See how it acknowledges the duty to probe, but worded so carefully as not to have said it includes duty to probe this. Nor have they admitted they should use test cases. Given we all know BBC never covers this issue, here is seeing if this has any effect to make them start now. Some usability to embarrass them if not.
All human rights organisations should not find it acceptable that the BBC argues that most tourists have not got arrest histories. This is a blatant act of arguing that the reason not to cover an abuse of a population group is the audience majority not belonging to it: the same as if they declined to cover a race issue because the audience is mostly white! That needs your calling out and embarrassing them, as a way to make any difference to the USA travel issue.
—– Forwarded message —–
From: BBC Complaints <bbc_complaints_website@contact.bbc.co.uk>
To: Maurice Frank
Sent: Monday, 8 November 2021, 15:59:37 GMT
Subject: BBC Complaints – Case number CAS-6986117-W5P9Q3
Thanks for contacting the BBC. This is to confirm we’ve received the attached complaint sent in this name. We’ve included the text of the complaint and a case reference for your records (see below).
Our normal aim is to reply at this stage within 10 working days (two weeks), but we hope you will understand that sometimes we are unable to respond by then. We will let you know beforehand if we think it may take us longer.
We’ll normally include your complaint in our overnight report to producers and management. This will circulate your and all complaints with other reaction we receive today (but with any personal details removed) so it will then be available for the right team to read tomorrow morning.
For full details of our complaints process please visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/how-we-handle-your-complaint. Please don’t reply to this email because it’s an automated acknowledgement sent from an account which can’t receive replies. If you do need to get in touch, please use our webform instead at http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints, quoting your reference number.
Here are the details of your complaint:
———-
YOUR COMPLAINT:
innocent arrested ppls’ posn entering USA ignored
———-
Thank you again for contacting us,
BBC Complaints Team
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints
—- Forwarded message —–
From: BBC Complaints <bbc_complaints_website@contact.bbc.co.uk;
To: Maurice Frank
Sent: Monday, 15 November 2021, 17:00:23 GMT
Subject: BBC Complaints – Case number CAS-6986117-W5P9Q3
Reference CAS-6986117-W5P9Q3
Dear Mr Frank
Tom Brook filed a story used by both programmes about the effect of the reintroduction of international flights into the United States, concentrating on the effect on New York City and its financial fortunes.
The report on Radio Scotland ran at under four minutes while on Radio Four a very slightly fuller version ran for another 30 seconds. Tom explained in both that NYC needs foreign visitors, because they stay longer and spend more than other US citizens. He said that lifting the ban for fully vaccinated foreign visitors was being greeted with mixed feelings by New Yorkers, who agreed that they spent money but also felt that they clogged up the streets.
While the subject you mention is of interest and concern to many, this was a general story about the return of foreign tourists to the US, of whom relatively few have an arrest history. That does not seek to demean the importance of what you describe, but merely to point out that this was not the place for it.
In these circumstances I cannot in all conscience accept your accusation of “inaccuracy” and “bias” in this matter. I do however agree with your assertion that “there is a public duty to probe”: we do that in our journalism, day in, day out.
As you know, the BBC has huge daily output across the globe, through its international as well as its domestic channels, and such matters as you raise are constantly under examination.
Your complaint has appeared in the daily log which is read by editors, producers and senior journalists across the BBC, and I am making this reply available also to The World Tonight. The daily logs frequently provide food for thought for programme makers.
Thank you again for being in touch about our output.”
Kind regards,
BBC Complaints Team
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints