BBC Trust Launches Impartiality Review of Arab Spring Coverage

A review of the impartiality of the BBC's coverage of the events known as the 'Arab Spring', has today been launched by the BBC Trust.

It is the latest in a series of reviews that assess the impartiality of the BBC's output. The review will be led by Edward Mortimer, Senior Vice President of the Salzburg Global Seminar, former UN Director of Communications and expert in Middle East affairs.

The review will look at the BBC's coverage beginning with events in Tunisia in December 2010 and, following on from that, most notably in Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria and Yemen. It will look at coverage on BBC national TV and radio, online content, and BBC World News.

Alison Hastings, BBC Trustee and Chair of the Trust's Editorial Standards Committee, said:

"The events that came to be known as the Arab Spring were extremely fast-moving and complex. That makes it a difficult story to cover. The challenge for the BBC, as with all controversial areas, is to ensure that it maintains the high standards of impartiality and accuracy that audiences expect, both in the UK and around the world, where many rely on the BBC's international news services.

"We are delighted that Edward Mortimer has agreed to lead this important review for the Trust – his distinguished record, and expertise, in both Middle East issues and journalism, will be a great asset."

Edward Mortimer said:

"I am honoured and excited by this assignment. Events in the Middle East during 2011 up-ended many widely accepted notions about the region. Such stories are always the most exciting for journalists to cover, but also present many challenges. It will be fascinating to examine in detail how the BBC rose to these."

The review will include content analysis, interviews with interested parties, and audience research. The findings will be published in autumn 2012.