Strathclyde Police’s investigation of BBC Scotland for incitement to racial hatred over a phone-in show should give editors a wake-up call about how they handle coverage of the BNP.

The case, reported by the Socialist Unity blog, clearly has more editorial than criminal implications as it is unlikely that anyone will be prosecuted.

Much of the mass circulation media coverage of the fascist BNP in the run-up to the local and European elections failed, in my view, to adequately challenge candidates and supporters, rebut their claims and expose the true face of the far right.

This despite the NUJ’s clear and well-publicised guidelines on reporting racist organisations.

So it is interesting to note that the Scottish Socialist Party clarifies in the comments on the SU post that its complaint to the police was against the BBC itself, not individuals who phoned in to the Morning Extra show.

NUJ Left members will be at the NUJ’s reporting the BNP meeting tomorrow evening, which we expect will outline a grassroots-led strategy for building on the guidelines and union support for reporters and council PRs faced with reporting on or working with BNP elected members.

Posted by Rich Simcox

Tags: BBC, BNP, NUJ Left, Strathclyde Police