DOCSLIB.ORG

SMC-Brochure-2012.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
SMC-Brochure-2012.Pdf What is the Science Media Centre? The SMC’s main goals are to: The Science Media Centre (SMC) is an independent • Improve the way that science, engineering and society. However, the SMC is independent of press office for science, helping to ensure that their related disciplines are covered in the media; any particular agenda within science and the public and policymakers have access to strives to reflect the broad spectrum of • Make it easier for the news media to get evidence-based scientific information through scientific opinion, especially where there are access to the best science and scientists news media when science hits the headlines. clear divisions within science; when controversial science stories are The Centre has its roots in the influential making the headlines; • Focused on ‘science in the headlines’ – House of Lords Science and Technology Select the SMC’s activities all have a focus on the Committee third report on Science and Society, • Create opportunities for more scientists, science of controversial issues that hit the which wanted to renew public trust in science, engineers and other experts to get their headlines and grab the public’s attention, and its overall goal is to promote more voices heard on the big science, health and as this is when most confusion and environment stories of the day; balanced, accurate and rational coverage of the misinformation occurs; important science, health and environment • Bridge the gap between science and the stories in the media. • Media-driven – the issues the Centre covers media by working with scientists to adapt to are driven by the level of media interest; if the Opened in April 2002 and housed in the the demands of the 24 hour news machine; media want to splash on nanotechnology, GM Wellcome Trust, the Centre believes that • Work with journalists to enhance their foods or designer babies, the SMC will provide scientists can have a huge impact on the way understanding of the way science works; them with the best science on these subjects; the media cover scientific issues, by engaging more quickly and more effectively with the • Support press officers when they are • Proactive – the SMC proactively encourages stories that are influencing public debate and working on complex science, health and and prepares scientists to engage with the media when science is in the headlines, so attitudes to science. environment issues. that it can offer the best scientists to news The SMC’s philosophy is: The SMC is… journalists while stories are breaking; • Fast – the SMC has earned a reputation “The media will DO science better when among the news media for being fast and • Agenda setting – the Centre supports more scientists DO the media better.” accurate, and for delivering the best science scientists to seize and shape the media agenda in the form and timeframe needed; by regularly briefing journalists on the latest developments in science or issues of concern; • Independent – it works in close collaboration • a PR agency for institutions or individuals with the UK’s science community, yet is NOT that do not have access to a press office; completely independent of any particular scientific body and its funders; • NOT a resource for specialist trade press, freelancers, lifestyle magazines, independent • Pro-science – the SMC is unashamedly film companies or documentary makers; pro-science and seeks to renew public trust in science by promoting science, health, • NOT for politicians, policymakers or patient engineering and technology expertise to interest groups. The SMC sees science in the headlines as an opportunity rather than a threat. While many have noted that science and news are a poor fit, the centre works to ensure that scientists exploit the opportunities provided by science in the headlines to engage the public when they are most interested in and concerned about science. “Fiona Fox, Director of the Science Media Centre Supporting the media, the SMC: Supporting the science community, the SMC: • Provides experts from its database, who are • Provides support to engage with the media • Works closely with Stempra,” the STEM PR willing and available to speak to the media as when their area hits the headlines; association, in particular supporting their a major science story is breaking; annual training event providing press officers • Offers the expertise of a team specialising in with advice and guidance on translating • Gathers and provides reaction and comment science in the headlines; complex science to the media. from individual scientists on the big science • Helps scientific institutions bring their story of the day; research, voices and opinions to the media’s • Advises on the significance and credibility of attention when major stories are breaking; “In-depth interaction with journalists allowed breaking stories; us to record the caveats of our work and this • Provides a neutral, independent and free resulted in remarkably balanced reportage for • Provides easy-to-understand information on venue for press briefings; what could easily have been the scare story of the topics hitting the headlines; • Provides its unique and popular ‘Science the year. It’s hard to imagine the science news landscape in the UK without the SMC.” • Sources articles and comment pieces from in a Soundbite’ guides that advise Professor Ken Donaldson, Respiratory scientists on effective ways of answering scientists and provides package ideas; Toxicologist, University of Edinburgh complex questions in a two minute news • Runs regular briefings where interview; journalists can meet new experts, get background information and often a • Offers free places at its hugely popular “Thanks so much for hosting the briefing. great