Commentary
| Published date | 01 October 1985 |
| Date | 01 October 1985 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X8505800401 |
TbePOLICE
JOURNtd.
Publicity for Terrorists
The recent controversy over alleged Government interference in the
running of the B.B.C.with thechilling spectreof official censorship,
must havecome as a
boon
to the I.R.A. at a timewhen it was
licking its wounds after amajor reverse in thebombing campaign.
The question of who has the finalsay, the Governors or the
Director General, is less important than deciding where the
responsibility lies fordetermining day-to-day programme topics.
The apparent desire on the part of someproducers togive a
platform to thosewho espouse indiscriminate violence as a means
to achieve political ends (and of course,we are notsaying that this
particular producer or programme which we havenotseen,sought
to do so) must call into question the adequacy of programme
control andgive credulity to the Government when it raises a
commendably rare question mark. Indeed, the absenceof such a
querycouldwell have beencriticized byparties unfavourably
disposed towards the Government.
The staggering hypocrisy displayed by many in support of the
principle of media freedom served only to deepen the suspicion that
real power lies at amuch lowerlevel on thehierarchical scale.
It
would seem that the principle is interpreted as protecting decisions
made
"on
the floor" against any over-ruling, whether Government
inspiredornot: if suchis the casethe prospect of imposed
censorship appears muchless distasteful, despiteits authoritarian
overtones.
The mediain this country operate ona very loose rein andforthe
most
part
pursue their respective courses responsibly in a
determined effort to protect individual rights and liberties against
abuse.
It
is rightlysaid
that
freedomof speechis thecorner-stone of
democracy. Nevertheless,
both
press and T.V.have a clear duty to
oppose the enemies of democracy and, in so doing,to express
unequivocally their utter condemnation of terrorism in all its forms.
It
serves no purpose, except to blur important issues,to give evena
semblance of credence to anyone who supports such infamies as the
October 1985 279
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