Balen Report

The Balen Report is an internal document written by the British Broadcasting Corporation's senior editorial adviser Malcolm Balen in 2004 examining the BBC's coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The report was commissioned by former BBC Director of News, Richard Sambrook, following allegations of anti-Israeli bias. [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-444074/BBC-pays-200-000-cover-report-anti-Israel-bias.html BBC pays £200,000 to 'cover up report on anti-Israel bias'] Daily Mail 22 March, 2007] [ [http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=41266&c=1 Now Balen case will go to the Lords] 30 May,2008] [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/bbc-fights-to-suppress-internal-report-into-allegations-of-bias-against-israel-442150.html BBC fights to suppress internal report into allegations of bias against Israel] The Independent March 282007 ]

The BBC took action through the courts to prevent the report from being released, maintaining it is held for purposes of journalism and, therefore, outside the scope of the Freedom of Information Act. The Information Commissioner ruled in favour of the BBC, allowing that it may withhold that which concerns the production of its art, entertainment and journalism. The decision was challenged at an Information Tribunal when a London solicitor, Steven Sugar, requested that the information be released under the Freedom of Information Act. The Tribunal ruled that the report should be released. The BBC appealed against this decision and in the High Court on 27 April 2007 Mr Justice Davis rejected Steven Sugar's challenge to the Information Commissioner's decision. On 25 January 2008, the Court of Appeal upheld this ruling.

In May 2008, the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords decided to allow Mr. Sugar to appeal against the Court of Appeal ruling. cite news | url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=41266&c=1 | title=Balen Report FOI battle goes to House of Lords | author=PA Mediapoint | date=2008-05-30| accessdate=2008-06-15 | work=Press Gazette]

The Daily Mail and others have reported that the BBC has spent an estimated £200,000 in an effort to withhold the report, and noted that some BBC chiefs have been accused of wasting licence fee payers' money. Conservative MP David Davis called the block "shameful hypocrisy" in light of the corporation's previous extensive use of FOI requests in its journalism.

The BBC's press release following the High Court judgment included the following statement:

"The BBC's action in this case had nothing to do with the fact that the Balen report was about the Middle East – the same approach would have been taken whatever area of news output was covered."

If Mr Sugar's effort fails in the House of Lords, he has said he has “every intention of going to the European Court of Human Rights.”

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/docs/speeches/press_releases2007/Balen_Report_BBC_Successful_in_High_Court_Challenge.htm BBC Successful in High Court Challenge]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/15/nbeeb15.xml BBC mounts court fight to keep 'critical' report secret]
* [http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=37154 BBC begins key High Court FoI appeal]
* [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article1575543.ece BBC asks court to block Israel report] by Michael Herman (Times Online) March 27, 2007
* [http://www.bicom.org.uk/latest_from_bicom/s/2374/lorna-fitzsimons-responds-to-bbcs-high-court-case-on-balen-report/ Lorna Fitzsimons responds to BBCs High Court case on Balen report]
* [http://www.honestreporting.co.uk/articles/critiques/BBC_Something_to_Hide$.asp BBC: Something to Hide?]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/opensecrets/2007/03/the_bbc_v_steven_sugar_the_bal.html The BBC V Steven Sugar - BBC Open Secrets Blog]