The Secretary General of the Celtic League has registered a complaint with the BBC following the much discussed 'Salmond - Wark' interview.

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot has also written to BBC 2 Newsnight Editor, Peter Barron (see below):

"The Editor BBC Newsnight Room G680 Television Centre Wood Lane London W12 7RJ

Dear Peter Barron

Newsnight interview with First Minister Alex Salmond

After the Newsnight interview with First Minister Alex Salmond on the 7th June 2007, I have been called on by our members to make a formal complaint about the way the interview was conducted by interviewer Kirsty Wark.

The aggressive interviewing style employed by Kirsty Wark was inappropriate from the beginning and demonstrated a dismissive attitude to Scotland's First Minister comments at almost every turn. The interview was in short an utterly unprofessional display by Kirsty Wark and seemed to suggest a personal dislike for Mr Salmond.

Is Kirsty Wark such a politically biased and emotionally charged journalist that her interview technique was inspired by the close personal friendship with former Scottish Labour First Minister Jack McConnell? If this is the case, then she should receive disciplinary action and made to apologise to Mr Salmond in a following programme.

In addition, cutting Mr Salmond off at the end in mid speech looked like the BBC had conspired against the First Minister from the start. We are pleased that the BBC have since made a formal apology to Mr Salmond, but we hope that such blatantly biased political journalism does not present itself in BBC coverage again. This was indeed the first time I personally have seen Kirsty Wark conduct an interview and was less shocked than angry at the complete lack of respect shown.

I will also copy this letter to the BBC and ask that the matter be taken further.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary"

"Celtic League

BBC ONLINE COMPLAINT:

After the Newsnight interview with First Minister Alex Salmond on the 7th June 2007, I have been called on by our members to make a formal complaint about the way the interview was conducted by interviewer Kirsty Wark.

The aggressive interviewing style employed by Kirsty Wark was inappropriate from the beginning and demonstrated a dismissive attitude to Scotland's First Minister comments at almost every turn. The interview was in short an utterly unprofessional display by Kirsty Wark and seemed to suggest a personal dislike for Mr Salmond.

Is Kirsty Wark such a politically biased and emotionally charged journalist that her interview technique was inspired by the close personal friendship with former Scottish Labour First Minister Jack McConnell? If this is the case, then she should receive disciplinary action and made to apologise to Mr Salmond in a following programme.

In addition, cutting Mr Salmond off at the end in mid speech looked like the BBC had conspired against the First Minister from the start. We are pleased that the BBC have since made a formal apology to Mr Salmond, but we hope that such blatantly biased political journalism does not present itself in BBC coverage again. This was indeed the first time I personally have seen Kirsty Wark conduct an interview and was less shocked than angry at the complete lack of respect shown.

I have written to the Newsnight Editor, Peter Barron, to complain directly about the programme and I am writing to you with the specific request of taking this incident further. We do not think that Kirsty Wark should be further employed by the BBC in undertaking political journalism in the future. Her interview style and clear political prejudice does nothing for the BBC's reputation.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary"

See also Celtic News:

ALBA: BBC APOLOGISES FOR AGGRESSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SALMOND - Jun 10, 2007

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

12/06/07

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