BBC Hidden Camera in ‘Secret Swami’. Ethical?
Posted by Barry Pittard on June 6, 2008
Was it ethical for the BBC to use a hidden camera in ‘The Secret Swami’?
It used it in the case of a highly elusive chairman of a world organization, Dr Michael Goldstein of Covena, California, that faces grave questions in India and many countries around the world.
The Sathya Sai Organization, despite many claims not to recruit or fund raise should certainly be scrutinized by a public and its government, political and institutional organs, which it most definitely cultivates at both peak and local levels.
Sanctions for the unusual use of hidden camera were obtained by the producers from top echelon BBC management and legals.
Despite the alarums and excursions of Dr G. Venkataraman (and informally allied Sathya Sai Baba proxy defenders on the Internet whose libels and slanders are deemed by top lawyers in three countries to be extreme, widespread and highly actionable), the BBC had every just cause to shoot clandestinely. The extensive lack of accountability, transparency and of Duty-of-Care were not only seen clearly by the BBC but have also been noted by other world leading, high quality media in several countries.
Further Reading
The BBC’s ‘The Secret Swami’ – A Revision
Sai Baba’s ‘Minister of Propaganda’ – Dr G. Venkataraman
Exposure of Sathya Sai Baba. Media Source List
For Viewing
The Secret Swami (BBC Television):
(80 MB, Broadband)
http://home.hccnet.nl/cmg.vdsandt/The%20Secret%20Swami.wmv
(23.3 MB, Modem)
Seduced (DR, Danish Broadcasting, Denmark’s national television and radio broadcaster):
http://www.rfjvds.dds.nl/seduced/seduced.wmv
(80 MB, Broadband)
http://home.hetnet.nl/~seduced/seduced.wmv
(21 MB, Modem)
Call For Media and Government Investigation 
Isaac Tigrett. Wealthy Promoter of Superstition « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] BBC Hidden Camera in ‘Secret Swami’. Ethical? […]
Sathya Sai Baba’s Promise To “Clean Up” His “Own Back Yard (India) Unfulfilled « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] BBC Hidden Camera in ‘Secret Swami’. Ethical? […]
Sathya Sai Baba Cult Exposure By Major TV Channel In Australia « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] BBC Hidden Camera in ‘Secret Swami’. Ethical? […]
Sathya Sai Baba Chief, Dr Goldstein, Explodes. “I am the consumate professional” « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] Kubla Khan, Citizen Kane, Bill Gates et aliaSai Baba’s Birthday. Vast, Costly Pomp and CeremonyBBC Hidden Camera in ‘Secret Swami’. Ethical?The BBC’s ‘The Secret Swami’ – A Revision Sathya Sai Baba: ‘Considerable Concern’ In Wider Hindu […]
Cultic Labeling of Dissenters As “Disgruntled”. Sathya Sai Baba Case « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] Dr Goldstein of Covina, southern California, USA, is chairman of the international Sathya Sai Organization. This footage was caught by hidden camera, an uncommon resort that required BBC management and legal sanction at the highest corporate levels (See: BBC Hidden Camera in ‘Secret Swami’. Ethical?) […]
Sathya Sai Organization: Factors Far Beyond Known Critiques Undermine It « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] Dr Goldstein of Covina, southern California, USA, is chairman of the international Sathya Sai Organization. This footage was caught by hidden camera, an uncommon resort that required BBC management and legal sanction at the highest corporate levels (See: BBC Hidden Camera in ‘Secret Swami’. Ethical?) […]
Sathya Sai Baba Apologist Joe Moreno’s Random Personal Attack Style (1) « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] When any competent reader puts these critical writings alongside the writing of Sai Baba sect proxy apologists such as Gerald Moreno, the qualitative difference leaps into view. ‘Joe’ Moreno and Sai Baba’s official Internet propagandist Dr G. Venkataraman evidently assume that some of the world’s most reputed organs such as the BBC, CBC, DR, SBS, ABC, Times of London, Telegraph, Guardian, Age, UNESCO, etc., are peopled with incompetents unable to guage good credentials and self- and group-presentation of those whose accounts their highly-trained, seasoned journalists investigate. It was no easy task, for example, for the producers of ‘The Secret Swami’ (2004) to obtain from BBC senior management and its legals permission to use a secret camera trained on Dr Michael Goldstein. […]
Sathya Sai Organization: World Communities Need To Treat This Sect Cautiously « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] BBC Hidden Camera in ‘Secret Swami’. Ethical? […]
Isaac Tigrett. Selling Out Those Condemned to a House Of Blues « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] Dr Michael Goldstein world chairman of the Sathya Sai Organization,, who (with a BBC hidden camera trained on him) lost his temper and makes unsupportable remarks about accountability and transparency). For commentary and BBC video footage of the angry and evasive Dr Goldstein, see: Sathya Sai Baba Chief, Dr Goldstein, Explodes. “I am the consummate professional” (See Film Clips). Millions of viewers in over 120 countries have seen ‘The Secret Swami’. As a shocking example of belief in a spiritual elect: Sai Baba Saved Devotees From 9/11 Says Dr Michael Goldstein. See also: BBC Hidden Camera in ‘Secret Swami’. Ethical? […]
U.S. State Department Named Sathya Sai Baba To BBC’s ‘The Secret Swami’ « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] Fake Sathya Sai Baba MiracleBBC Cameras Catch Sai Baba Cheating With Gold Sivalingam. (Film Clip)BBC Hidden Camera in 'Secret Swami'. Ethical?Sai Baba, Kubla Khan, Citizen Kane, Bill Gates et aliaThe BBC's 'The Secret Swami' – A […]
Sathya Sai Organization Spurns Leave-takers Whom It Formerly Honored For Decades « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] a BBC hidden camera (See: The BBC’s ‘The Secret Swami’ – A Revision and BBC Hidden Camera in ‘Secret Swami’. Ethical? and BBC’s ‘The Secret Swami’ and British Press […]
BBC’s ‘Secret Swami’ Clip. Man Claims Abuse When Young « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
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Barry Pittard’s Guide To His Articles On The BBC’s ‘The Secret Swami’ (Exposing Sai Baba) « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] Baba To Be Seen In Moon? But Where Was Moon?BBC Hidden Camera in 'Secret Swami'. Ethical?V.P.B. Nair. B.Premanand. R.Priddy: Sai Baba Bedroom Killings Nityananda, Sathya Sai Baba et al… […]
The Case of UNESCO’s Missing Media Advisory « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] Baba 84th Birthday Celebrations. Will 21st Century India Tolerate The Shame That Is Puttaparthi? BBC Hidden Camera in 'Secret Swami'. Ethical?Sai Baba No Shiva. Gold From His Gut Is Regurgitator's […]
Sathya Sai Baba’s Chief Broadcaster Dr G. Venkataraman: Select Critical Articles « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
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Dr John Hislop: Sathya Sai Baba Both Fallible and Infallible « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] Sathya Sai Organization seen exploding with anger, although not realizing that the BBC has a hidden camera trained on him […]
Dr John Hislop. Vaunted ‘Perfect Disciple’ of Sathya Sai Baba « Call For Media and Government Investigation said
[…] be the acme of spirituality, is seen exploding with anger, although not realizing that the BBC has a hidden camera trained on him […]