Written evidence from Mrs Rosie Kaynak
RE: WORLD SERVICE CUTS
I am a journalism lecturer at a State University
in Ankara Turkey, a country which houses an incredibly biased
press and where a subtle and menacing Islamisation of the press
is taking place. We rely on objective and impartial press, which
I teach to my students. Two of my students are currently imprisoned
without trial. There is very little right to protest here.
I argue that the BBC World Service, through its online
and tailored, specific news offers clarity, understanding and
accurate news to those whose lives are affected by the direct
consequences of bias, corruption and partiality.
I have also worked training international embassy
staff here, who value and credit the BBC World Service for its
accuracy and impartial reporting. The BBC is a huge global brand,
which adds enormous value to the country. Is it really that difficult
to spend 0.5% of the annual budget to enhance and develop this
brand internationally? Without the BBC World Service, the BBC
global brand will diminish, and with it British status overseas.
The BBC World Service acts as an invaluable soft diplomacy tool,
that surely should continue to be funded by the Foreign Office.
Al Jazeera has recently expanded its operations here
in Turkey—albeit a privately funded company, but one that
spreads news and influences with its standpoint. It is important
that the BBC brand of impartial news should not decrease globally.
I strongly believe to preserve the BBC's global brand
and influence internationally, that World Service newsgathering
with a new, online and interactive output should continue to be
funded by the Foreign Office.
The move to license fee funding is very shortsighted
in both a business and democratic sense.
I welcome the answer to my points.
2 February 2011
| 
