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The BBC and the LSE
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Funnily enough I had a conversation with a group of year eleven students about this just an hour ago.They said that in their place, they'd have felt very betrayed and that it was wrong to have had their liberty and possibly their lives endangered in such a way.
Undercover and underhand. I'm not too sure what the LSE students were learning from their trip, or that there was no accompanying staff with them to such a country.
They said they gave them little information to protect the students but it seems more like they gave the students enough info to get them in serious trouble but not enough to possibly allow the students to give away the journalists. It has the potential to screw up academic trips for other student groups. There will be a lot of countries suspicious of them now and it may affect the quality of the education the students can get as a result. Seeing some of these things in person can be very important to some courses.
I've read a bit more now and realise it wasn't an LSE official study group, apparently the students were invited to go through a student's union club. They paid for themselves but it was a tour organised by a former LSE student, who happens to be married to the reporter. I agree that for students to see situations and travel is of great value, they have also learned another moral lesson about trust and journalism.
The students would not have been allowed to just wander wherever they wanted to go, there would have been restrictions placed upon them, and the same restrictions would have applied to the journalist, eg they would have stopped photos being taken etc, confiscated cameras if they'd wanted to.If there was any doubt that students could have been put in danger (for any reason, journalist or not), what on earth are they doing in the country at this time?
What worries me at the moment is that we have a definite attempt to rein in the freedom of the press in this country. Far too many people in power with dirty secrets don't want anyone poking about. I'm afraid I find myself asking questions such as "The BBC journalist who was there says he told someone twice, a union rep who wasn't there said that one person was never told."
In the present climate, who do I believe?
I went on holiday to the old Soviet Union back in the early 1980s, so as Weenie says, these people would have had restrictions, guides, whatever. Also if it was so dangerous why were they there?
Jim wrote: "What worries me at the moment is that we have a definite attempt to rein in the freedom of the press in this country. Far too many people in power with dirty secrets don't want anyone poking about...."Exactly. It's my understanding that the students were informed before the trip of the possible dangers involved. Bear in mind that these students are supposed to be the brightest and best of us. I can't believe that they would be so naïve that a trip to N. Korea (even without the reporter) would not be potentially dangerous. They could have backed out.
All good publicity for Panorama as well.
Lynne (Tigger's Mum) wrote: "All good publicity for Panorama as well."Not for me - I was going to watch it anyway!!
I haven't watched it for ages. Talking in general terms the cuts and edits of documentaries and news items can make something appear to be anything the director wants with their equipment. My OH was interviewed on a local news programme and what he said was nothing like what was produced. I'm too cynical for my own good.
Just set TV to record, wouldn't normally have bothered.
I'm pretty disgusted by the entire thing to be honest. As a student myself, I can really see the harm it might cause anyone in my position for their future studies abroad.
The spokeman for the LSE said on the radio that they had staff in various countries whose positions could become dangerous if the programme went ahead. With all the publicity it has had so far any intelligence service would surely know by now anyway.
If it's anything like the old Soviet Union was, they'll assume you're spying/dealing black market currency/smuggling jeans,bibles,whatever anyway.
So it was actually an undercover team of three... and they didn't tell them till Beijing. I think it's appalling.
My initial thoughts were that this was just another piece of undercover reporting. As I think about it more I wonder if the BBC could have caused huge problems for students travelling to trouble spots. The authorities can accuse any student group of spying with a little justification.
Just wondered what you all think....