I have just uploaded my completed version of the next episode of the Absolutely Intercultural podcast (guess it will be available sometime tomorrow) which has really made me think about the issue of balance; the concept as used by the BBC and other mass media.
The last show concentrated on the Lebanon and this show concentrates on Israel. I could of course have chosen to postpone the Israeli edition but it was one I have been preparing over a number of weeks and there is an obvious connection between the two topics. But this is NOT balance and is not intended to be in any way.
Balance as used by the BBC (because I grew up in the UK) refers to making sure that all relevant groups are given a voice. But ours is not a political production, at least not political with a capital P. To do justice to the Middle East conflict then we would have to have an 8 programme series in the style recently shown on Danish TV. Even that missed out some important viewpoints I felt even though I am no Middle East expert.
No, it wasn't about balance at all, it was just about a related topic. But I am concerned that others might think that we consider this to be in some way balanced.
Keywords: Absolutely Intercultural, balance, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East
