August 2004
Monthly Archive
Monthly Archive
Dyke unleashes ‘avenging fury’ on Blair Hutton, Campbell and the BBC governors
But it is Mr Dyke’s account of his relationship with Mr Blair that will attract most attention. A former Labour donor who even financially supported Mr Blair’s leadership bid, Mr Dyke reveals the Prime Minister sought to change BBC coverage on Iraq even before Gilligan’s fateful broadcast.
He reveals that the Prime Minister sent personal letters to both himself and Gavyn Davies, the former BBC chairman, complaining about the corporation’s coverage.
…
Mr Dyke claims that Mr Blair was forced into writing the letter by Mr Campbell and subsequently regretted it.
It was, however, his own robust reply to Mr Blair rejecting outright his complaint that led to a state of open hostilities between Downing Street and the BBC, he admits.
In accepting Greg Dyke’s resignation in January, the BBC’s board of governors demonstrated a wholly supine response to the Hutton Inquiry which was not only shocking but also led to a significant popular outcry.
Inside Story certainly sounds like an entertaining read and, if his claims that the Government tried to directly influence the BBC’s coverage of the Iraq war are substantiated, it raises a number of serious questions about the relationship between the government and the media.
0 comments Monday 30 Aug 2004 | Paul | Books
Time between me realising there was a collector’s edition of The Complete Ballad of Halo Jones and me ordering The Complete Ballad of Halo Jones: 1 second.
Halo Jones was the three book story of everywoman Halo Jones. Not exceptionally clever or strong, she was a woman looking for a better life. As such, she was also a woman who, even when she was fighting wars in distant parts of the galaxy, all of us could easily relate to.
The stories, written by Alan Moore and drawn by Ian Gibson represent a high point, not just for 2000ad, but for comics in general.
0 comments Wednesday 25 Aug 2004 | Paul | Books