Speaking on the Have Your Say programme, transmitted internationally via the World Service, presenter Nuala McGovern asked her audience: "Many of you who got in touch with the BBC pointed fingers directly at young black men after seeing pictures of the riots. We are asking, is there a problem with young black men?"
This elicited an angry response on online message forums and to The Voice, a news site targeting Britain’s black community.
In their apology a BBC spokesman stated that “in hindsight” their choice of vocabulary had been “too stark and could have been clearer.”
However the spokesman added: “It was a responsible attempt to debate social attitudes towards young black men including whether they were unfairly blamed for causing trouble.”
The controversy follows earlier ire after the BBC initially referred to rioters as “protesters” rather than “criminals” and wrongly accusing commentator Darcus Dowe of taking part in riots in the past.
In their apology a BBC spokesman stated that “in hindsight” their choice of vocabulary had been “too stark and could have been clearer.”
However the spokesman added: “It was a responsible attempt to debate social attitudes towards young black men including whether they were unfairly blamed for causing trouble.”
The controversy follows earlier ire after the BBC initially referred to rioters as “protesters” rather than “criminals” and wrongly accusing commentator Darcus Dowe of taking part in riots in the past.
(Source: THE DRUM, UK, http://www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2011/08/16/24887-bbc-forced-to-make-riots-coverage-apology-again/)
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