Bravo Iain and Oliver
This is from Iain Dale’s blog:
Why I Won’t Appear on Press TV Again
Iain Dale 11:59 PMPress TV is a relatively new station. They’ve just got onto the Sky platform. It’s funded by the Iranian government. When I was first invited to appear on it, I wondered whether I should. But I decided engagement was the best way forward and decided that if ever I was censored or I noticed any form of overt Iranian bias I would refuse further invitations to take part. In all I have appeared about ten times over the last two years.
Over the last few weeks I have been invited on to several of their programmes (for which they offer a fee of £75) but have declined. I have been appalled at the way their website has portrayed what’s happened in the Iranian elections. Quite how they have complied with OfCom’s rules on objectivity, I don’t know.
Tonight, LBC presenter Nick Ferrari has resigned from his weekly Question Time type show (which I appeared on once), and Newsnight has just carried an item in which the station’s MD, Matthew Richardson appeared with Martin Bright. Having heard Mr Richardson on the radio last week and now seen his ridiculous performance against Martin Bright, it has confirmed my decision not to appear on the station again, and I shall also be instructing my three colleagues from Total Politics who have appeared on their programmes not to do so in future. I hope others will do the same.
This is the Newsnight segment:
The radio interview, where Richardson says the protests in Iran were “started irresponsibly”, is available here.
Perhaps Andrew Gilligan will take Dale’s advice. The Press TV show he presents, “Forum”, is broadcast on Sundays. Will he be there this Sunday?
As for presenters Lauren Booth, George Galloway, Matthew Richardson and Yvonne Ridley, I fear we are more likely to see the Supreme Leader converting to Buddhism than those four doing the right thing.
UPDATE: Bravo Oliver!
I wrote about Press TV a few months ago for the Jewish Chronicle, giving my own experience of the station. I’ve appeared occasionally as a guest on its discussion programmes. I found the station’s employees to be professional and friendly, and I have no reason to think that my contributions to the discussions were censored in any way, but on balance I think it was a mistake to appear and I no longer do so. Press TV is not a normal broadcaster.
The incident that caused me to decline all further invitations was the station’s promotion of the work of a Holocaust denier called Nicholas Kollerstrom. (As is well known, the President of Iran is a Holocaust denier who gleefully anticipates the extinction of Israel – an outcome that could be achieved only by unleashing a second Holocaust against the Jewish people.) When I explained this decision to a producer for Press TV who had invited me to appear on his programme, he said that he certainly didn’t approve of the article and would attempt to have it removed from the site. It’s still there, many months later. This shouldn’t need saying but I’ll say it anyway: I’m a strong supporter of freedom of speech for racists, a category that includes all Holocaust deniers. But The Times doesn’t publish the work of Holocaust deniers and nor would any other reputable news organisation.
Comments
| 2 July 2009, 3:49 pm |
Crikey, Matthew Richardson is a bit of a wally. I’d say his response comes a close second to Kollerstrom’s when he was caught out on Tuesday.
| 2 July 2009, 3:50 pm |
Why you should say ‘bravo’ to someone who has been quite happy to take the Iranian cash until it became unpopular in the MSM is beyond me. Do you really think Dale didn’t know about the holocaust denier?
| 2 July 2009, 3:52 pm |
Oliver Kamm has essentially said the same thing.
Gilligan and the rest mentioned are well dodgy, so I wouldn’t hold your breath.
| 2 July 2009, 3:54 pm |
Matthew Richardson is a joke, isn’t he? What a clueless performance.
| 2 July 2009, 3:57 pm |
I saw Richardson last night and thought he was hilarious-what a twat! He also reminds me of a young Alexei “as a Jew” Sayle.
| 2 July 2009, 3:59 pm |
With someone like Richardson representing it publicly, Press TV doesn’t need enemies. (It does need viewers though!)
| 2 July 2009, 4:03 pm |
Did anyone else get the feeling watching the entire segment last night that the BBC wasn’t exactly impartial itself in its treatment of Press TV?
