> Journalism's role is to get at the truth and to distribute it as widely as possible.
I agree. I think the article agrees. Unfortunately the hyperbole distorts the article's message. There's a better description of the problem here -
> This is actually how most Newsnight interviews run: creating the theatre of conflict between journalist and interviewee that conceals the real issues rather than revealing them.
This is a problem with Today (BBC Radio 4 'flagship' news programme) too. They have to maintain "balance", which sometimes means they get to polarised interviewees and have a ding-dong interview. Great entertainment, but not great at getting to the truth.
It's a nice bit of ding dong, but Howard didn't threaten to over rule Derek Lewis. (Although Howard had asked a civil servant if he had the power to overrule Derek Lewis.)
And this bit of theatrics ignores the wider problem - Howard was a fucking terrifying idiot in charge of a monstrous party. When Ann fucking Widdecombe (handcuff to the beds prisoners giving birth) says "there is something of the night" about someone (Howard) you know something is scary.
I agree. I think the article agrees. Unfortunately the hyperbole distorts the article's message. There's a better description of the problem here -
> This is actually how most Newsnight interviews run: creating the theatre of conflict between journalist and interviewee that conceals the real issues rather than revealing them.
This is a problem with Today (BBC Radio 4 'flagship' news programme) too. They have to maintain "balance", which sometimes means they get to polarised interviewees and have a ding-dong interview. Great entertainment, but not great at getting to the truth.
The notorious example is Paxman, on Newsnight, asking the same question nine times. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00r2912) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwlsd8RAoqI)
Here's a bit of discussion about it. (http://drmatthewashton.com/2011/03/11/great-mistakes-in-poli...)
It's a nice bit of ding dong, but Howard didn't threaten to over rule Derek Lewis. (Although Howard had asked a civil servant if he had the power to overrule Derek Lewis.)
And this bit of theatrics ignores the wider problem - Howard was a fucking terrifying idiot in charge of a monstrous party. When Ann fucking Widdecombe (handcuff to the beds prisoners giving birth) says "there is something of the night" about someone (Howard) you know something is scary.