story; Introduction to the News Media sessions – We’re really pleased with the coverage as well the Centre’s unique take on media training – it was great to have the opportunity to get • Runs an out-of-hours service, reacting aimed at introducing scientists to the reality the science behind mindfulness to journalists whenever a major science story breaks; of today’s news media; in person, and the results have been brilliant, calls coming in as I type!” • Organises background briefing and training • Runs off-the-record brainstorms to discuss Simon Loveland, Press Officer, sessions for journalists on request; how the scientific community can effectively Mental Health Foundation • Produces fact sheets on key areas of coordinate its media relations on controversial scientific interest and emerging science; issues within science; • Runs subject-focused media training before “Thanks for this and all your other help. It was • Provides a ‘Before the Headlines’ service, big controversial stories; very reassuring to have people as experienced putting new studies with particularly and professional as those of you at the SMC complex science and statistics into context; • Supports press officers working on complex to help us steer these tricky waters. Your stories with significant scientific, health or experience in managing controversial areas • Supports the work of the National environmental impact; within science gave us the confidence to Coordinator for Science Training for publicise our research findings and contribute Journalists, improving the access to and • Provides an additional way for press to the public debate.” availability of science training for journalists officers to promote their academics and Laurence Tiley, Expert in Molecular Virology, all over the UK. institutions; University of Cambridge How the SMC works Expert Database Rapid Reaction The SMC has worked closely with journalists, The SMC’s database is not quite like any other The demands of the 24 hour media machine press officers and scientists to develop a expert database. Those on it are selected not mean that news journalists often don’t have the number of services that deliver its goals just for their proven expertise, but also for their luxury of time to track down the best scientists effectively. These include continually improving willingness and ability to engage with the media when a science story lands on their desks, so its database of media-friendly scientists, its when their area of work hits the headlines. availability can sometimes win out over expertise. Rapid Reaction service, Round-Ups and regular Given the Centre’s focus on controversial stories This is where the SMC steps in. When a story press briefings. The following is a brief breaking in the news, experts joining the breaks, the SMC springs into action, persuading summary of these activities, but to find the database know they are signing up to the SMC’s the leading experts that they have to drop latest examples visit the SMC’s website: goal of improving the way these subjects are everything and engage with the story, then www.sciencemediacentre.org. covered by getting stuck into the media debate contacting journalists at all the major news rather than shouting from the sidelines. outlets to offer those experts for interviews or immediate comment. The quality of experts is important to us. The SMC recruits scientists, engineers and other This service is a real example of a win-win experts, who work for respected institutions, scenario for science and the media: helping publish in peer-reviewed journals and have a frantic news journalists, delighted to be given track record of quality research in their great scientists to interview, and enabling the specialist field. Like a dating agency, we pair best scientists to get their voices heard at the the best scientists with the right journalists. very time that their issues are in the headlines and therefore on the public’s mind. Whether it’s the latest flu epidemic or health scare, or a potential nuclear crisis, ensuring experts engage directly in the story influences what the public see and hear. A big thank you to the Science Media Centre. The question and answers article was among the most read articles on the whole of the Channel 4 website.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download PDF File
    Archived BBC public responses to complaints 2014 The One Show, BBC One, 14 January 2014 Complaint We have received complaints about Paul O'Grady's appearance on the One Show on 14 January. Some viewers felt that his views on benefit reform were not adequately challenged. BBC's Response The One Show is a topical magazine programme which occasionally reports on prominent news stories. Following media coverage of the debate around Channel Four's Benefits Street, The One Show asked members of the public for their views on the programme. A variety of opinions were heard from all sides of the debate. Following this, and in keeping with One Show tradition, the presenters discussed the issues raised with that day's studio guest, Paul O'Grady. Paul was clearly identified as a Labour supporter, and he was challenged on how he would reduce the benefits bill. Paul's views were forthright, and on reflection more could have been done to put them into context, but it is important to note that balance can be achieved across a number of programmes, and this is a subject that the One Show has covered before and hopes to revisit again in the future. EastEnders, BBC One, 14 January 2014 Complaint We received complaints from some viewers who were unhappy with a comment made by Shabnam during EastEnders on 14 January 2014. The BBC's response EastEnders has a rich history of tackling social issues. The show does not advocate racism or intolerance in any way; in fact it seeks to challenge these negative views.
