LETTER:BBC and bias: public perceptions counter Conservative fears
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Mr Ivor Rensten
Sir: So, Jonathan Aitken and his fellow Tory MPs are unhappy with the BBC. I wonder how many of your readers have considered the way that these MPs actually respond to interviewers' questions.
I first noticed it in the middle of the Thatcher era. I wondered then whether a school, or perhaps a short course or even an instruction pamphlet, had been used to train her colleagues in how to handle questions that might embarrass them or their party.
The method seems to be as follows: listen to the initial question; then begin to answer, not that question, but the question you had wanted to be asked. Continue to talk and ignore any attempt by the interviewer to return you to his original point. Press on and on and, if the interviewer does manage - in an accidental pause - to get in a question, say, "Please let me finish," and plough on. In this way, you'll take up all or nearly all of the time available for your interview, avoid awkward questions and make your own party political broadcast.
Yours faithfully,
IVOR RENSTEN
Cuffley, Hertfordshire
28 March
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments