BBC censured over anti-Iran policy
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Panorama is the BBC’s flagship current affairs investigative programme, watched by millions of people.
In recent years it has produced several programmes on Iran, usually from a critical point of view.
In its latest episode Panorama accused the Islamic Republic of human rights abuses, and Press TV of spreading Iranian propaganda.
Over the years, the BBC and Panorama have been the target of much anger over their Iran coverage.
This demonstration took place outside the BBC in 2009 to protest the corporation’s reporting of the Iranian elections.
And critics feel this latest Panorama programme is part of a wider politically motivated attempt to target Iran.
At least one complaint about the Panorama programme has been made to the BBC,
accusing the corporation of reporting Iranian dissidents’ claims as fact.
And of ignoring serious uprisings elsewhere in the Muslim world, such as in Bahrain.
The BBC World Service recently announced that it’s to receive a “significant” sum of money from the US government
to help combat the blocking of TV and internet services in countries including Iran.
Critics say this proves that the BBC has a wider, political agenda, closely linked to the anti-Iran rhetoric of the British government.
The BBC claims that it is fair, balanced and impartial in all of its reporting.
And opinion polls show that it is still largely respected by the British public.
But there are concerns that the BBC could be using that respect to push certain political agendas.
And there is also evidence that viewers are deserting the BBC in droves to get their information from alternative sources.