From the outset, the reporter stated as fact that it was a ‘mouthpiece for Tehran’ but then proceeded to mock it for its eclectic celeb presenters, including that well known Islamist Derek Conway…(& Gilligan)
However vile some of the stuff is on Press TV, there is at least some attempt at debate, which does not exactly fit well with the charge the BBC lays against it.
Richardson was an inept imbecile, but i wouldn’t be at all surprised if he made his own complaint to Ofcom or the BBC Trust about lack of impartiality.
| 2 July 2009, 4:09 pm |
“Richardson was an inept imbecile.”
Judging on the Newsnight performance he’ll end up posting his complaint to Pot Noodle by accident.
And it *is* a mouthpiece for Iran. Matthew Richardson and the rest are at best stooges for the regime.
| 2 July 2009, 4:11 pm |
Alec. Sunny speaks gibberish like a native.
| 2 July 2009, 4:24 pm |
And the difference between Press TV and the BBC is??
At least Press TV is more upfront and honest with its Jew-hatred. Both stations are dhimmified propagandists for Islamists, so really what’s the fuss about?
Kamm won’t appear on Press TV again, because of their open hostility to Jews (endorsement of Holocaust Denial) but he has praised the Judenhass BBC for their mid-east coverage on his blog, for what Kamm calls its uh impartiality and objectivity gag. As long as the BBC keeps its Judenhass prim and proper with acceptable anti-Israel canards and the whitewashing of Islamic terror Kamm is hunky dory with it. It’s open Jew-hatred that Kamm doesn’t approve of.
| 2 July 2009, 4:26 pm |
Well I had just got back from my union branch meeting last night when I saw this.
I had had to face up to some very determined ‘Ban the BNP’ arguments.
I broke them.
Democratic socialists believe in democracy.
Ban Press TV?
It’s a load of utter cack that I would not give the Seele of the Day to to.
Let them go on!
http://tendancecoatesy.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/dont-ban-press-tv/
| 2 July 2009, 4:28 pm |
Matthew Richardson is hilarious, he reminds me of a mobile phone salesman on Oxford Street, nice suit but no brain whatsoever….
| 2 July 2009, 4:33 pm |
Judenhass BBC for their mid-east coverage on his blog, for what Kamm calls its uh impartiality and objectivity gag. As long as the BBC keeps its Judenhass prim and proper with acceptable anti-Israel canards and the whitewashing of Islamic terror Kamm is hunky dory with it. It’s open Jew-hatred that Kamm doesn’t approve of.
You’re a real loon aren’t you?
| 2 July 2009, 4:44 pm |
“Matthew Richardson is hilarious.”
He is VERY entertaining – shame he doesn’t mean to be!
| 2 July 2009, 5:47 pm |
Jordan does not want them either http://raymankojast.blogspot.com/2009/07/jordan-shuts-down-government-tv-network.html
| 2 July 2009, 6:07 pm |
On the face of it an exposure on Newsnight. But I am left troubled by any interview where both the presenter and one of the two interviewees turn on the second – the two against one quibble we English school boys where brought up on. I thought Mr Richardson did a better job on himself when allowed. But it is not arguing on very firm grounds to say the BBC is not a government (in the widest sense) mouthpiece. Obviously it is, in the sense of reflecting certain values and outlooks which are shared in this society. To that extent Mr Richardson had a point. What he was not permitted to do – I feel certain given time he would have done so – is to say Press TV shares the outlook and assumptions of the Supreme Ruler and governing circles back in Iran. We know what those are. At that point a divergence would have been strikingly apparent.
Instead the moment was lost and Richardson fell back on a lame argument about being responsible only for a website, not the TV part of the operation. However, his attempt to trip up Martin Bright was somewhat spoilt by the fact that Mr Bright appeared to have actually done quite a bit of research and (amazing to myself) could remember details without notes.
