A New Campaign: Confronting Political Bias in Mainstream Media
We Believe in Israel (WBII) is launching a campaign to address a disturbing issue that emerged during the October 22nd episode of Big Brother on ITV2. During the broadcast, a contestant appeared wearing a t-shirt featuring a watermelon motif that completely obscured the state of Israel. This may seem, at first glance, like a trivial or innocuous image. However, the watermelon has become a political symbol associated with Palestinian nationalism, used to suggest the replacement of Israel. Its message is unmistakable: it symbolises the erasure of Israel and, by extension, challenges the historic and ongoing presence of the Jewish people in the region.
Why It Matters
The use of imagery on mainstream platforms is never without consequence. While we should always uphold the value of freedom of expression, it is equally important to recognise the damage that can be done when political messaging – however subtle – carries with it the potential for incitement or division. Broadcasters have an obligation to adhere to the broadcasting code, which insists upon impartiality and sensitivity, especially on issues of great contention.
What occurred on Big Brother reflects a troubling trend whereby political narratives with significant implications are allowed to air with scant scrutiny. In this instance, the watermelon motif is more than just a design. It has become a coded signal, a method of promoting the denial of Israel's right to exist. In a world where tensions are already dangerously high, broadcasting such a symbol on a major platform like ITV2 risks normalising a narrative that undermines Israel’s legitimacy and the identity of its people.
The Objectives of Our Campaign
Our campaign seeks to:
- Raise public awareness about the impact of broadcasting symbols that carry political weight and historical resonance, especially when such content can be interpreted as denying the legitimacy of a state or its people.
- Challenge broadcasters to fulfil their responsibilities under the broadcasting code, ensuring that content with political significance is handled with proper caution and context.
- Demand accountability, urging regulatory bodies and media outlets to uphold the principles of impartiality, particularly on matters that are highly sensitive and politically charged.
The Context: The Watermelon as a Political Symbol
The watermelon motif has come to prominence as a symbol of Palestinian nationalism, particularly in settings where overt political statements are discouraged. It has served as a means of expressing a political stance without resorting to maps or explicit slogans. But make no mistake, the implication is clear: using a Palestinian symbol to obscure the map of Israel is a declaration that challenges Israel's very existence.
To illustrate the seriousness of this issue, one might imagine the reaction if a similar symbol – say, a map depicting Northern Ireland as part of the Republic of Ireland – was shown on British television. It would rightly be seen as provocative and insensitive, given the complex history of that conflict. The same level of scrutiny and discretionshould have been applied here.
What Needs to Change
We are calling on ITV and other broadcasters to take their responsibilities seriously. This means exercising cautionwhen presenting content with political implications, and upholding the standards of impartiality that the public has a right to expect. Our campaign will include:
- Submitting formal complaints to regulatory authorities, demanding a review of the incident and the establishment of stricter guidelines for the display of political symbols on mainstream television.
- Reaching out to media outlets, urging them to adopt a more robust approach to ensuring balanced coverage.
- Engaging with the public to raise awareness about the dangers of normalising symbols that carry significant political meaning.
We invite all supporters to stand with us in this campaign to ensure that mainstream media remains a space for impartiality and responsible journalism, and does not unwittingly lend itself to divisive narratives that undermine the legitimacy of states and communities alike.
Take Action: Let ITV Hear Your Voice
It is time to speak up and demand accountability. The recent episode of Big Brother on ITV, in which a contestant wore a politically charged symbol that effectively erased Israel, cannot be allowed to pass without challenge. Such displays carry implications that go far beyond mere imagery. They enter the realm of political messaging, and it is essential that we hold broadcasters to the standards of impartiality and responsibility that the public deserves.
We urge you to make your voice heard by addressing a letter directly to ITV. Express your concerns about the use of politically loaded symbols on mainstream television. You can use our model letter or, if you prefer, craft your own based on the facts provided. Let’s make it abundantly clear that allowing symbols which implicitly deny a nation’s very existence is unacceptable.
We must not allow incidents like this to be dismissed or excused. They warrant a serious response and a firm reminder that the media must not become a platform for divisive narratives. The public has a right to expect better, and it is our collective responsibility to demand it.
For those ready to take a stand, you can find our model letter template here.
Alternatively, feel free to use the information we’ve outlined to draft your own letter. Let ITV know that standards matter, and that we will not shy away from confronting political bias wherever it appears.
Send your letter to ITV today - [email protected]
Let us ensure that this incident is met with the seriousness it deserves and that impartiality in broadcasting is not allowed to become a relic of the past.
