10.07.2005

MediaGuardian.co.uk | Media | BBC shies away from Bush story

MediaGuardian.co.uk | Media | BBC shies away from Bush story: "However, after it appeared in most of the national newspapers, BBC Breakfast featured an item, while Radio 1, 5 Live, News 24 and BBC online also ran it.

But the BBC News website's coverage was distinctly lukewarm - running the story under the headline 'White House denies Bush God claim', rather than the press release's headline of 'God told me to invade Iraq, Bush tells Palestinian ministers'.

One BBC source said: 'The denial by the White House put some programme editors off. It probably played a big part in some of their decisions not to run the story.'

The lukewarm response by other BBC outlets to a BBC News exclusive in the wake of a denial by the US government is likely to dismay the new head of television news, Peter Horrocks.

Just a few days ago he urged staff not to be afraid of being first with stories, as long as they were factually accurate.

It is perhaps inevitable that suspicions may be raised about any cautious reception to BBC stories that do not present Mr Bush in the best light following Rupert Murdoch's comments that Tony Blair had told him BBC World's coverage of Hurricane Katrina was 'just full of hate for America and gloating about our troubles'."



Tony Blair is even Rupert Murdoch's bitch!

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