BBC
Battle for the BBC – Post Screening Discussion
We are excited to host a panel discussion on Monday, 23rd November in collaboration with Al Jazeera’s media critique programme The Listening Post, following the launch of their new documentary ‘Battle for the BBC’. Set against the backdrop of the Johnson government’s threats and manoeuvres, ‘Battle for the BBC’ zeroes in on a tension that […]
Iraq: A State of Mind – Screening + Q&A
BBC Arabic returns to the Frontline Club for an exclusive screening of ‘Iraq: A State of Mind’ followed by a Q&A with Director Namak Khoshnaw and Head of Documentaries Christopher Mitchell.
Ukraine’s Frozen Conflict
In the frontline town of Marinka, a new bakery has opened which brings some comfort and sustenance to war-weary locals. The film follows the people who run the bakery and the customers, as they struggle to gain a sense of normality among the rumble of war.
FREE EVENT: BBC Virtual Reality Screening – Damming the Nile
The Frontline Club will be hosting a series of screenings for the launch of the BBC’s first ever Virtual Reality documentary Damming the Nile
Stacey Dooley – Face to Face with ISIS
The Frontline Club will be screening a new BBC documentary, Stacey Dooley – Face to Face with ISIS followed by a Q&A with Stacey and director Joshua Baker.
BBC Screening: Starving Yemen + Q&A
Since March 2015, a coalition of the Middle East’s richest countries, led by Saudi Arabia, has been bombing the region’s poorest state, Yemen. While the bombing campaign has been receiving intermittent coverage in the international media, the enormous scale of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Yemen as a result continues to be overlooked. Through the eyes of Ahwaq, a medical doctor living and practicing in Hodeidah, viewers will see the silent killer of this ongoing conflict: the blockade currently imposed by the Saudi-led coalition and the widespread, large-scale corruption and lawlessness on the ground, which is drastically disrupting civilians’ access to aid.
Reporting on Corruption and Organised Crime: From Panama to London
On the eve of a Downing Street summit aiming to challenge cross-border organised crime and corruption, we will be joined by OCCRP co-founder and editor Drew Sullivan and others to discuss how best to report on – and combat – transnational organised crime and corruption, with a particular focus on the London link and the recent Panama Papers leaks. We will be asking what the role of transparency and government data is in combating corruption, and what role journalism can play in putting a stop to it and bringing those accountable to justice.
First Wednesday Screening: India’s Daughter + Panel Discussion
In 2012, the brutal gang rape on a Delhi bus of a 23-year-old medical student, who later died from her injuries, made international headlines and ignited protests. India’s Daughter is an impassioned plea for change, paying tribute to a remarkable and inspiring young woman. The film explores the compelling human stories behind the incident and the political ramifications in India.
Following the screening we will be joined by director Leslee Udwin and others to discuss the international reactions to the film, the aftermath of the Indian broadcast ban, and the greater issue of gender based violence.
Conflict and Disaster Reporting: Does the Public Still Care?
This event is organised by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).
On 23 October 1984, the BBC aired a landmark report on the famine in Ethiopia. Describing the crisis as a ‘biblical famine’, the report galvanised the public, spurred the UK government into action and prompted the creation of the infamous Live Aid concert. Join the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) as they examine the current state of conflict and disaster reporting and how humanitarian agencies can work with the media to raise awareness and much-needed funds.
BBC Arena Preview: The New York Review of Books – A 50 Year Argument + Q&A
Acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese and his longtime documentary collaborator David Tedeschi pay homage to a 20th century American institution: The New York Review of Books. The film weaves rarely seen archival material, interviews and excerpts from writings by such icons as James Baldwin, Gore Vidal and Joan Didion. These scenes reflect the humming and restless energy of a magazine that still feels as vital as its indefatigable founding editor, Robert Silvers. This screening will be followed by a Q&A with Anthony Wall, series editor of BBC Arena.
Reflections with Darren Conway
Described as “the foremost television cameraman of his generation”, Darren Conway, or DC as he is widely known, has been documenting global events for two decades. He has received the RTS award for best news cameraman six times and earlier this year he was awarded an OBE for services to British broadcast journalism. He will be joining Vin Ray in conversation to reflect on a career capturing some of the most poignant pictures of the past 20 years.
Frontline Showcase: An evening with the new media game changers
By Alex Glynn The disruptive and unconventional news model of VICE News was a fitting topic for the night that the Frontline Club unveiled their slightly longer, disruptive and exciting ‘Showcase’ evening on Wednesday 30 April. In a mixture of debate, film and discussion, the audience were treated to two different segments on the ‘changing news landscape’ and […]
Shooting Bigfoot with Morgan Matthews
by Sally Ashley-Cound “I hope you enjoy the film half as much as I enjoyed making it. Apart from the crazy bit,” director Morgan Matthews said on Monday 17 March at the Frontline Club as he introduced his new documentary Shooting Bigfoot in association with BBC Storyville. Warning: Contains spoilers.
BBC Preview Screening: Shooting Bigfoot + Q&A
When director Morgan Matthews decided to join three groups of men from the highly competitive and bitterly divided world of Bigfoot hunting, he got more than he bargained for. Shooting Bigfoot is a raucous road trip featuring a larger than life cast of monster-hunting men who devote their lives to the search for Bigfoot. This screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Morgan Matthews.
