Thread by @StefSimanowitz

1/. The caption on this image in @thetimes today can tell you a lot about the propagandistic coverage of refugees

Not a child but a ‘child migrant’

‘Offered a helping hand’ not ‘detained by Border Force officers’

Is it any wonder the girl looks so scared?” @brokenbottleboy

2/. Last year, @nytimes captioned a photo in an excellent article by @MatinaStevis:

“Greek authorities have been using tear gas and rubber bullets to repel the hordes.”

Language matters

Words such as “hordes”, “invasion”, “flood”, “swarm” are used widely - & for more a century

3/ Orwell’s 1984 opens with Winston Smith writing in his diary about a film he’s seen

“One very good one of a ship full of refugees being bombed somewhere in the Mediterranean. Audience much amused by shots of a great huge fat man trying to swim away with a helicopter after him”

4/. A year ago, when a handful of overcrowded dinghies were heading across the Channel, both @BBCNews & @SkyNews dispatched news crews to ‘interview’ asylum seekers

Not only did this amplify the narrative of invasion, it was also irresponsible & dangerous

5/. Boats not designed, equipped or crewed by people trained for maritime rescue can capsize dinghies

Even bow waves can be a danger

It is breach of intn'l maritime law not to aid a vessel in distress

I contacted BBC & Sky

Had they taken precautions?

6/. I asked @BBCNews & Sky if the boats used by @SimonJonesNews & @AliFortescue on 10/8/20 were designed, equipped & crewed for maritime rescue

A year on, I’ve received no response

It appears the boat used by @SkyNews was a charter from CBUK & didn’t have specially trained crew

7/. Ofcom received 840 complaints about the Sky broadcast

They wouldn't register my complaint because I'd watch it online & they "can only register complaints if the broadcast was watched live"

@Ofcom don't register complaints about the BBC but the BBC received 8,340 complaints