    [Show full text]
  • James Harding (PDF)
    Society of Editors speech – 11 November 2014 What we’re up to – and what we’re up for. Good morning, there was an item on PM a few weeks ago in which Eddie Mair asked the audience what the collective noun for spies should be. My favourite suggestion was a mince – a mince of spies. And, as I was coming here, I was wondering what the collective noun for editors might be. A bar of editors? A quarrel of editors? Then I remembered what I would have said as a reporter – and, no doubt, our newsrooms would generally agree - a surfeit of editors. Anyway, this is a roundabout way of saying that, whether you’ve got me here as a former member of the best club in the country or as a fellow traveller who’s now down on his luck and ended up in the broadcasting business, it is great to be amongst the Society of Editors and I’m extremely grateful to Bob for inviting me. Thank you. Before I get going, I know people are interested in what’s happening on the Panorama on Mazher Mahmood: This is a seriously good piece of work, extremely revealing and squarely in the public interest. But the worst of all worlds is when you get the big picture right, and trip up over a detail. So when some information we'd been asking to see for many days was sent to us by Mazher Mahmood's lawyers at seven o'clock last night, we, as a responsible broadcaster, had to consider it.
    [Show full text]
  • UNCORRECTED TRANSCRIPT of ORAL EVIDENCE to Be Published As HC 1099-I
    UNCORRECTED TRANSCRIPT OF ORAL EVIDENCE To be published as HC 1099-i HOUSE OF COMMONS ORAL EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT COMMITTEE THE PRIORITIES FOR THE NEW DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE BBC THURSDAY 25 APRIL 2013 LORD HALL OF BIRKENHEAD CBE and RT HON LORD PATTEN OF BARNES CH Evidence heard in Public Questions 1 - 158 USE OF THE TRANSCRIPT 1. This is an uncorrected transcript of evidence taken in public and reported to the House. The transcript has been placed on the internet on the authority of the Committee, and copies have been made available by the Vote Office for the use of Members and others. 2. Any public use of, or reference to, the contents should make clear that neither witnesses nor Members have had the opportunity to correct the record. The transcript is not yet an approved formal record of these proceedings. 3. Members who receive this for the purpose of correcting questions addressed by them to witnesses are asked to send corrections to the Committee Assistant. 4. Prospective witnesses may receive this in preparation for any written or oral evidence they may in due course give to the Committee. 1 Oral Evidence Taken before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Thursday 25 April 2013 Members present: Mr John Whittingdale (Chair) Mr Ben Bradshaw Angie Bray Conor Burns Philip Davies Paul Farrelly Mr John Leech Steve Rotheram Jim Sheridan Mr Gerry Sutcliffe ________________ Examination of Witnesses Witnesses: Lord Hall of Birkenhead, CBE, Director-General, BBC, and Rt Hon Lord Patten of Barnes, CH, Chairman, BBC Trust, gave evidence.
    [Show full text]
  • Page 01 April 15.Indd
    ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Monday 15 April 2013 5 Jumada II 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5670 Price: QR2 Qatar bourse Fernando books largest Alonso tops one-day fall Shanghai field Business | 17 Sport | 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Emir meets Egypt official GCC states Law on online meet over Iran nuclear trading and leak fears DUBAI/KHOBAR: National emergency officials in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) licences soon countries met yesterday in Saudi Arabia to discuss the risk of radiation spreading over the Single window clearance planned Gulf if Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant is damaged by DOHA: A law is on the anvil Licences will be issued for a another earthquake. to allow online trading in the year and will be renewable for A 6.3-magnitude earthquake country and provide licence to another year or for a number of struck close to Iran’s only nuclear a new business, including those years. The current law (Number power station last week, killing owned by foreigners, in just a 25 of 2005) provides for licensing dozens of people but leaving the day through a single-window of a business or shop or indus- nearby plant undamaged, accord- clearance system. trial installation for a year and ing to Iranian officials and the If an applicant wanting to set renewal for five years. Russian company that built it. up a business fails to fulfill the Under the new laws the drafts There is no indication of any criteria, the Ministry of Business of which were approved by the radiation leak following last week’s and Trade, the licensing authority State Cabinet on April 10, busi- tremor and the head of Iran’s and the facilitator of the single- nesses, including shops, offices Atomic Energy Organisation said window, would say a “no” on the and other outlets, could be given The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani with Egyptian Attorney General Talaat Ibrahim Mohammed the plant was built to withstand spot.
