We're asking WYSO to eliminate BBC News content from WYSO's programming and replace it with other independent news sourcing the community can trust to be fair and accurate.

WYSO has earned its reputation as a pillar of the Miami Valley through a commitment to accurate, balanced journalism and community oriented programming. But WYSO's international coverage is currently delivered through the BBC, and the BBC's own reporting on Israel/Gaza is now the subject of serious, documented concern from within its own newsroom.

In November 2024, more than 100 BBC staff members — joined by over 300 other media professionals, historians, and public figures — signed an open letter to the BBC's Director-General accusing the network of “failing to uphold a basic journalistic tenet” in its coverage of Gaza, and calling on it to “recommit to fairness, accuracy, and due impartiality.” Some signatories said colleagues had resigned over the network's coverage. The BBC has also faced criticism from outlets like Declassified UK and independent journalists such as Owen Jones, and from former BBC staff — including researcher Karishma Patel, who has spoken publicly about internal editorial pressure.

 “Why I Walked Away From the BBC” — Karishma Patel: youtube.com/shorts/Za03cH8qiis

“'National scandal': The BBC's Gaza cover-up” — Mark Curtis: declassifieduk.org

“BBC staff: we're forced to do pro-Israel PR” — Owen Jones: owenjones.news

When a broadcaster's own staff say they can't trust their organization's coverage, that's not a fringe complaint — it's a signal a partner station should act on, not absorb without question. WYSO has built its credibility on holding itself to a higher standard than what it's currently rebroadcasting.

We're asking WYSO to drop BBC News from its programming and commit to international/independent news sourcing that meets the same editorial standard WYSO applies to its own local reporting.

The Greater Dayton Peace Coalition