We're just a few days away from finding out who will host the 2018 and 2022 Fifa World Cup, and a forthcoming ±«Óãtv documentary has upset the head of England's 2018 bid. Andy Anson says the ±«Óãtv's plan to broadcast a Panorama documentary into allegations of Fifa corruption is "unpatriotic".
I'm incredibly disappointed with the timing of what the ±«Óãtv seem to be proposing with Panorama. To do it the week before the vote - I don't think think it's patriotic. Fifa has conducted its own investigation into corruption allegations, and has banned executive committee members Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii from voting in the 2018 and 2022 ballot.
The Panorama documentary, which will air on 29 November, is expected to investigate reports of entrapment of Fifa officials and bribery allegations over voting. The ±«Óãtv says the programme "will be in the public interest". So is this unpatriotic?
Alan Stevens defends the ±«Óãtv:
My view is that the ±«Óãtv is entitled to broadcast the film, and the obvious time to screen it is when interest in the bid is high. To delay or postpone it would be involving the ±«Óãtv in manipulation. demsoc tweets
If media is for anything, it's for honest exposure of uncomfortable truths. Panorama isn't "unpatriotic" at all. But CWSportlaw disagrees
What planet are @±«Óãtv Panorama on re 2018? Distinctly unpatriotic, poor form and suicidal - a winning bid would energise a nation. You can listen to a whole mix of opinions on ±«Óãtv 5Live Breakfast.
The issue of patriotism in the media keeps cropping up. When the Malawian president Bingu wa Mutharika launched Nsanje Port he publicly accused his country's media of being "unpatriotic" because they focused on the failure of the barges to dock
when Jacob Zuma was deputy president of the ANC, he criticised the media in South Africa for going over the top in their crime reporting
In other countries, newspapers and broadcast stations are patriotic and are far less interested in things that could damage their countries' reputations in the world. This is why one gets the impression that we have much more crime than other countries. In our case the media goes too far when it comes to openness. So should journalists be patriotic? How do you balance freedom of the press with the interests of your country? Who decides what's in "the public interest"?
Your comments
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18:39
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Candice in Ohio
Truth and transparency above all. If you make an exception for one purpose, why not another? Reporters' patriotism could be called into question for covering politicians and beloved institutions across the board. What is the point of free press if not to serve as a watchdog? Muzzle the watchdog on some topics and not others and you've jeopardzed the medias credibility and objectivity.
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18:38
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Roger
These multinational sporting bodies look after their own.
The penalties handed down by FIFA are a joke and do nothing to stop such blatent corruption.As to Andy Anson trying to dictate to the Fourth Estate how, or when, they should release a programme, I hope the ±«Óãtv will just ignore such pressures!
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18:34
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Alison Branch in Barbados.
The question to be answered is not whether the press has the freedom, but rather the freedom has no responsibility. We are free but we do Not have licence to do whatever we want. A wise man once said 'all things are lawful to me but not all things are expedient'.
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18:34
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Linda in the USA
I think the real question is what constitutes patriotism? Does it include anything that reflcts on your country or only things that might affect national security?
And is it unpatriotic to point out a truth, to raise an issue which requires attention? I would say NOT. I think those who are willing to stand up and take the heat to bring attention to something others may prefer to ignorer may be the more patriotic thing.
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18:25
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Fred in Uganda
The FIFA corruption is a shame. Why did it have to be an African? I know there are many theives worldwide but this embarassing to Africa.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:23
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Pukar says...
±«Óãtv is seen as an International Channel.People trust its news.So,if it do not publsh its analysis on the world cup bidding drama and keep its country of origin agenda the foremost then it might be unpatriotic to whole world.Isnt it?
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18:14
115457268
Unloyal official should be punish
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18:16
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Tanna says ±«Óãtv is unpatriotic in this issue.
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18:14
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Ibrahim in UK
I have to agree with most of the comments on here. We want the media to be open and honest and tell us the truth. That is patriotic. To hold your country to the highest values and do what you can to ensure these values are consistently achieved. To want the country to be the best at being the best, not the best at pretending to be the best.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:04
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Chris
There is nothing wrong with the timing. If it were an African country such rhetoric would not have arised.
