Another lapse in values at BBC - LSE students in North Korea.

[Guest]

As the parent of university students, I wouldn't want them to be offered the choice of "informed consent" at Beijing airport - which the LSE students were offered before their trip to North Korea. Another lapse in values / standards - all for a story. I would so like to wholeheartedly support the BBC in the face of the threat of an unbridled Tory government following the next election.....

The public interest in more news of the utter deprivation of North Korean citizens is very thin - we already know they are on the verge of starvation.......

On top of the saturation coverage following the passing of Margaret Thatcher its been a depressing week. (and the news says "we love M Thatcher was played in full at no 31, whereas the other track was (as expected) given seconds (I presume). Where is the even handedness - 5 seconds and voice over for both, surely!

(However, not here to participate further this evening, off to see June Tabor in Wavendon - with Huw Warren and Ian Bellamy - wonderful artists.....)

http://www.stables.org/Whats_on/Event/Quercus_Featuring_June_Tabor

[Richard Tarleton]

Hmmm, yes, John Sweeney and Panorama have form

[Serial_Apologist]

Asked on lunchtime R4 news about this, Sweeney said in effect he had no qualms about putting the students' lives in danger for the sakes of his documentary.

How many others are livid about this?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Asked on lunchtime R4 news about this, Sweeney said in effect he had no qualms about putting the students' lives in danger for the sakes of his documentary.

How many others are livid about this?

Count me in, for one!

[french frank]

Count me in, for one!

Didn't know what to think when the first details emerged. Now I fear the new D-G is settling into the BBC 'nicely'

[NB I read an earlier story that involved the DG defending the broadcasting of the programme. Doesn't seem to figure in the updates.]

[JimD]

In an academic setting getting informed consent generates a substantial paper trail: mere verbal explanation and agreement is not sufficient. It would be good to see the paper trail that exists here. I realise these students are legally adults, but if I were a parent of a student who had been involved in this process I would want to at least try to see the documentation and, if I could afford it, be consulting with a lawyer. How many intelligent young people would on reflection and with the full information to hand involve themselves in a stunt of this kind? The potential consequences are unthinkable. The BBC has a lot of explaining to do in my view.

[teamsaint]

In an academic setting getting informed consent generates a substantial paper trail: mere verbal explanation and agreement is not sufficient. It would be good to see the paper trail that exists here. I realise these students are legally adults, but if I were a parent of a student who had been involved in this process I would want to at least try to see the documentation and, if I could afford it, be consulting with a lawyer. How many intelligent young people would on reflection and with the full information to hand involve themselves in a stunt of this kind? The potential consequences are unthinkable. The BBC has a lot of explaining to do in my view.

Have you ever tried, as a parent, getting involved in a students affairs directly with a Uni? getting into N Korea illegally would be easier.
The one thing they DONT mind you doing without the students consent is paying bills.
And I agree that the BBC has a lot of explaining to do. At the very least.

[MrGongGong]

In an academic setting getting informed consent generates a substantial paper trail: mere verbal explanation and agreement is not sufficient. It would be good to see the paper trail that exists here. I realise these students are legally adults, but if I were a parent of a student who had been involved in this process I would want to at least try to see the documentation and, if I could afford it, be consulting with a lawyer. How many intelligent young people would on reflection and with the full information to hand involve themselves in a stunt of this kind? The potential consequences are unthinkable. The BBC has a lot of explaining to do in my view.

I know nothing of this as of yet so hard to comment on the nature of it

but as the parent of a student of that age I would think that it really is none of my business unless my offspring wanted to ask my advice about it (my own is doing a music degree so I tend to get asked about the development of Serialism or whether GRM tools plugins are a cliche in electroacoustic music etc etc).
I certainly wouldn't have the presumed authority to ask to see any documentation at all ........ one has to let people grow up and be free of interference IMV

and as to consulting a lawyer why do you think Caliban drives a ................... ok i'll stop now Your Honour

[JimD]

Well, Mr. G., it's fine to be such a rational parent when they're all safely back home. But I wonder if you would be quite so confident about it being 'none of (your) business' if they were in a North Korean jail. And that's to ignore all the wider issues about the impact on other academics and students.

[french frank]

I suspect this is just one more 'BBC crisis' for Lord Patten to have to deal with.

[Nick Armstrong]

Well, Mr. G., it's fine to be such a rational parent when they're all safely back home. But I wonder if you would be quite so confident about it being 'none of (your) business' if they were in a North Korean jail. And that's to ignore all the wider issues about the impact on other academics and students.

... and the fact that Caliban drives a 12 year old rather knackered old ................. *






*Not an Italian name

[MrGongGong]

Well, Mr. G., it's fine to be such a rational parent when they're all safely back home. But I wonder if you would be quite so confident about it being 'none of (your) business' if they were in a North Korean jail. And that's to ignore all the wider issues about the impact on other academics and students.

Can you tell my offspring i'm a "rational" parent for me
and I wouldn't wish a spell in a North Korean jail on anyone BUT being legally an "Adult" means precisely that
If I felt my offspring needed specialist advice and weren't aware of it I would suggest that but don't really
think it's any of my business if they decide to do things I might not agree with....... If I had listened to my
parents I certainly wouldn't be a professional musician

Parents seem to have far too much attempted involvement with their offsprings university life as it is
I could tell several tales of irate "helicopter" parents ranting at Universities to change their exam dates as they
don't fit with family holiday plans etc

But like I said, I don't know the detail of this at all

[MrGongGong]

... and the fact that Caliban drives a 12 year old rather knackered old ................. *






*Not an Italian name

Bristol ?

I bet the ruddy clutch works though

[Nick Armstrong]

Bristol ?

I bet the ruddy clutch works though

No and yes...

[ahinton]

Any chance of "Koroea" being replaced with "Korea" in the thread title?