Sunday Mirror Sexting, Journalists' Safety, Political Interviews
Oct 1, 2014
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Reporter Alex Wickham and political figure Louise Mensch discuss the ethics of investigative journalism and the implications of using deception. They also analyze Evan Davis's new approach on Newsnight and the challenges faced by journalists reporting from conflict zones. Expert guests explore the evolution of political interviews and the risks journalists encounter to provide objective news.
Ethical considerations in journalistic investigations and the public interest debate
The shift in political interview dynamics towards a more engaging and conversational style
Deep dives
Journalist's High-Risk Reporting from Dangerous Places
Journalists like Ruth Sherlock undertake risky missions, reporting from some of the world's most perilous locations like Egypt, Libya, and Syria. Despite her young age of 27, she has garnered experience in these challenging environments. Sherlock's approach involves assessing risks intricately, ensuring safety by leveraging knowledge from local contacts, fixers, and producers, vital for surviving in conflict zones where dangers are prevalent.
Conservative MP's Resignation Over Scandal Hits Headlines
The resignation of Conservative MP Brooks Newmark as a Government Minister due to a sex scandal published in a Sunday newspaper raised eyebrows. The Sunday Mirror's expose led to questions about entrapment and ethical boundaries. The incident sparked a debate on whether the story's publication served a public interest in accordance with journalistic ethics and guidelines.
Ethical Concerns Arise Over Sunday Mirror's Tactics
The scandal surrounding Brooks Newmark's resignation raised ethical issues regarding the Sunday Mirror's methods. The use of deception and subterfuge to capture compromising information was contentious, especially when considering the targeted approach towards conservative male MPs. The public interest served by such tactics was questioned, emphasizing the importance of ethical journalism standards.
Evan Davis's Impact on Newsnight's Interview Style
The arrival of Evan Davis as the anchor of Newsnight sparked discussions on the program's future and interview dynamics. Davis's unique style, different from Jeremy Paxman's confrontational approach, aims to infuse new life into political interviews. While some question his effectiveness in extracting substantial information, his shift towards more engaging, less traditional questions signals a potential evolution in political interview formats.
An online investigation published by the Sunday Mirror has led to the resignation of Conservative minister, Brooks Newmark, complaints lodged with press regulator IPSO and The Metropolitan Police and an apology issued from Editor-in-Chief Lloyd Embley to the women whose images were used without consent. Alex Wickham, a reporter for the political blog Guido Fawkes, has been revealed to be the freelancer who posed on Twitter as 'Sophie Wittams,' a fictional female Tory activist. Louise Mensch, the journalist and former Tory MP, who served on the Commons Culture Committee, and Simon Sapper, former PCC Commissioner join Steve to examine the public interest arguments behind the probe, the journalistic ethics and the implications for press regulation.
Evan Davis's debut as 'lead anchor' at BBC2's Newsnight began with an interview with the Prime Minister. Unlike his predecessor, Jeremy Paxman, who was widely known for his adversarial, sceptical tone, Evan adopted a more relaxed and conversational style. Is a more affable approach likely to draw more spontaneous conversation out of political figures, or will it play in to politician's hands? To discuss the political interview and how to make it work for the presenter, politician and audience Steve hears from Adam Boulton, Sky's former Political Editor and Sian Kevill, a former Editor of Newsnight.
The dangers of reporting from Syria have been highlighted by the beheading of freelance journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff as well as the release of a third video this week of British hostage and photojournalist John Cantile by Islamic State militants. Steve hears from the Middle East Correspondent, Ruth Sherlock who has been covering events in Syria for The Telegraph.
Producer: Dianne McGregor.
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