Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza's hospitals recorded six deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, all of them adults
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: A new chapter in relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will begin within the framework of the new law passed by Parliament

Declassified lays bare pro-'Israel' bias in UK newsrooms

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Declassified UK
  • 25 Feb 2025 00:16
5 Min Read

In interviews for Declassified, several current and former staff members from the BBC, Sky, ITN, The Guardian, and The Times revealed a consistent pattern of anti-Palestinian bias within their newsrooms.

Listen
  • x
  • Declassified reveals pro-'Israel' bias in UK newsrooms
    People walk outside the BBC Headquarters in London, Britain, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. (AP)

Journalists from some of the UK's most famous publications and television stations have expressed concerns about pro-"Israel" bias in their companies.

Speaking exclusively to Declassified, several current and former staff members from the BBC, Sky, ITN, The Guardian, and The Times revealed the extent of anti-Palestinian bias within their newsrooms.

With a range of political leanings, all journalists, who requested anonymity for fears of professional retaliation, painted a consistent picture despite the obstacles faced by reporters trying to humanize Palestinians or scrutinize Israeli government narratives.

A reporter from the right-wing Times newspaper recalled "crying in the bathroom" numerous times due to the struggle of attempting to report properly, while staff at The Guardian reported an "exhaustive spreadsheet" with a "mountain of examples" of the paper "amplifying unchallenged Israeli propaganda… or treating clearly false statements by Israeli spokespeople as credible."

Journalists working in television studios confront a similar challenge, with immediate consequences if Israeli officials are asked uncomfortable questions. 

Across all major media outlets where Declassified acquired access to insiders, a constant theme was the difficulty of reporting on "Israel's" war crimes, even though they were captured on tape.

Israeli narrative 'reigns supreme'

One Sky News journalist recalled unwritten journalistic norms that only apply to "Israel", detailing how it was a constant battle to report the truth.

"We would see the raw footage being sent to us from Gaza – we’re all well aware of the carnage. Yet you can’t describe what your eyes are seeing."

During the Israeli war on Gaza, Sky News was chastised on social media for failing to assign culpability when Palestinians were murdered, in contrast to vivid, humanizing reportage on Israeli deaths. 

One journalist told Declassified they were "frequently frustrated" at how nothing could be reported without direct confirmation from the Israeli occupation's military.

"We never wait for the Russians; we take Ukrainian claims at face value as the victims. Why is this any different?"

Related News

British officials knew of 'Israel’s' plan to strike Iran: Sky News

Australia cancels visa of Muslim preacher after Sky News incitement

The source recalled how Israeli claims were never contested, and any caution to staff members regarding Israeli lies fell unheard as the Israeli narrative always "reigned supreme" despite its inaccuracy.

The Sky News journalist went on to say that speaking out and attempting to change the course of coverage has consequences, often earning someone labels of being "difficult or rigid."

There are comparable worries at ITN, which produces news programs for ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5. A journalist employed by ITN, who preferred not to reveal the specific programming on which they worked, underlined the callous approach to reporting on Palestine.

One worker commented that the emphasis is on "clicks not ethical clarity," with tragic footage of Gaza being met with enthusiasm for how much traffic it may generate for the outlet. 

The source expressed how working in such a climate where colleagues seem "detached – or even excited – about these tragedies is incredibly difficult."

BBC bias

Two former BBC journalists told Declassified that the Sky and ITN playbooks were all too familiar, with one describing that after October 7, the systematic prejudice was evident, with the BBC openly "dehumanizing Palestinians across TV, radio, and online output."

One recalled a clear hierarchy of human life in the coverage, with "a deliberate focus on Israelis who lost their lives and hostages, with reporters naming them and developing narratives about them which were very sympathetic and humanizing, yet there was no such treatment for Palestinians."

That journalist described how senior staff's unwritten norms fostered a culture of censorship, saying, "The use of the word genocide is effectively banned, and any contributor who uses this word is immediately shut down." 

Away from television, comparable patterns of systematic prejudice may be detected in the British press, at both liberal and conservative publications. A journalist from the right-wing Times daily recalls how language was constantly used to mold understanding. "In all my reports, phrases like ‘since October 2023’ were changed and edited to ‘since the Hamas attacks’."

"I wanted to be dispatched to the Middle East to do some stories that center Palestinians, having had some prior experience doing so. But I was denied, with ‘budgetary constraints’ cited as the reason. I later found out that a reporter who ordinarily covered Ukraine had instead been sent, despite having little experience in the region. They knew I didn’t attend the IDF briefings or regurgitate Israeli talking points like the other Times reporters, so instead let someone else go who would publish all the ‘right things’."

Guardian amplifies Israeli propaganda 

This practice of restriction and diluting coverage does not appear to be limited to right-wing publications. A journalist from the left-leaning The Guardian, speaking anonymously to Declassified, described the difficulties in covering "Israel's" attack on Gaza.

"An exhaustive spreadsheet has been created by staff from the collective US and UK team to document egregious reporting from The Guardian and an internal network of staff was set up in October 2023 to coordinate any dissent," they said. 

One big point of concern that kept coming up in text, the writer pointed out, was the newspaper's use of the phrase "Hamas-run health ministry" when discussing the death toll in Gaza.

"There is no reason for The Guardian to be using language tools that downplay the death toll, especially when credible sources exist that suggest the death toll is higher than reported."

  • Israel
  • Palestine
  • war on Gaza
  • Gaza
  • The Guardian
  • BBC
  • Israeli propagana
  • the times
  • Sky News

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
An explosion seen during an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

If Iran is attacked again, geography of response may change: IRGC spox

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS