BBC Breakfast has been criticised for airing live footage of a ‘sinking’ refugee boat described by one person as the “most disgusting journalism I’ve ever seen”.
Simon Jones reported from the English Channel where he filmed a group of Syrian asylum seekers ‘bailing out water’ as they made their way towards the English coast.
Standing atop of a secure vessel which tracked the migrant dingy, Simon told viewers:
“We came across this boat about half an hour ago, just spotted it on the horizon.
“We have seen them trying to get water out of the boat. They are doing that at the moment. They’re using a plastic container just trying to bail out the boat, so obviously, it’s pretty overloaded there.”
This is up there as some of the most disgusting journalism I've ever seen. The boat is about to capsize and he's commentating on it like it's a football match. Appalling. https://t.co/Hg990uS55m
— Aleesha (@a_leesha1) August 10, 2020
The clip has been roundly criticised on social media, with some calling it “Orwellian” in nature.
Others debated what purpose it serves other than promoting “the racist narratives and confected panic surrounding asylum seekers?”
I can’t even imagine the lack of humanity you would have to have in order to just watch and film this on your nice, safe boat for your cushty bbc job. this country is absolute poison https://t.co/lOXxwbLkzV
— jack? (@_jackhy) August 10, 2020
Related: ‘Once again’ a ‘direct intervention by DG needed to overturn mistake on race’ at BBC
Since you are here
Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.
Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.
Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.
If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.
To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.
The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.
The shop can be found here.
You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .
