Politicians do need to be challenged

IN the letters column of 25 May

Tony Maskell highlighted the part played by TV presenters and political editors in promoting gloom and despondency by the way they treat interviewees. They ‘see their job as an extra layer of Opposition, interrupting answers that don’t fit with what the presenters want them to say’. It is the role of the media to inform us, to provide us with facts, and to present evidence and opinions even-handedly. Politicians and experts do need to be challenged.

The Watergate scandal showed us the need for investigative and sceptical journalists. Public figures need to be brought to apologise and retract statements where necessary.

But the trouble is that presenters often assume the roles of both prosecuting counsels and judges. They seem to feel it is in their professional interests to interrupt, put down and debunk their interviewees. The unintended consequence is a dangerously dismissive attitude in us towards all politicians (“they’re all liars”), and cynicism and negative hostility in all public debate towards any opinion different from ours.

The Brexit debate damaged our society, polarising opinions. People used false truth, and talked others down rather than listen to them.

We now face two very real dangers, climate change and the coronavirus pandemic. They are too serious for misrepresentation, conspiracy theories, the blame game, or resorting to post truth. The media needs to help us to recognise truths and not give us hype or sensationalism.