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Channel 4: Re Syria Complaint
Dear Mr Fraser
Thank you for your reply of 14 October.
It seems you now concede that there is doubt over the date of the footage in question (albeit the phrase “precise dates” does rather suggest that the uncertainty is perhaps over a matter of days rather than, as is likely, years). [1]
I would be grateful if could explain why, in addition to a note in your archive, it is not possible for a caveat to be included in the Channel 4 News web article itself? If I wished to formally pursue a request to this effect, how would I proceed?
Yours sincerely
Robert Stuart
https://bbcpanoramasavingsyriaschildren.wordpress.com/
[1] In a post of 8 July 2015 “respected weapons blogger” Brown Moses describes how in late 2013 “there was a significant change in the use of barrel bombs by the Syrian military” away from the earlier designs which employed “crude wick fuses” (ie the type which features in your report) to a much larger design with three tailfins and a metal impact plate fuse. This design “appears to have replaced all earlier designs of barrel bombs across Syria”. The post goes on to note that in April 2014 “a new type of barrel bomb” which features “the addition of a gas cylinder inside the bomb” was used.
This seems to make it plain that the fuse wick design of barrel bomb which features in the footage described in your report as “recent” is indeed long redundant and at least two design stages earlier than at least one type which has more recently been used in Syria.
——————————————————————————–
From: [email protected]
To:
Subject: RE: Syria complaint
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2015 14:20:36 +0000
Dear Mr Stuart
Thank you for your emails of 24 September and 7 October 2015.
We have given this matter further consideration and note the point raised that you consider the footage shows an early design of barrel bomb and therefore you believe the footage was not recent.
We take your point seriously. It is clear you have a specific interest in the area being reported. The editorial team have been made aware of your views about the footage. We are always willing to listen to different perspectives and points that challenge what we report. This is a helpful part of the editorial process and we intend to mark the footage in our archive so that anyone seeing this footage is aware there was an issue raised questioning the precise dates when this footage was filmed.
We hope that you can also see the issue from our perspective. There are very difficult reporting conditions in Syria. We have recently reported from inside Syria when Lindsey Hilsum travelled with the permission to Damascus and some selected areas outside the capital but this is not a free reign to travel anywhere within this war torn country. It must be noted we are not able to report from the ground in the normal way and thus you will understand determining the full facts presents many challenges that we work hard to overcome. We use best endeavours to ensure our reporting is accurate at all times.
Please continue to write to us if you believe that what is reported is open to question. Such input is very helpful for our editorial process and editorial decision-making.
Yours sincerely,
Ed Fraser
Managing Editor
Channel 4 News
Philosophers stone – selected views from the boat http://philosophers-stone.co.uk
Source: http://www.philosophers-stone.co.uk/?p=4653