Unpatriotic Press
| Thursday, 11 Nov. 2010 | 18:00 - 19:00 GMT
We're just a few days away from finding out who will host the 2018 and 2022 Fifa World Cup, and a forthcoming ±«Óãtv documentary has upset the head of England's 2018 bid. Andy Anson says the ±«Óãtv's plan to broadcast a Panorama documentary into allegations of Fifa corruption is "unpatriotic".
I'm incredibly disappointed with the timing of what the ±«Óãtv seem to be proposing with Panorama. To do it the week before the vote - I don't think think it's patriotic.
Fifa has conducted its own investigation into corruption allegations, and has banned executive committee members Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii from voting in the 2018 and 2022 ballot.
The Panorama documentary, which will air on 29 November, is expected to investigate reports of entrapment of Fifa officials and bribery allegations over voting. The ±«Óãtv says the programme "will be in the public interest". So is this unpatriotic?
Alan Stevens defends the ±«Óãtv:
My view is that the ±«Óãtv is entitled to broadcast the film, and the obvious time to screen it is when interest in the bid is high. To delay or postpone it would be involving the ±«Óãtv in manipulation.
demsoc tweets
If media is for anything, it's for honest exposure of uncomfortable truths. Panorama isn't "unpatriotic" at all.
But CWSportlaw disagrees
What planet are @±«Óãtv Panorama on re 2018? Distinctly unpatriotic, poor form and suicidal - a winning bid would energise a nation.
You can listen to a whole mix of opinions on ±«Óãtv 5Live Breakfast.
The issue of patriotism in the media keeps cropping up. When the Malawian president Bingu wa Mutharika launched Nsanje Port he publicly accused his country's media of being "unpatriotic" because they focused on the failure of the barges to dock
when Jacob Zuma was deputy president of the ANC, he criticised the media in South Africa for going over the top in their crime reporting
In other countries, newspapers and broadcast stations are patriotic and are far less interested in things that could damage their countries' reputations in the world. This is why one gets the impression that we have much more crime than other countries. In our case the media goes too far when it comes to openness.
So should journalists be patriotic? How do you balance freedom of the press with the interests of your country? Who decides what's in "the public interest"?
Your comments
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Candice in Ohio Truth and transparency above all. If you make an exception for one purpose, why not another? Reporters' patriotism could be called into question for covering politicians and beloved institutions across the board. What is the point of free press if not to serve as a watchdog? Muzzle the watchdog on some topics and not others and you've jeopardzed the medias credibility and objectivity.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Roger These multinational sporting bodies look after their own. The penalties handed down by FIFA are a joke and do nothing to stop such blatent corruption.As to Andy Anson trying to dictate to the Fourth Estate how, or when, they should release a programme, I hope the ±«Óãtv will just ignore such pressures!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Alison Branch in Barbados. The question to be answered is not whether the press has the freedom, but rather the freedom has no responsibility. We are free but we do Not have licence to do whatever we want. A wise man once said 'all things are lawful to me but not all things are expedient'.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Linda in the USA I think the real question is what constitutes patriotism? Does it include anything that reflcts on your country or only things that might affect national security? And is it unpatriotic to point out a truth, to raise an issue which requires attention? I would say NOT. I think those who are willing to stand up and take the heat to bring attention to something others may prefer to ignorer may be the more patriotic thing.
Comment sent via Facebook
Fred in Uganda The FIFA corruption is a shame. Why did it have to be an African? I know there are many theives worldwide but this embarassing to Africa.
Comment sent via Facebook
Pukar says... ±«Óãtv is seen as an International Channel.People trust its news.So,if it do not publsh its analysis on the world cup bidding drama and keep its country of origin agenda the foremost then it might be unpatriotic to whole world.Isnt it?
Comment sent via SMS
Unloyal official should be punish
Comment sent via Facebook
Tanna says ±«Óãtv is unpatriotic in this issue.
Comment sent via Facebook
Ibrahim in UK I have to agree with most of the comments on here. We want the media to be open and honest and tell us the truth. That is patriotic. To hold your country to the highest values and do what you can to ensure these values are consistently achieved. To want the country to be the best at being the best, not the best at pretending to be the best.
Comment sent via Facebook
Chris There is nothing wrong with the timing. If it were an African country such rhetoric would not have arised.