It feels odd to start a column having failed to persuade oneself that what one proposes is sensible. My problem is this: whenever I put the thoughts that follow to friends whose judgment I respect, they talk me out of my conclusion. Convinced by their counter-arguments, I banish the idea.
Then I wake up in the small hours — and the idea’s back.
It is this: that should the civil disorder we saw a week ago turn into something more chronic than the chip-pan fire we’ve just experienced, then those who shape Britain’s newspapers, television and radio ought to try — at least to try — to reach some sort of informal sector-wide consensus on a set of voluntary guidelines, necessarily imprecise, on how to report events honestly, factually and comprehensively, in ways less likely to sensationalise or amplify the drama.
On the night of Monday 8 August, with the rioting at its worst, all the rolling TV news channels backed their reports, which they kept repeating, with what appeared to be looped videotape of burning buildings.
Get Britain's best politics newsletters
Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in