Independent Media | Campaigning Journalism
Channel 4 anchor comes clean, blames the media for a ‘slogan dominated’ election
Channel 4 News anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy has come clean about the media’s role in a “slogan dominated” election. Guru-Murthy said that the media isn’t sufficiently holding politicians to account:
The reason they get away with their current accountability-light campaigning is partly because the media facilitates it. 2/5
— Krishnan Guru-Murthy (@krishgm) April 28, 2017
Continue reading below...
The Channel 4 presenter was talking about ending a “slogan-dominated” election. And he took aim at the media for facilitating the downfall of debate.
Guru-Murthy began by asking his Twitter followers whether they wanted an end to the sloganeering. People responded as we’d expect: almost 100% in favour of proper discussion.
Yes. The slogans mean nothing without substance. May's 'strong and stable' doesn't reflect the Tories actual record. This needs highlighting
— Becca Miller (@SparklyB) April 28, 2017
Here’s Guru-Murthy’s proposal in full:
Channel 4 News Anchor, @krishgm, has a proposal. Here it is. Retweet it if you agree with him……. pic.twitter.com/70XvL7tpTc
— Tory Fibs (@ToryFibs) April 28, 2017
Broken record
An audience member summed up the endless broken record of “strong and stable” on BBC Question Time. The audience member said he’d bet his wife £10 that Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green would say “coalition of chaos” and “strong and stable government” during his first contribution. It might be the easiest £10 he’s ever earned.
The media’s role in the downfall of debate is clear. The BBC, for example, reported Boris Johnson calling Jeremy Corbyn a “mugwump” as a “scathing attack”. This encourages a personality-led election.
Stage-managed
The Prime Minister, meanwhile, is trying to minimise accountability in this election. Her strategists have heavily stage-managed her campaign so far. On 27 April, the Conservative team booked out a Leeds workplace to make it appear that May was addressing ordinary working locals. In reality, she was talking to about 150 party faithfuls brought in to what was a private event.
Local Labour MP Richard Burgon commented:
like a medieval monarch, she simply briefly relocated her travelling court of admirers to town and then moved on without so much as a nod to the people she considers to be her lowly subjects
And even in a carefully orchestrated environment, May couldn’t remember where she was:
She has no idea where she is. Literally pic.twitter.com/m4EN3CN5F0
— Ross Crombie (@RossCrombie) April 27, 2017
The Conservatives want to make this election all about Brexit. But it’s unclear how the Prime Minister will negotiate a post-Brexit deal, when she cannot even negotiate with a member of the public off-script.
It’s imperative that the media hold her to account on this. At present, Guru-Murthy has admitted the press is letting us down. Now, it must make sure that policies, rather than personalities and slogans, prevail in this election.
Get Involved!
– Register to vote in the 8 June general election. If you don’t have a national insurance number, a 5 minute phone call on 0300 200 3500 will get it sent to you in ten days.
– Discuss the key policy issues with family members, colleagues and neighbours. And organise! Join (and participate in the activities of) a union, an activist group, and/or a political party.
– Also read more Canary articles on the 2017 general election.
Featured image via Chatham House
Since you're here ...
We know you don't need a lecture. You wouldn't be here if you didn't care.
Now, more than ever, we need your help to challenge the rightwing press and hold power to account. Please help us survive and thrive.
Support