneath the fold. Luckily, their readers are more educated on the importance of world news than their editors: The Georgia story has more reader comments than any other on the frontpage:
Hi Dave, Thanks for pointing this out. I linked to your post on my blog because I think it’s important to pass this around the blogosphere. I’ve been annoyed about the way the BBC splashes out with our licence-fee payers’ cash, for a long time, and this latest example is just adding fuel to the fire of my anger.
While his tanks were entering Georgia, Putin was happily exposing his sweat patches in The Birds Nest in Beijing, greeting his Olympic team. Also, Bush was almost having a laugh at the Iraqi team while a war is boiling a couple of time zones west. Would you interrupt the first HD Olympics for that?
Great post, Dave. Had to reference it on my own blog! Reminds me of Aunty’s great non-reportage of the Lincoln earthquake only about a zillion times worse…
Really You are a poor stupid You don’t know nothing about politics