A True Journalist

 The BBC has defended Mishal Husain, a presenter on its Radio 4 Today programme, after she was accused by an Israeli government spokesperson live on air of "blindly repeating what terrorist organisations ... feed you.".

In a tetchy interview on yesterday's programme, David Mencer said Husain warranted the "pro-Palestine reporter of the year award"...

The Question
James Torrance (1859-1916)
Photo Credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh [CC  BY-NC-ND]

The interview began with Husain asking Mencer about an Israeli strike on a school compound in Gaza. The BBC interviewed Dr Khamis Elessi, who said the casualties had included elderly people, women and children. The Israeli army claimed the school compound was being used as a Hamas command centre.

Mencer rejected Elessi's account, saying Israel was "extremely sceptical about pseudo medical staff" who had "inflated" casualty figures throughout the war in Gaza. He said 19 Hamas fighters were"eliminated" in the strike, and that "there were no women and children present"...

When Husain raised claims by the Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem that Palestinian prisoners had been tortured, Mencer said: "I think you just warrant the pro-Palestinian reporter of the year award, and I congratulate you for that."

Husain is one of BBC News's most respected interviewers and is widely admired for her tenacity and her calm and courteous manner. She has been a presenter on the Today programme for 11 years and also presents BBC television news. She has been tipped to replace Hugh Edwards as the BBC's top news presenter.

Ask the tough, legitimate and important questions and be very determined to discover  the answers yet remain calm and pleasant to your interviewee. Mishal Husain - unshakeable, meticulous and professional. An ideal example of what a journalist should be.