But what does this amount to? Does anyone think any arguments will succeed where plain facts cannot? Those who wish to be duped by Press TV will continue so to be. Numbers of viewers might fluctuate like the circulation of the Daily Worker, now Star, following this or that piece of ’socialist solidarity’ (Hungary; Czechoslovakia); but the faithful will over look any contradiction (remembering) for the ‘good of the cause’.
| 2 July 2009, 6:33 pm |
re Amused’s comment above. the fact that you think I’m a loon for exposing Kamm’s cluelessness re the BBC’s biased misreporting on Israel, simply exposes your own lack of insight and awareness.
Tiresome.
| 2 July 2009, 6:33 pm |
re Amused’s comment above. the fact that you think I’m a loon for exposing Kamm’s cluelessness re the BBC’s biased misreporting on Israel, simply exposes your own lack of insight and awareness.
Tiresome.
| 2 July 2009, 6:51 pm |
The Press tv website is interesting. Criticise Ahmadinejad and the censor moves in smartly and the comment disappears without fail. Applaud him for smashing the 100 metres world record or congratulate him for beating Roger Federer in the Semi-Finals at Wimbledon and you can be up all day. They love their Ahmadi.
| 2 July 2009, 7:26 pm |
Matthew Richardson is almost sinister. He needs to arch his eyebrows and go a long pointy beard.
| 2 July 2009, 7:35 pm |
Sinister and very non self-aware. I watched him present a show on Press TV once because a friend of mine was appearing. Matthew Richardson didn’t know what he was doing but clearly thought he was on top of it. Hilarious compensatory beardage, too!
| 2 July 2009, 7:45 pm |
There are some top (but rpesumably typical) comments here
http:// www. presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=99633§ionid=351020205
JOHN
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:13:46 GMT
Not ” officially registered with the concerned authorities ” Would it be same concerned authorities that are demolishing PALESTINIAN homes ! israel is an acronym for : Invading Settlers Russian American European Landgrabbers !!!
Oh
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:58:10 GMT
Basij must attack and kill Jordan right now.
My comment that Khamenei should take on Jordan in a one-to-one mud fight, with picture and photo rights to be shared between Press TV and the Daily Star won’t get accepted. I’m trying to work out which words prevent it from being published.
| 2 July 2009, 7:54 pm |
I saw the Newsnight programme. Richardson’s performance wasn’t brilliant but he did wrongfoot both Paxman and Bright. Bright did not sound very – er – Bright. Bright quoted Press TV quoting Iranian politicians. But the BBC quotes Iranian politicians. It was hardly a damning critique.
I think we are all rather inclined to dismiss Richardson because we
know what the Iranian and Press TV game is. But an ordinary viewer might not have seen it as game set and match to Bright (even with the Umpire throwing things at Richarson while he tried to serve).
Press TV is just a provocation like the Holocaust cartoon business. But its critics should do their homework.
| 2 July 2009, 8:02 pm |
“But I am left troubled by any interview where both the presenter and one of the two interviewees turn on the second – the two against one quibble we English school boys where brought up on.”
I’d save your heartache for the gay Iranian people who have been executed and for the women and other numerous victims of the brutal, Holocaust-denying repressive regime that Richardson helps prop up (admittedly slightly incompetently).
| 2 July 2009, 8:03 pm |
“Bright did not sound very – er – Bright.”
He was spot on when he said that Richardson should just be honest and admit what Press TV is. But that would involve integrity, courage and honesty – sackable offences at Press TV, I’d imagine.
| 2 July 2009, 9:14 pm |
It’s pretty simple: Press tv shouldn’t be broadcast here. And if we need a ‘reason’ other than the obvious, lets just apply even the lightest possible Reading of the ofcom code to it and it’ll collapse under what is required of it. Even C4 looks reasonable compared to Press Tv.
| 2 July 2009, 9:17 pm |
I do confess that the irony in this piece is glaringly stark. Given that this is a BBC report about Press TV and Ofcom’s ‘accuracy and impartiality’ guidelines…
To ensure that news, in whatever form, is reported with due accuracy and reported with due impartiality.