    [Show full text]
  • Service Review
    Editorial Standards Findings Appeals to the Trust and other editorial issues considered by the Editorial Standards Committee April & May 2014, issued July 2014 Getting the best out of the BBC for licence fee payers Editorial Standards Findings/Appeals to the Trust and other editorial issues considered by the Editorial Standards Committee Contents Remit of the Editorial Standards Committee 1 Summary of findings 3 Appeal Finding 6 Radio Jersey 6 The World at One, Radio 4, 27 September 2013 17 Rejected Appeals 26 Request for the removal of a BBC News Online article from the BBC’s archive 26 Today, Radio 4, 14 August 2013 31 Have I Got a Bit More News for You, BBC One, 6 May 2013 39 BBC News midnight bulletin, Radio 4, 9 October 2013 46 The Story of the Jews, BBC Two, September 2013 50 Reporting Scotland, BBC One Scotland, 12 August 2013 81 Stephen Fry: Out There, BBC Two, 14 October 2013 85 Woman’s H o ur, Radio 4, 27 November 2013 90 Today programme, Radio 4, 25 November 2013 94 Ariel Sharon profile, BBC News Online 99 Searching for Exile: Truth or Myth?/Searching for Exile: The Debate, BBC Fo ur, 3 November 2013 107 Springwatch, BBC One, 10–12 June 2013 113 Decision of BBC Audience Services not to respond further to complaint about Kidulthood, BBC Two, 23 August 2013 119 Decision of BBC Audience Services not to respond further to complaint about 10 interpretations of who started World War I, BBC News Online 123 Handling of complaints at Stage 1 126 Summary of finding 126 Finding in full 127 Best Practice and Editorial Control in Investigative Journalism 131 Introduction 131 Response from BBC News Executive to the Findings of the Editorial Standards Committee of the BBC Trust into Newsnight, 2 November 2012 132 In order to provide clarity for the BBC and licence fee payers it is the Trust’s policy to describe fully the content that is subject to complaints and appeals.
    [Show full text]
  • North Korea Undercover, BBC1, 15 April 2013, 8.30Pm Background 1
    Finding of the Editorial Standards Committee Panorama: North Korea Undercover, BBC1, 15 April 2013, 8.30pm Background 1. On 15 April 2013, Panorama: North Korea Undercover (the "Programme"), a programme in the weekly current affairs series Panorama, was broadcast on BBC1. In order to film it, in the words of the BBC website's synopsis, "Panorama reporter John Sweeney spent eight days undercover inside the most rigidly controlled nation on Earth". In order to gain entry into North Korea, John Sweeney and a Panorama cameraman/producer joined a group of current or former LSE students and post graduates led by a third member of the Panorama team, Tomiko Newson, and pretended to be part of their trip. They accompanied the students as they travelled around the country on an organised tour given by North Korean guides, and they filmed with conventional tourist cameras. 2. Mr X and the London School of Economics and Political Science (the "LSE") (together, the "Complainants") complained to the BBC and their complaints were consolidated into one Appeal (the "Appeal"). The central questions in the Appeal were whether student X (Mr X's daughter, a post graduate student on the North Korean trip on whose behalf Mr X complained) and the LSE were treated fairly by the BBC in the organisation of the trip and whether their privacy was infringed. There were also issues concerning the accuracy and impartiality of statements made by BBC Executives about the programme after it aired, and concerning whether the trip organiser and tour leader had a conflict of interest because she was employed by the BBC.
