Bennett & Butler Now Clutching At Straws!

by Rosie Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:21 pm

So the BBc admitted a very minor error? And this prompts the Houndation (Madeleine Foundation) to make such a big issue, out of basically being told oops sorry but go forth and multiply anyway! Bennett & Butler Now Clutching At Straws! 466476

Bennett & Butler Now Clutching At Straws! 466476

Oh well desperate time for the Houndation, they'll cling to anything at the moment if they think it will save their sorry necks! However, it appears they just cannot see it, or grasp what is now hitting them fully in the face! Bennett & Butler Now Clutching At Straws! 926859

Bennett & Butler Now Clutching At Straws! 926859

Bennett & Butler Now Clutching At Straws! 574656

Bennett & Butler Now Clutching At Straws! 526250

QUOTE________________________________________________________

Original Message----
From: ajsbennett@btinternet.com
Date: 12/09/2009 1:02
To:
Subj: BBC apologises to The Madeleine Foundation

Released 12 September 2009

BBC Apology to The Madeleine Foundation

“We apologise for giving a false impression to viewers about the facts in the ‘10 Reasons’ leaflet"

Thanks to a valued supporter of The Madeleine Foundation, the BBC, who rarely admit fault on anything, has apologised for giving viewers a misleading impression about the contents of our popular leaflet: “What Really Happened to Madeleine McCann? - 10 key reasons which suggest she was not abducted”.

During an interview by Anne Davies of BBC’s ‘East Midlands Today’ with Madeleine Foundation Chairman Debbie Butler on Friday 14 August, Debbie repeatedly asserted that the leaflet was factual. In response, the interviewer made a dismissive and indeed absurd comment that “The facts can always be altered to suit”.

The interview followed a leaflet drop by Madeleine Foundation supporters in different parts of Leicestershire, including the McCanns’ home village of Rothley, two days earlier (12 August). The publicity surrounding the leaflet drop led to hundreds of thousands of hits on The Madeleine Foundation website, many new orders for our ‘60 Reasons’ booklet and ‘10 Reasons’ leaflet, and several new subscriptions.

Here is the BBC’s response to our supporter’s complaint:

10 September 2009

Dear [name withheld]

Thanks for your e-mail regarding 'East Midlands Today'.

Firstly, I should apologise for the delay in getting back to you. We
realise that our correspondents appreciate a quick response and I'm
therefore sorry that you've had to wait on this occasion.

I understand that you have concerns regarding how Anne Davies spoke of
facts in a leaflet from The Madeleine Foundation.

Your complaint has been discussed with the programme's senior editorial
team.

There are several groups which could be described as being against the
McCann family and obviously their views can be very controversial
especially in the McCann's home town of Rothley in Leicestershire.

The premise of the East Midlands Today report and subsequent interview on
14 August with Debbie Butler, chairman of the Madeleine Foundation, was to
concentrate on the emotional aspects in terms of the distress caused
specifically in Rothley by the group's leaflet distribution. This intent
was well signposted for viewers in the introduction, during the filmed
report and the introduction to the interview.

That said, in retrospect whilst the interview was robust and challenging we
do feel that a comment from the East Midlands Today presenter about the
facts in the leaflet referred to by the Madeleine Foundation may have
erroneously given rise to a perception that the BBC held a view on the
matter. We would like to assure you that this is not the case and apologise
if such an impression may have been given.

To this end, I can assure you that your complaint has been registered on
our audience log. This is a daily report of audience feedback that's
circulated to many BBC staff, including members of the BBC Executive Board,
channel controllers and other senior managers.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact us with your feedback.

Regards

Sarah Wilson
BBC Complaints

CONTACTS
Debbie Butler - Chairman: 07867 887066
Tony Bennett - Srcretary: 01279 635789

UNQUOTE______________________________________________________________________

Name addresses and telephone numbers freely available on the internet and on the Foundation website.

by rosemary Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:46 pm

That is NOT an apology to the Madeleine Foundation! It is the usual apolgy made when it has been erroneously implied that the BBC has any views on the matter in hand!

Ignorant Butler can´t read properly either!

by Guest Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:53 pm

What a load of b******s just like everything else they read in to what they want to see written Bennett & Butler Now Clutching At Straws! 526250

by vee8 Sat Sep 12, 2009 11:48 pm

It is an apology for infering that the BBC had an opinion. But it is as clear as day what that opinion is, and it is NOT favourable to the houndation!

by Jayelles Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:13 am

The BBC have apologised for a delayed response and for giving the impression that they held an opinion. It doesn't change WHAT they reported. The same letter could have been written if a presenter had worn an expression of disgust whilst reporting an act of terrorism.

It's a victory only in the tiny thinking organ of the Goonmeister.

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