Twenty Years of War Reporting: “A good moment for us is often the worst for them”
By Caroline Schmitt In October the Frontline Club held a tenth anniversary exhibition at the Prix Bayeux Awards and on 13 November they welcomed Prix Bayeux to London for an event to celebrate their twentieth anniversary. The event brought together past winners who each presented their distinguished pieces of reporting and looked back on 20 years of reporting conflict. The evening was […]
Granta 125 – After the War: “The story erupted around me”
By Caroline Schmitt The Frontline Club hosted an evening of reflections marking the publication of Granta 125: After the War on 17 October. Two correspondents shared their personal views on developments on the ground, after the battles are fought and the camera teams have moved on to cover other wars.
The New Middle East: Why would you expect it to be easy?
By Caroline Schmitt During a conversation with BBC Arabic’s Samir Farah on 15 October, the BBC’s former Middle East Bureau Chief Paul Danahar gave the audience at the fully-booked Frontline Club a first-hand regional snapshot of the post-Arab Spring Middle East. One of the conclusions Danahar has drawn in his recent book The New Middle East: The […]
Traitor Hero Comrade Spy: Philby – The Spy Who Went Into the Cold
By George Symonds “Good breeding and good manners are no guarantee of loyalty.” On Friday 11 October 2013, the Frontline Club screened Philby – The Spy Who Went Into the Cold. Kim Philby acted as a Soviet double-agent while serving as chief British intelligence officer in the United States, and while heading MI6’s anti-Soviet section. […]
BBC Storyville Preview: Philby – The Spy Who Went Into the Cold + Q&A
Veteran director George Carey captures the extraordinary story of the double agent Kim Philby, who served as head of the anti-Soviet section of MI6. Several people who knew him well – in London, Beirut and Moscow – talk frankly about his character, and the weaknesses in the British establishment that made his double life possible. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director George Carey moderated by Nick Fraser.
Screening: Pussy Riot – A Punk Prayer + Q&A
On 21 February 2012 Russian feminist punk group Pussy Riot performed a 40 second ‘punk prayer’ on the altar of Moscow’s most esteemed cathedral. Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer closely follows the trial that followed, where three members stand accused of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred”. Through incredible access to the legal system, they show the courtroom where Nadia, Masha and Katia sit incarcerated in a small booth, articulately defending their actions. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with directors Mike Lerner and Maxim Pozdorovkin.
Insight with Paul Danahar: The New Middle East
Nearly three years after the start of the revolution in Tunisia, which was followed by uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa, many are beginning to examine what has changed in the region. One of those that has had a front row seat of this recent history is the BBC’s Middle East Bureau Chief, Paul Danahar. He will be joining us in conversation with BBC Arabic’s Samir Farah, to share his insight and analysis of events and what he feels the future holds for the region and it’s relationship with the West.
Digital Media and Reporting Conflict: The book and the end of Reporting War
This blog has been dormant for a while and the publication of Digital Media and Reporting Conflict: Blogging and the BBC’s Coverage of War and Terrorism is the right time to formally close it. It’s been an amazing journey over the last five years or so and I’ve really enjoyed working on the project, documenting it on the Frontline Club website, […]
Critiquing the media’s approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict
By Dan Tookey On Wednesday 12 June, the Middle East Monitor launched Ibrahim Hewitt’s new book Memo to the Editor at the Frontline Club. The book is a compilation of letters addressed to the editors of major UK newspapers. It is a critique of how they have misreported major issues in the Israel-Palestine conflict from […]
America’s Shifting Foreign Policy
As Barack Obama enters the second year of his second and final term in office, he faces considerable foreign policy challenges. Join us as we dissect Obama’s foreign policy ambitions, exploring the shifts in focus and how they are playing out. Will he achieve his second term goals? Can he successfully pull focus to Asia or will the conflict in Syria direct attention back to the Middle East?
Mission accomplished? Weak police as the allies retreat from Afghanistan
By Alex Glynn Reporter Ben Anderson joined a panel at the Frontline Club on Monday 25 February to discuss his new 30-minute documentary for BBC’s Panorama on the allied troops’ legacy in Afghanistan and the condition of the Afghan police. Will Pike, a former British Army Major in Afghanistan, and Dawood Azami, former BBC World Service Bureau Chief in Kabul, joined Anderson to […]
Untangling Mali
By Sally Ashley-Cound The complex situation of the French-led intervention in Mali and the issues in the surrounding region was untangled somewhat on 6 February 2013 at the Frontline Club’s First Wednesday: A new front in the fight against terrorism? Paddy O’Connell of BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House was the chair and started things off by asking the […]
HIGHLIGHTS First Wednesday: A new front in the fight against terrorism?
In light of the hostage crisis in Algeria and the French-led offensive against Islamist militants in Mali, on Wednesday 6 February we were joined by Channel 4 News’ Lindsey Hilsum, Lord Ashdown, Ibrahima Diane from BBC Afrique and Wilfred Willey, president of the Malian Community Council in the UK. In a debate chaired by Paddy O’Connell of BBC Radio 4′s Broadcasting House we examined […]
Reflections with John Simpson: An escape from sub-editing
By Merryn Johnson As Vin Ray introduced BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson to an audience at the Frontline Club on Tuesday 15 January, he joked that the evening would be a cross between ‘This Is Your Life’ and ‘Desert Island Discs’.
FULLY BOOKED Reflections with John Simpson
In a career that has spanned nearly half a century, the BBC’s world affairs editor John Simpson has borne witness to change and upheaval in all corners of the globe. He will be joining us in conversation with Vin Ray to look back on an unmatched lifelong career covering world events at the BBC.
Insight with Jeremy Bowen: The Arab uprisings
By Anna Reitman Coming straight from a day of reporting on the latest unrest between Israel and Gaza, the BBC’s Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen was at the Frontline Club on 14 November to discuss the historic events that have reshaped the Middle East. He reflected on their political context, history and the evolving landscape as documented in […]