http://www.cpbf.org.uk Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom News Feed en-us Copyright 2008, CPBF gherman@KeywordsAssociates.com webmaster@cpbf.org.uk http://www.cpbf.org.uk/images/cpbflogo.gif http://www.cpbf.org.uk/ 88 31 News Feed from the CPBF http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2395 DATELINE:andnbsp;2/9/10 The joint unions, BECTU, the NUJ and Unite have welcomed the overwhelming backing of union members in the BBC for the unionsand#39; campaign against drastic cuts to staff pensions. In ballots calling for strike action which closed yesterday lunchtime, more than 90 per cent of the unionsand#39; members supported calls both for strike action and for action short of strike in opposition to what has been described as a andquot;pensions robberyandquot;. http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2394 DATELINE:andnbsp;1/9/10 Seasoned observer Nicholas Jones offers an engaging account of the General Election.David Cameron and Nick Clegg entering No 10 is a telling image for the front cover of Nicholas Jonesand#39; new book andndash; Campaign 2010 The Making the of the Prime Minister. The result on May 6 2010 was inconclusive. Labour lost. The Tories never won outright while Nick Clegg managed to lose five seats on the night. The TV debates, the first in British election history were decisive. The main parties conceded equal coverage to the Liberal Democrats, thus giving Clegg mass publicity. andnbsp; http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2393 DATELINE:andnbsp;26/8/10 Tuesday 14 September 6.00pm andndash; 8.00pm Mayorandrsquo;s Parlour, Manchester Town Hall, M2 5DB andlsquo;Media for All andndash; the Democratic Challengeandrsquo;. An open event hosted by Making Good Society and the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom (CPBF), supported by the Carnegie UK Trust. http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2392 DATELINE:andnbsp;23/8/10 Pro-Palestinian campaigners have carried out a series of protests against the BBC this weekend over its recent coverage of the Gaza Flotilla massacre. On Sunday afternoon campaigners demonstrated outside BBC studios in Newcastle-upon-Tyne to criticise the Panorama documentary Death On The Med. The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and the Palestine Action Group were among the organisations taking part in the weekend protests. http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2391 DATELINE:andnbsp;21/8/10 Monday eveningand#39;s Panorama programme about Israeland#39;s attack in international waters of the Mavi Marmara has put the spotlight yet again on the corporationand#39;s coverage of the conflict and lack of impartiality. Writing in the Morning Star on 19 August, Mark Holt from Waterloo described the programme as and#39;a disgraceand#39;. The same day we received the following email from Andy Brown in West Yorkshire,andnbsp;detailing his complaints about the programme made to the BBC. Details of protest demonostrations held at the weekend are reported in and#39;Protesters condemn biased BBC documentary - story above. http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2390 DATELINE:andnbsp;17/8/10 Ofcom has recommended the liberalisation of local cross-media ownership regulations, which could enable a single company to control newspapers, a TV licence and radio stations in one local area. However, the regulator acknowledged that such a situation could put too much of the local news agenda andquot;into the hands of one personandquot;, but said the BBC and the coalition governmentand#39;s plan for a new network of local TV stations should ensure continuing plurality. http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2389 DATELINE:andnbsp;16/8/10 As reported in the mediaandnbsp; last week, Mordechai Vanunu, the Israeli nuclear whistleblower who spent 18 years behind bars was released from jail on Sunday 8 August after serving an additional three months for violating his release terms. Vanunu, a former technician at Israeland#39;s top-secret Dimona nuclear reactor, said: andquot;All this harassing me and arresting me again and again is Israeland#39;s problem, not my problem.andquot; http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2388 DATELINE:andnbsp;7/8/10 The Pentagon has demanded that WikiLeaks immediately erase the huge cache of secret US military files about the Afghan war it has posted online and hand over another 15,000 classified records in its possession. Condemning the whistleblowersand#39; website for inciting the leaking of military secrets, the Department of Defence warned it would examine ways to compel WikiLeaks to andquot;do the right thingandquot; if it did not do so voluntarily. http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2387 DATELINE:andnbsp;3/8/10 The NUJ is trying to stop Glasgow-based journalist Charles Atangana from being deported to Cameroon where he is likely to face detention, torture or worse. We have temporarily stopped the forced removal of Charles Atangana (Home Office Reference A1227296). The NUJ is pleasedandnbsp; to report that there has been a last minute temporary reprieve for Charles. But he may still be deported soon.andnbsp; The UK Border Agency and Government solicitors agreed that Charles will not be deported as planned at 20.00 Monday 2 August. The removal directions have now been deferred.