VICTORY! Catalan broadcasting authority apologizes for Jew-hatred

Dear friends,

The Lawfare Project is already getting results in Spain. Earlier this month, we told you about Clara Basiana's disgusting comments made while reporting from an Olympic swimming qualifying tournament. We submitted a complaint to the public broadcasting authority, demanding an investigation into its employee's breach of standards. We just received an official response.

Laura Baladas, Ombudswoman of the Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals (CCMA) — an official whose duty is to ensure that journalistic standards are observed in the Catalan public broadcasting corporation — affirmed in writing that Basiana violated CCMA standards and that her hateful comments "cannot be justified." Further, she offered a formal apology and informed us that measures have been taken by the management of Televisió de Catalunya to avoid offensive remarks going forward. She assured The Lawfare Project that all future commentating by experts on sporting events will comply with the CCMA Style Book, will be scrupulously respectful, and will avoid attempts to discredit the athletes.

The Lawfare Project will now request information from the management of Televisió de Catalunya regarding the particular actions taken with respect to Ms. Basiana and the internal measures adopted to prevent off-topic remarks from commentators during sport broadcasts.

Jew-hatred has no place at sporting events, especially from journalists working for public broadcasting authorities with written standards for professional conduct. While Ms. Basiana certainly has the right to hold whatever offensive opinions she wants, her employment with the CCMA does not permit her to make discriminatory statements on the air about athletes' national origins.

Thanks, as always, for your continued support. This work would not be possible without you.

Sincerely,

Brooke Goldstein
Executive Director, The Lawfare Project