Netizens are concerned about journalistic standards after BBC apologizes on-air for misreporting that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) is attacking Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital. The news reporter, Monica Miller, was reading a story from Reuters when she twice stated that the Israeli military was “targeting medical officials as well as Arab-speaking people in Al Shifa Hospital.” Read ahead to find out their correction and the netizens reactions to the report.
Why did BBC News issue an Apology?
During a live broadcast, a senior reporter based in Singapore, Monica Miller, misreported a Reuters report. She stated that the IDF is conducting an operation against Hamas and targeting the medical teams as well as Arab-speaking people in a Gaza hospital. While the report originally states that IDF consists of medical teams and Arab-speaking people.
The teams are present in Gaza to help provide the necessary emergency care and supplies. Reuters quoted an IDF officer, “Our medical teams and Arab-speaking soldiers are on the ground to help provide supplies to those in need.” Subsequently, BBC News published a written apology and an on-air correction, which was delivered by another newsreader.
There isn’t any confirmation about the possible internal repercussions Miller could face for the mistake. We will update the report if the actions are announced. In the meantime, you can check out the apology and correction of BBC News below.
BBC apologizes for misreporting the Israel-Hamas war
On November 15, 2023, BBC News published a written apology on their ‘Correction and Clarification’ page as well as social media channels. In the apology, they corrected their initial misreporting by clarifying that the IDF was in Gaza with medical teams to help. They also apologized for the error calling it ‘below their editorial standards.’
This apology has caused ripples of backlash from journalists and netizens. Board of Deputies, an organization representing British Jews has expressed feeling appalled by the misreporting in a ‘highly volatile situation.’ Many of the netizens have also agreed with the sentiments of the organization and pointed out that this misreporting can have a detrimental effect all across the world.
Previously, BBC News had admitted that their journalist Jon Donnison was wrong in assuming that a rocket attack on the Al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza was conducted by Israeli forces. It was later confirmed that Palestinian Islamic Jihad misfired the rocket from Gaza. Such frequent mistakes have severely affected BBC’s reputation and raised concerns about basic journalism standards across the world.