Blair's media criticism: the reaction
Updated on 13 June 2007
The media has bitten back after Tony Blair accused it of being a 'feral beast'.
Tony Blair certainly stirred up something of a hornets nest when he said the media, in a 24-hour news environment, indulged in "impact journalism" and called for a form of external regulation.
He has been on the receiving end of negative media coverage, but as a man who courted the media, commentators have been quick to counter Blair's argument.
Here is a selection of some of the reactions within the industry:
Simon Kelner, editor of The Independent:
"Our principled opposition to his policy on Iraq (or the Middle East as he quaintly put it: note he couldn't refer to Iraq by name) has clearly exasperated him. But that misses the point.
"We are unabashed about the way in which The Independent has evolved, although we would point out that this newspaper was not established as an antidote to the idea of journalism as views, but as an antidote to proprietorial influence and narrow political allegiance.
"In some ways I regard Blair's attack on The Independent as something of a badge of honour . . . as a vindication of our stance on Iraq. He was wrong, we were right, and I can understand why he has been upset by the tone and substance of our coverage."
Matthew D'Ancona, editor of The Spectator:
"New Labour was very happy to tango with the media until it went wrong - most spectacularly over the Iraq dossiers and Hutton.
"I don't think it's wrong for journalists to explore politicians' motives: indeed, a proposal cannot be properly understood without a grasp of the motive that underpins it.
"Nor do I think that the proliferation of new media is bad for politics: quite the opposite. It may be bad for the present Government, but that's not the same thing."
Piers Morgan, former editor of The Mirror:
"I'd happily admit to being a feral beast. There are very few things that would amuse me as much as TB lambasting the media - the same media which he courted with an enthusiasm rarely seen in modern times. It's bit late now Tony, I would say."
Trevor Kavanagh, assistant editor of The Sun:
"He's sowed the seeds for a change in media regulation which is not government policy at the moment. That's very worrying.
"The media, whatever its flaws, needs to be free. If we can't be belligerent now and then, we aren't doing our jobs. This is a man lashing out in a very uncharacteristic way. The prime minister, a man who always smiles in adversity, lashes out as he walks out the door."
Emily Bell, editor Guardian Unlimited
"The fact is that new Labour decided it had to combat a venal and difficult press environment with a journalist (Alastair Campbell) and a highly centralised way of dealing with messages from government. Completely understandable, but utterly wrong in terms of where the rest of the communications landscape was developing. "
Your views
You've read the reaction of media insiders. Now it's your turn.
Did the prime minister touch a nerve, launching a brave assault on an over-powerful media? Or was he displaying arch hypocrisy, having created an environment where spin and 'burying bad news' characterises the government's media management?
Email news@channel4.com now.