    [Show full text]
  • Investigative Journalism: Secrets, Salience 222 and Storytelling Kevin Marsh
    Journalism: New Challenges Edited by: Karen Fowler-Watt and Stuart Allan Journalism: New Challenges Edited by: Karen Fowler-Watt and Stuart Allan Published by: Centre for Journalism & Communication Research Bournemouth University ISBN: 978-1-910042-01-4 [paperback] ISBN: 978-1-910042-00-7 [ebook-PDF] ISBN: 978-1-910042-02-1 [ebook-epub] http://microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk/cjcr/ Copyright © 2013 Acknowledgements Our first thank you is to the contributors who made Journal- ism: New Challenges possible, not least for so generously shar- ing their expertise, insights and enthusiasm for this approach to academic e-publishing. This endeavour was supported by the Centre for Journalism and Communication Research (CJCR), here in the Media School at Bournemouth University, UK. With regard to the production and distribution of this book, we are grateful to Einar Thorsen and Ann Luce for their stellar efforts. They would like to thank, in turn, Carrie Ka Mok for setting its design and layout, and Ana Alania for contributing ideas for the cover. Many thanks as well to Mary Evans, Emma Scattergood and Chindu Sreedharan for their helpful sugges- tions on how to develop this publishing venture. Karen Fowler-Watt and Stuart Allan, editors Table of contents Introduction Karen Fowler-Watt and Stuart Allan Section One: New Directions in Journalism 1 A Perfect Storm 1 Stephen Jukes 2 The Future of Newspapers in a Digital Age 19 Shelley Thompson 3 International News Agencies: Global Eyes 35 that Never Blink Phil MacGregor 4 Impartiality in the News 64 Sue
    [Show full text]
  • The Right to a Fair Trial in the Changing Media Environment
    Trying Times: The Right to a Fair Trial in the Changing Media Environment Amy Elvidge A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the degree of Bachelor of Laws (with Honours ) University of Otago Dunedin October 2008 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A number of people have helped me this year in the preparation of this dissertation. First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisor, Selene Mize for all of her support, encouragement and fantastic feedback, and who, despite being incredibly busy, would always be ready to chat or reply to my emails in the middle of the night. Thanks also to Andrew Geddis for taking an interest in my topic, and for helping me get my head around my first chapter. I was incredibly fortunate to be able to chat about aspects of my dissertation with Justice Fogarty, Justice O’Driscoll, Judge O’Dwyer and Simon Moore, which was very much appreciated. Thanks also to my fellow tutors, for the endless banter, laughter and ‘Link runs’. I can’t imagine having experienced this dissertation journey without you. To my parents – thanks as always for their love and support, and to Mum for proof-reading my final draft. Also thanks to Laura Fraser for her proof-reading skills. And finally, the biggest acknowledgement would have to go to Jeremy, for putting up with all of the late nights and stressful days, and most importantly, for always making me laugh and keeping things in perspective. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction……………………………………………….………….. 1 Chapter One: The Rights Involved………………………………….. 3 1.1 Open Justice…………………………………………………………….. 3 1.2 Freedom of Expression………………………………………………….
    [Show full text]
  • Working with the Science Media Centre
    With thanks to our sponsors Contents Editor’s foreword Geoff Watts, science writer and broadcaster The following organisations have contributed to the costs of the Science Media Centre’s 10th anniversary: aybe I’m entirely the wrong person to have publication of their own research through to distant BIVDA, BP plc, British Pharmacological Society, EUK Consulting, GlaxoSmithKline, Imperial College London, Editor’s foreword 1 collated these reflections on the Science Media events of which they have the specialised knowledge or Maudsley Charity, MSD, National Grid, Society for Applied Microbiology, Society for General Microbiology, MCentre (SMC). A decade ago, when I first heard understanding required to offer authoritative comment. Springer Science+Business Media, Wellcome Trust Chief Executive’s introduction 2 of the proposal to set up another body to help science Many of the issues tackled by the SMC are important not journalists do their job properly (which was how I then only for the science involved, but because that science Climate of crisis 4 perceived it), I really couldn’t see the point. Didn’t we all has an impact on society. This is clearly so of the topics GM on trial 6 have our own contact lists? Hadn’t every university and chosen for this booklet. every research institute got a press office eager to alert GM on trial again 8 us to their latest findings? Didn’t science and medical As many of the authors of the following accounts are journalists already get enough press information from keen to emphasise, even those among them who were Media meltdown 10 enough organisations without another body clamouring initially apprehensive about meeting the media have found the experience unthreatening and even enjoyable.