A case of Pot, kettle, black!
| 2 July 2009, 9:29 pm |
Richardson missed a trick (I’m pleased to say) since Bowen was found guilty of not exercising impartialty to the standard demanded by BBC over some items of his Middle East coverage.
| 2 July 2009, 9:39 pm |
It’s Ok let them broadcast for the Genocidal Theocratic Islamist Neo-Fascist propaganda machine. It will all be good, solid evidence at the next “Nuremberg” trail. Lets see them try to say they were only following orders, lets see them deny they ever supported the Neo-Nazi Genocidal Theocratic Islamist Lunatics.
Let them dig their own holes I say.
Ps If any of these collaborators who have only ‘now’ quit, claim they only ‘now’ recognize the malign nature of this Islamist Theocratic Lunatic Asylum that laughingly masquerades as a system of government, then they should, in the future hold a position that pays no more than the minimum wage and of course only until they are brought to trail for their blatant collaboration with a clearly fascist regime.
| 2 July 2009, 9:46 pm |
Sorry Larry Moonsong, but you really are a loon – “the Judenhass BBC” is more insane even than “the Bolshevik Broadcasting Corporation,” you loon.
| 2 July 2009, 11:04 pm |
What? Over an hour and no condemnation by the glorious workers of the revolution on the misspelling of the “trail”.
A triumph or is it merely a feeling of self satisfaction, of my belief in the sanctity of my Atheist reality.
Sorry guys, not very well today, I think I have the Flu, makes me type funny.
| 2 July 2009, 11:54 pm |
Chas N-B –
I don’t think Bright made his point very well. He was quoting the website and Richardson was claiming, plausibly, that he did not run the website.
Of course Richardson was deliberately obfuscating, but surely that is the first thing you expect a paid lackey of the Iranian regime to do – obfuscate.
IN this sort of case either you take the forensic approach and do some thorough research, so when Richardson denies being part of Press TV International, you can then close in on him and show how the Iranian regime control all these companies OR you stick to general principles e.g. just challenge Richardson to condemn the persecution of peaceful demonstrators by the Ahmadinejad regime or challenge him to condemn the Iranian government sponsoring Holocaust cartoons that make fun of Ann Frank.
Bright did not rise to the occasion. And Paxman just sounded vexed.
| 3 July 2009, 7:54 am |
“I saw the Newsnight programme. Richardson’s performance wasn’t brilliant but he did wrongfoot both Paxman and Bright. Bright did not sound very – er – Bright. Bright quoted Press TV quoting Iranian politicians. But the BBC quotes Iranian politicians. It was hardly a damning critique.” – field.
We were watching different programmes; or “wrong footed” has changed its meaning.
“I’d save your heartache for the gay Iranian people who have been executed and for the women and other numerous victims of the brutal, Holocaust-denying repressive regime that Richardson helps prop up (admittedly slightly incompetently).” Chas N-B.
This thread assumes a certain knowledge on the part of those who post to it. Clerarly that assumption is misplaced in your case.
| 3 July 2009, 12:44 pm |
Richardson’s performance wasn’t brilliant but he did wrongfoot both Paxman and Bright. Bright did not sound very – er – Bright.
On the contrary, Bright was both well-informed and intelligent, dismantling any sort of argument, which were pitifully weak admittedly, that Richardson gave. There was no “wrong-footing”, only weasling out of answering direction questions.
| 3 July 2009, 11:57 pm |
A thread at ‘biased-bbc’ blog:
http://biased-bbc.blogspot.com/2009/07/to-beeb-or-not-to-beeb.html
| 10 July 2009, 5:13 pm |
How come he has time to work two jobs (obviously very talented becuase he does both very well):
Richardson “Bunny in the headlights” stuff.
Its nothing to do with me guv!