Political Interviewers

stickywicket
stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
edited 11. Jun 2017, 03:40 in Community Chit-chat archive
It seems to me that most of them are now more interested in their own questions than in the interviewees' (pardon the Americanism) answers.

I'm aware that, for years, politicians have dodged questions and answered the one they'd have preferred to be asked - or not answered at all (Remember Michael Howard with J. Paxman?) but I find the pendulum has now swung too far.

Many times, over the recent election campaign, I've been interested in what politicians of various hues and creeds were saying, only to find the interviewer interrupting and talking over them. I could forgive John Humphries yesterday for vainly attempting to get an answer on Tory policy out of Boris Johnson that didn't begin "Jeremy Corbin..." and I have some sympathy with those who persevere in asking a question, which is being evaded, by talking over a politician who is simply using the time available to get over a point that is entirely unrelated to the question.

But, surely, many of these interviewers now seem to have an exalted idea of their own importance. Paxo can be just plain nasty. Humphries is almost as bad. I used to regard Laura Kuensberg as a rottweiller but she seems to have mellowed a little. I think Evan Davies is possibly the best of the bunch but I've been really disappointed with the standards of interviews recently.
If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
Steven Wright

Comments

  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I totally agree SW..the worse one in my eyes is J Paxman..and his voice has gone up quite a few decibels.. :roll:
    Love
    Barbara
  • Airwave!
    Airwave! Member Posts: 2,471
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    If there was more honesty between politicians and the public then interviewers wouldn't feel they had to get to the bottom of what politicians mean when they say something?

    Politicians have only themselves to blame.
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,057
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I agree with you Stickywicket - they really do seem to think it's all about them!!

    I do understand them not wanting to allow politicians to rant on and on about their own manifesto or put down other parties/politicians, but the whole thing is very frustrating for the interviewee and us too.

    Maybe we ought to start a petition :wink:

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