Phanerothyme
11-07-2005, 20:27
Well, almost. They didn't actually answer any of my questions, but had to send a round robin out because the complaints were so numerous. Idiots.
from me to newsnight, Friday Night
Is Gavin Esler stupid? He has not shown much sign of it until
tonight. His obstinate refusal to discuss with George Galloway the
actual causes of international 'islamic' terrorism, through an act
of studied idiocy and failure to understand a simple point, smacked
of ulterior motives. By badgering Mr Galloway without listening to a
word the man was saying Mr Esler was essentially sticking his
fingers in his ears and singing. A tactic better suited to the
playground.
I'm no great fan of Mr Galloway, but he was making a vital and
timely point, and should not expect to be paraded on television as
an aunt sally so lazy anchors can try and take swipes at him for
'minding his language'. Mr. Galloway is a well known for being
outspoken - interviewing him to try and demonstrate this fact,
rather than engaging with his message and providing a structured
critique, is not news, it is daytime television.
Mr Esler looked distinctly uncomfortable as Mr Galloway returned a
pointed personal question with an observation that Mr Esler was
becoming something of a government mouthpiece....Mr Esler decided he
had had enough and cut the interview short. A raw nerve perhaps?
I look forward (immensely) to your reply.
Kind Regards
Reply from newsnight
Thank you for your email concerning Gavin Esler's interview with George Galloway on Friday's Newsnight. We have had a large number of complaints about this item - the majority complaining about Gavin's questioning, a smaller number questioning why we had chosen to interview Mr Galloway at all.
I have reviewed the interview, and while I agree it was unfortunate that it became ill-tempered I can see nothing in Gavin's questions which was unfair or ill-mannered. Mr Galloway's comments in the immediate aftermath of the London attacks were controversial and it was right that they were questioned pointedly. But I accept entirely that while Mr Galloway's views run counter to those expressed by mainstream politicians they are views that may be held quite widely across the country and perhaps particularly in parts of London such as Mr Galloway's constituency.
The thrust of Gavin's questioning was to ask if it was wise to express these provocative views - effectively "I told you so" - at a time when many politicians and Muslim leaders had been appealing for calm. I believe that was a fair and appropriate line of questioning.
Yours sincerely
Peter Barron
Editor, Newsnight
from me to newsnight, Friday Night
Is Gavin Esler stupid? He has not shown much sign of it until
tonight. His obstinate refusal to discuss with George Galloway the
actual causes of international 'islamic' terrorism, through an act
of studied idiocy and failure to understand a simple point, smacked
of ulterior motives. By badgering Mr Galloway without listening to a
word the man was saying Mr Esler was essentially sticking his
fingers in his ears and singing. A tactic better suited to the
playground.
I'm no great fan of Mr Galloway, but he was making a vital and
timely point, and should not expect to be paraded on television as
an aunt sally so lazy anchors can try and take swipes at him for
'minding his language'. Mr. Galloway is a well known for being
outspoken - interviewing him to try and demonstrate this fact,
rather than engaging with his message and providing a structured
critique, is not news, it is daytime television.
Mr Esler looked distinctly uncomfortable as Mr Galloway returned a
pointed personal question with an observation that Mr Esler was
becoming something of a government mouthpiece....Mr Esler decided he
had had enough and cut the interview short. A raw nerve perhaps?
I look forward (immensely) to your reply.
Kind Regards
Reply from newsnight
Thank you for your email concerning Gavin Esler's interview with George Galloway on Friday's Newsnight. We have had a large number of complaints about this item - the majority complaining about Gavin's questioning, a smaller number questioning why we had chosen to interview Mr Galloway at all.
I have reviewed the interview, and while I agree it was unfortunate that it became ill-tempered I can see nothing in Gavin's questions which was unfair or ill-mannered. Mr Galloway's comments in the immediate aftermath of the London attacks were controversial and it was right that they were questioned pointedly. But I accept entirely that while Mr Galloway's views run counter to those expressed by mainstream politicians they are views that may be held quite widely across the country and perhaps particularly in parts of London such as Mr Galloway's constituency.
The thrust of Gavin's questioning was to ask if it was wise to express these provocative views - effectively "I told you so" - at a time when many politicians and Muslim leaders had been appealing for calm. I believe that was a fair and appropriate line of questioning.
Yours sincerely
Peter Barron
Editor, Newsnight