News 2020
Top journalist calls for more deference
John Flake, the winner of the prestigious British Union of Newscasters and Commentators' award for Most Consistently Cheerful Necktie During the Past Year, has criticised the media's tendency to be "disrespectful" towards politicians and other interviewees.
"There's a lot of cynicism in our society these days and I think this is partly the fault of media attitudes," Mr Flake said in his acceptance speech at the BUNC award ceremony.
"Some journalists have to realise that they cannot be impartial and at the same time make cynical assumptions about the motives of those they are interviewing," Mr Flake continued.
Although he mentioned no names, it is assumed that Mr Flake was referring mainly to the BBC's "attack rottweiler", Jiminy Peacemiel, who anchors the channel's flagship current affairs programme Newsnugget.
Mr Peacemiel is known for his aggressive interview style, which often involves asking politicians to state firmly whether or not they are telling the whole truth. Some ministers have taken exception to this, particularly when Mr Peacemiel has seemed to imply the possibility of error on the Government's part.
Mr Flake went on to say that a more polite and deferential attitude on the part of journalists might well lead to greater public contentment with the job politicians were doing, and hence to a happier nation.
"Receiving this award has helped me see that politicians bear a heavy responsibility," he said. "It's a lonely life at the top, and more people in our profession should learn to make allowances for that."
John Flake, the winner of the prestigious British Union of Newscasters and Commentators' award for Most Consistently Cheerful Necktie During the Past Year, has criticised the media's tendency to be "disrespectful" towards politicians and other interviewees.
"There's a lot of cynicism in our society these days and I think this is partly the fault of media attitudes," Mr Flake said in his acceptance speech at the BUNC award ceremony.
"Some journalists have to realise that they cannot be impartial and at the same time make cynical assumptions about the motives of those they are interviewing," Mr Flake continued.
Although he mentioned no names, it is assumed that Mr Flake was referring mainly to the BBC's "attack rottweiler", Jiminy Peacemiel, who anchors the channel's flagship current affairs programme Newsnugget.
Mr Peacemiel is known for his aggressive interview style, which often involves asking politicians to state firmly whether or not they are telling the whole truth. Some ministers have taken exception to this, particularly when Mr Peacemiel has seemed to imply the possibility of error on the Government's part.
Mr Flake went on to say that a more polite and deferential attitude on the part of journalists might well lead to greater public contentment with the job politicians were doing, and hence to a happier nation.
"Receiving this award has helped me see that politicians bear a heavy responsibility," he said. "It's a lonely life at the top, and more people in our profession should learn to make allowances for that."
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