20/06/2014 Newswatch

Now it's time for News watch. The perils and problems of reporting

from war zones. Welcome along to Newswatch. Coming

up: Journalists under fire. How to convey the full story of conflicts

in Iraq and Syria when access is difficult and dangerous. Fun and

games and pain and heartbreak of England's footballers. A particular

kind of frustration sinews viewers. In the tradition of deranged news

anchors I should ask you to go to your windows and scream I'm mad as

hell and I'm not going to take it any more. He didn't, but it was

goodbye to Jeremy Paxman with a characteristically divided audience

response. BBC teams have been following the

fighting in Iraq between government forces and Islamist militants acid

has got closer to the capital. Paul Wood was caught in the middle of the

conflict. But that seemed to come in from two

or three directions at once. Snipers they said. Which bullets seem to.

They thought they have secured this place, but they've been told there

are 75 vehicles with fighters intercut them. Things are very

fluent here. Half a dozen men are trapped here. You need to find the

most senior commander you can find and get them to get the troops...

Can you hear me? There's no doubting the bravery of

BBC staff covering the turmoil. We will be discussing whether they are

being put in unnecessary danger. There's also the difficulty of

providing balanced coverage under such circumstances. Jill Roach feels

that's not being done. Very much connected with recent

events in Iraq is the three and a half year old war in Syria. In that

context viewers have raised the problems of representing the

complexity of a fast moving conflict when media access is difficult.

Jeremy Bowen reported from the government held city of Aleppo. The

first Western journalist travel there unescorted.

This boy has responsibilities now. That's difficult for a 10`year old

with bad war wounds. He was hurt when a mortar hit his family 's home

this year. East Aleppo is held by rebels. The West side including the

historic citadel is in the hands of the regime. Two years after the

fighting started West Aleppo has only just become accessible to

journalists. There was appreciation for that report from David who said:

Again there was a concern about balance, voiced with some sarcasm

here. Jeremy Bowen reported from a rebel

held suburb of Damascus, but there's another issue highlighted by the

recent coverage in Syria and Iraq, the extent to which graphic images

of fighting should be shown on news. Jenny wrote to us:

Let's go through these issues with Paul Royal, the editor of the ten

o'clock bulletins. Iraq, it's a rapidly developing crisis but many

viewers feel it's creating a black`and`white picture of whose

side we should be on. We tried to be clear with the audience about the

main thrust of the story. At the same time we are trying to deliver

the context and complexity. With a rack we've heard from all sides of

the story. We've had John Simpson talking to both communities. We have

spoken to the Kurdish communities. Syria has been no tourist leader

difficult to report from. Some viewers feel that access, going on

one side or the other innovative piece seems to involve some

compromise about the impartiality of what you say. Impartiality is core

to what we are doing. What Jeremy has managed to do this week with his

reports from Syria is to deliver all sides of the story. I can see where

people are coming from with the anxiety and concern. We look at

pieces closely to ensure there is a balance within it even if we are

being hosted by someone from a particular side. Also impartiality

can play out within one item. It can also be over a couple of days of

coverage. We could be coverage in ` covering a particular incident. We

saw Paul Wood caught in crossfire. Some viewers feel that it's too much

danger and questioned whether he should have been there. Safety for

the news`gathering teams and programme editors in the UK is the

number one priority. That is really important. At the same time covering

war and conflict is something we do. We have really experienced teams.

Paul Wood has covered 12 conflicts. They are properly trained in how to

spot and avoid danger. Proper risk assessment. In this particular case

Paul and his team deliberately stayed away from the front line

because they deemed it too unsafe. Unfortunately there was some stray

fighters who came within their area and they were caught up in it. They

made a deliberate decision not to go to the front line. The ISIS fighters

have uploaded some truly awful video. This is something we think

long and hard about. Is it editorial justified and doesn't aid telling

the story? We have discussions, proper guidelines in place to make

sure we do those decisions properly. Would you show a steal at six or

moving pictures at ten o'clock? Possibly. Every situation is

different. There are warnings and introductions to stories. The

audience will know that something may be coming that they may not wish

to see or prepare themselves for. We always tried to do this in a way

that aids the understanding of the story but doesn't go so far that it

Let us know your thoughts on the or they feel we've crossed a line.

Let us know your thoughts on the ongoing coverage of Iraq or Syria or

any other part of BBC news output. Before that as the football World

Cup is continued so to have complaints from those who are less

than gripped by such issues as whether Wayne Rooney should play on

the left. We've been treated to news of how some England players when

they were in high spirits put the teams Masur in an ice bath to

celebrate his birthday. Brian Bell's response.

Finally it was good night from him for one last time. Jeremy Paxman

Bauder from presenting Newsnight after 25 years. No transfer well but

it contains some fun and games. There was the surprisingly chummy

bike ride with Boris Johnson. The last of several entertaining

encounters they've had. This is a nightmare! Are you sure about this

old man. A brief throwback to the notorious interview with Michael

Howard. Now Michael Howard. Did you stop Lou I didn't, that if you ask

another 11 times. A final of the trademark grumpy and is. Tomorrow's

weather. More of the same. I don't know why they make such a fuss about

it. Appreciation was shown from Jeremy

I'm sure the great Cron Terry and would expect us to reflect some

critical response is. Other viewers have not been such fans.

Controversial to the last. Thank you for your comments. If you want to

share your opinions or appear on the programme you can call us.

That's all from us. We will be back to hear your thoughts next week.

Chris Rogers will be here with the BBC News at nine o'clock. Now for