BBC journalist faces disciplinary

action (fegyelmi eljrs) after

killing off the Queen on Twitter
BBC journalist Ahmen Khawaja blames 'silly prank' (hoax csny) for tweet
about Queen being dead

A BBC journalist is facing disciplinary action for killing off the Queen on Twitter after
apparently mistaking a rehearsal of the announcement of her death for the real thing.
The Corporation apologised after Ahmen Khawaja, a broadcast journalist, sent a
tweet saying: "'Queen Elizabrth has died [sic]':@BBCWorld"
It was sent during one of the corporation's regular rehearsals for royal deaths, but
insiders said Ms Khawaja was not taking part in the exercise and appeared to have
overheard the rehearsal and tweeted what she thought was breaking news

Ms Khawaja, 31,had previously sent a tweet saying: "BREAKING: Queen Elizabeth is

being treated at King Edward 7th Hospital in London. Statement due shortly:
@BBCWorld."
The King Edward VII Hospital, which has a long association with the Royal family,
was part of the BBC script for its dry run (prbafelvtel). By sheer coincidence the
Queen was, in fact, at the very same hospital for her annual check-up at the time, but
sources said Ms Khawaja did not know that.
Ms Khawaja's tweets were re-tweeted several times by her followers before she
realised the mistake and deleted it, tweeting: "False alarm: Have deleted previous
tweets!"
She also said it was the result of a "silly prank" after her phone was left unattended,
adding: "Apologies for upsetting anyone!"
By then, however, rumours of the Queens death were spreading so quickly that
Buckingham Palace felt it had no choice but to issue a statement denying the Queen
was ill, breaking its own normal protocol of refusing to comment on speculation about
the health of the Royal family.

The BBC was carrying out a royal death rehearsal this morning, and its head of
newsgathering, Jonathan Munro, had told staff to keep the fact of the rehearsal off
social media.
The BBC later apologised for the tweet, saying in a statement: "During a technical
rehearsal for an obituary (gyszjelents - a report, especially in a newspaper, which
gives the news of someone's death and details about their life), tweets were mistakenly
sent from the account of a BBC journalist saying that a member of the Royal Family
had been taken ill. The tweets were swiftly deleted and we apologise for any
offence."
Sources said the tweets were sent as a direct result of the rehearsal being
overheard and mistaken for the real thing. The BBC said an investigation as part of
the corporation's disciplinary process would now take place.
Ms Khawaja describes herself as a multimedia producer at BBC News, producing
news bulletins (kzlemny) for BBC Urdu's current affairs television programme
Sairbeen. She also reports for its website and radio shows.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "I can confirm that the Queen this morning
attended her annual medical check-up at the King Edward VII's Hospital in London.
"This was a routine, pre-scheduled appointment, the Queen has now left hospital."
The episode will have caused irritation at Buckingham Palace, and is another black
mark for the BBC, following rows including a trailer edited to give the false impression
that the monarch had stormed out of a portrait sitting in 2007, the BBCs inane (silly)
coverage of the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant and a documentary earlier this year
which was postponed after an intervention from Clarence House.
The BBC carries out dress rehearsals for the event of the death of the Queen or
other senior members of the Royal family at least once a year.
Shortly before the erroneous tweets were sent out, Mr Munro had emailed staff to
say: "This morning we are carrying out a low key (quiet) rehearsal for the way in
which television might cover a Category One obituary. Its mainly a technical
procedure looking at the use of the studio.
"It does not involve any sites outside NBH [New Broadcasting House], and it will not
include radio or online. This has been in the diary for some time - there is NO
editorial reason why this is happening now.
"Procedures have been put in place to isolate the rehearsal from any output. It will
take place in Studio E whilst the Victoria Derbyshire show is on air from Studio B. We
will be using internal camera positions on the mezzanine, and in the Business unit.
The exercise should be completed before 1030, and the News Channel will return to
E as scheduled at 1100.
"Its essential that we can rehearse these sensitive scenarios privately. BBC Tours
have been suspended, and the blinds from public areas including reception and the
media caf will remain dropped.
"Id also ask for your help in refraining from any external conversations and all social
media activity about this exercise. Your continued discretion will be greatly
appreciated."
What do you think of the annual rehearsal?
And the act of the reporter?
The Royal Houselhold try to conceal everything