Karishma Patel

'I Marched In Opposition To The Far Right Demonstration - This Is What Happened' 'Feeling superior to ethnic minorities is not a culture - actual British culture is rich and more complex,’ writes journalist Karishma Patel.

In my first piece for Grazia, I talk about why I attended recent protests against the far right. As a British Asian woman, it’s important I come out and say: this is our Britain too. Diversity is core to what Britain is today.
graziadaily.co.uk/life/in-the-...

ex-BBC Karishma Patel @karishmapatel.bsky.social:

"Palestinian journalists in #Gaza are producing high quality independent journalism… they’re still accused of lacking in independence - often by journalists in the West who have themselves caved to pressure."

🔗 instagram.com/reel/DOOAr0eCMId

Get yourselves to the Stop Trump protest on Weds. We refuse to normalise the far right and its cruelty toward minorities. The below video should terrify you. In it, I play a newsreader in a future where a Trump/Farage-like figure is Prime Minister in the UK. A chilling notion.

Listen instead to experts like Zoe who don’t succumb to govt framing or throw scare headlines/numbers at you, but actually provide the context and meaning making analysis to help you understand the full picture - in which asylum seekers are human beings. 2/2

“Impartial” news outlets like the BBC and Sky are currently running stories around “small boats”, playing directly into the govt and the far right’s framing - while throwing in the odd decontextualised statistic to maintain the appearance of “accuracy” and “neutrality”. 1/2

ex-BBC Karishma Patel @karishmapatel.bsky.social:

“It's time we talk about how news orgs like the BBC weaponise the concept of "bias" against minoritised journalists, like those reporting on the ground in #Gaza.”

Would Geeta Guru-Murthy question her brother @krishgm.bsky.social’s independence?

'BBC's Language Around “Palestinian Journalists” Is an Egregious Double-Standard' Usually reporters close to a story and source are celebrated for their insight — in Gaza, it is framed as 'bias', argues Karishma Patel

🔴 'BBC's Language Around “Palestinian Journalists” Is an Egregious Double-Standard'

Usually reporters close to a story and source are celebrated for their insight — in Gaza, it is framed as ‘bias’, argues @karishmapatel.bsky.social

bylinetimes.com/2025/08/13/b...

This is the dynamic in the newsroom. Big names or “talent” over the mass of mid-level producers, contracted workers over freelancers. How can journalists have open discussions in this environment?

In my latest piece for @the-independent.com, I write about the rigid hierarchies in the BBC, which stop journalists from speaking openly about everything from #Gaza to dodgy big name presenters. Mid-level journalists and freelancers can feel their careers are at risk, creating a culture of silence.

Women in Leadership publication 2025 Spring Issue

Full Spring Issue here:
cloud.3dissue.com/184930/18540...

Proud to join women like Diane Abbott and Noura Erakat in the Spring Issue of Women in Leadership magazine. Read my piece on why I left the BBC over #Gaza, and why I still believe in the idea of public service journalism.

Ex-BBC presenter @karishmapatel.bsky.social calls out the BBC's Gaza coverage for what it is: disinformation. 👏👏

Full interview here: t.co/qBLhnIwejA

From my interview with @scotnational.bsky.social on why mainstream news outlets haven’t openly condemned, or properly covered, Israel’s attacks on journalists in #Gaza. BBC, Sky, ITV - where are your public statements on this? Journalism itself is at stake.

Likeminded creatives have been getting in touch since I started writing about BBC coverage of Gaza, and announced I was supporting Gaza Great Minds charity as a Miss Universe Great Britain finalist. Looking forward to more collaborations.
Photographer: Toks Majek - toksmajek.com

I spoke to Middle East Eye about Israel targeting brave Palestinian journalists like Hossam Shabat in Gaza, and the lack of mainstream media coverage around this.

Journalists in Gaza are the best of us. Every news outlet should publicly condemn Israel’s attacks on fellow journalists. Lives are at stake, democracy is at stake, journalism itself is at stake. Exhibit an ounce of his bravery and speak up in the name of Hossam Shabat.

I spoke to The Mirror about why I left the BBC over Gaza, double standards in how BBC social media rules were applied around Palestine, and why I’m fundraising for Gaza Great Minds as a Miss Universe finalist.
t.co/a8eUveEdsN

This BBC presenter resigned over its pro-Israel bias.

Everyone needs to listen to what @karishmapatel.bsky.social says.

There’s more than enough evidence to include as *fact* that Israel has been regularly violating the ceasefire in Gaza since it was put into place & has violated it now, killing civilians. Instead the BBC is treating this as an unreliable claim, entirely attributed to Hamas.

It’s come to my attention that 8 mins after ranting about @sangitamyska.bsky.social on LBC, @mrjamesob.bsky.social praised my Indy article on the BBC’s Gaza coverage as “brilliant”. This doesn’t absolve him of attacking another woman of colour mere minutes ago. I stand in solidarity with her.

YouTube video by Owen Jones BBC Presenter RESIGNS Over Israel Bias - And Exposes The TRUTH - w/. Karishma Patel

I spoke to @owenjones.bsky.social about the accountability hole at the heart of the BBC’s Gaza coverage. We go into everything from language shielding Israel, to my fundraising for the education charity Gaza Great Minds as a Miss Universe GB finalist. Have a listen.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Hp...

And there was far less outrage, despite concerns raised internally. Read my full interview here: t.co/bspFNRwF4S

There’s plenty of concern over unfounded claims Hamas influenced ‘Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone’. Let’s talk about the BBC’s choice to embed with the Israeli military twice, and to be subject to its censor? As I told The National, this was open meddling in BBC coverage.

There is a child at the heart of this - Abdullah - and seeing the BBC’s own child safeguarding rules thrown by the wayside is “a deeply shocking abdication of responsibility”.

My interview with scotnational.bsky.social - on editorial double standards and an appalling lack of child safeguarding in the BBC’s removal of ‘Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone’: www.thenational.scot/news/2499145...

BBC presenter announced as finalist in Miss Universe GB after quitting showbiz Former BBC presenter Karishma Patel has been announced finalist for Miss Universe GB on International Women’s Day and she's using her new platform to raise awareness and funds for children in Gaza

More here: www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrit...

Ah I’m in the Mirror and this is a great opportunity to raise awareness around Gaza Great Minds, my chosen charity as a Miss Universe Great Britain Finalist - they’re operating schools across Gaza. Donate here: gazagreatminds.org

Ex-BBC presenter who called out media's Gaza coverage in new challenge Karishma has been outspoken critic of media coverage of Palestine and is raising money for the Gaza Great Minds Foundation

And yes, I recognise how much this will anger the racists & white nationalists who have been coming for me since I spoke out. Britain is multicultural. Read more here: www.asianimage.co.uk/news/united_...

In an unexpected bit of news, now I’ve left the BBC I’m returning to the pageant world & am a Miss Universe Great Britain finalist. It’s a platform I’m using to raise awareness around media coverage of Gaza, and to fundraise for the charity Gaza Great Minds - they’re running schools in the strip.