    [Show full text]
  • St Edmund Hall 2016–2017
    MagazineST EDMUND HALL 2016–2017 i ST EDMUND HALL EDITOR: Dr Brian Gasser (1975) With thanks to the contributors; especially to Claire Hooper, Communications Officer, and Freddie Batho, for all their help with the production [email protected] St Edmund Hall Oxford OX1 4AR 01865 279000 www.seh.ox.ac.uk [email protected] @StEdmundHall St Edmund Hall @StEdmundHall The digital archive of all past editions of the Magazine is currently available at: www.ebooks-online.co.uk/St_Edmund_Hall MAGAZINE FRONT COVER: Student volunteers limbering up to welcome Open Day visitors, June 2017 MATRICULATION PICTURE: Photograph by Gillman & Soame All photos in this Magazine are from Hall records unless otherwise stated. VOL. XVIII No. 8 ST EDMUND HALL MAGAZINE Anniversary Reunions .............................................................................................. 103 OCTOBER 2017 Regional Lunches ......................................................................................................104 International Events .................................................................................................104 Bridging to Business ................................................................................................. 105 SECTION 1: THE COLLEGE LIST: 2016–17 ...........................................................1 Degree Days ...............................................................................................................106 SECTION 2: REPORTS ON THE YEAR .................................................................11
    [Show full text]
  • RFI2014 Summary Date Received RFI20141921 but Im Trying to Find
    Date RFI2014 Summary received but im trying to find out the name and artist of the hip hop backing track used on rugby leauge four nations final highlights 2014, do you know of where i can get this or who i can contact to find out? I did find a music page on your website that list RFI20141921 backing tracks but only goes up to 2006 23/11/2014 the cost of film taken at Denmark Hill Railway Station dated 18 September 2013, Wednesday, where a young girl aged 23 years was killed by a freight train at RFI20140004 3:30pm? 02/01/2014 RFI20140005 Cost of Mandela funeral coverage 01/01/2014 How many complaints has the BBC received about its coverage of the lifting of transitional immigration controls on Bulgaria and Romania.How many of these complaints were concerned that the coverage was over-prominent or gave disproportionately high weight to the idea that many migrants would come to the UK. How many of these complaints were concerned that the coverage was under- RFI20140006 prominent or downplayed the prospect of increased immigration 01/01/2014 information on the following relating to public tickets for the recent 2013 series of Strictly Come Dancing.. 1 How many tickets were issued to the public for each performance? 2 How many of the public were allowed in to each performance? 3 At what time were "Guaranteed Seat" stickers issued to people in the queue?4 At what time were "Standby" stickers issued to people in the queue? 5 How many people were allowed in on "standby" tickets.6 How many people were not allowed in?7 Why wasn't the process of obtaining stickers explained when the original email sending RFI20140007 out the tickets was sent out? 01/01/2014 all information and correspondence held by the BBC relating to the selection and engagement of Antony Jenkins, the chief executive of Barclays, as a guest editor RFI20140008 of the Today programme broadcast on 31 December 2013.
    [Show full text]
  • 6 Radio Interviews
    Radio Interviews: A Changing Art 6 Ceri Thomas “If you want to drop a word in the ear of the nation, then this is the programme in which to do it.” Brian Redhead, former presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme In the Spring of 2007, after he announced that he would be standing down as Prime Minister but before he named the day, Tony Blair gave a pair of interviews to the Today pro- gramme. The first was to concentrate on domestic policy, the second on foreign affairs. They were certainly significant; in some ways, I think, remarkable. They were not billed as valedictory, but the sense that they were hung in the air. They were broadcast live - the first in slightly strange circumstances from a GP’s surgery in Tony Blair’s constituency, the second from an ornate room in Downing St - and they were quite long, nearly an hour in total. I remember any number of small details about the way we prepared; the gentle arm-wrestling with John Humphrys, who was doing the interviews, about content and tone; the hours of agonising about how we could even begin to make sense of ten years of a premiership. But I remember most clearly that, at the end of both interviews, Tony Blair needed to change his shirt. The intense mental focus he devoted to the interviews was hard physical effort. I had never seen that before, and I have never seen it since. People who knew Tony Blair would probably not have been surprised. They might have recognised something coherent in his approach to politics in general and interviews in particu- lar: he wanted to make an argument, and to win it.
    [Show full text]