Posted on 02/29/2008 11:33:49 PM PST by bruinbirdman
The Channel 4 broadcaster Jon Snow is at the centre of a major row after attacking the British media's "conspiracy of silence" over Prince Harry's secret deployment to Afghanistan 10 weeks ago.
In his email to the station's subscribers Mr Snow, who presents the flagship news programme, "thanked God" for the US-based website, the Drudge Report, for revealing that the third in line to the throne was fighting the Taliban on the frontline.
He wrote: "Editors have been sworn to secrecy over Prince Harry being sent to fight in Afghanistan. Drudge has blown their cover. One wonders whether viewers, readers and listeners will ever want to trust the media again."
Mr Snow's outspoken remarks infuriated many Channel 4 viewers who described his comments as "thoughtless" and "stupid" with some declaring they would not watch the station again.
It also exposed him to the charge of hypocrisy as Channel 4 agreed with the Society of Editors, which negotiated the unprecedented news blackout, not to publicise any details of the Prince's military role until he had returned safely home.
A Channel 4 spokeswoman said: "Jon did not know in advance that Channel 4 had agreed not to publicise it."
The agreement with the 400 editors was made to avoid endangering not just Prince Harry but the other soldiers in his unit who would have been heavily targeted by the Taliban.
When the Duke of York flew helicopters for the Royal Navy in the Falklands War in 1982 there were no reporting restrictions.
While it was reported that Prince William had gone to St Andrews university, the Press Complaints Commission negotiated a voluntary agreement with newspapers that they would leave him alone to give him maximum privacy while he was still in full-time education.
The agreement with the British media on Prince Harry only came to an end when the Drudge Report, which first revealed President Clinton's liaison with Monica Lewinsky, disclosed he had been in Afghanistan.
In return for the blackout the Ministry of Defence had arranged for the media special access to the Prince before, during, and after his deployment which could be reported when he returned home without any interference by the Royal Family or the military except for reasons of operational security.
Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors, said: "It was an extraordinary and rare display of unity for national and regional newspaper and magazine editors and broadcasters not to report the story.
"In the lengthy discussions about the wisdom and ethics of doing this deal, many editors voiced their concerns. They were anxious that it might dilute their future credibility with the public and some also thought Prince Harry should not go at all because of the risk it would bring to bear on his fellow soldiers.
"The consensus was that as army chiefs had decided the prince would go to war, it would be wrong to put him and his soldier colleagues at extra risk by publicising his deployment in advance.
"It was not a matter of misleading readers, listeners and viewers. In fact, they would get a deeper insight into a new side of Prince Harry from the Press Association reports resulting from the unprecedented access."
Mr Snow's remarks triggered a furious response from some viewers.
Sue Smith wrote: "I have long admired Channel 4 news and Jon Snow for their independently minded stance ... However, tonight's show talking about a 'conspiracy of silence' and the email from Jon ... is so far beyond the pale I will never watch Channel 4 news again! Ever!!! By these standards you would have been notifying Hitler of all our secrets."
Alan Thomas wrote: "I think that Snow's 'Thank God for Drudge' comment was absolutely disgraceful."
A f@rt in Mr. Snow’s general direction - And a whiff or two for Mr. Drudge as well...
Hello everyone. Pay no attention to all these cameras taking pictures of and filming that red-haired, freckle-faced chap over there. He’s nobody special. We’re just doing an exclusive piece on the risk of skin cancer on soldiers on the frontlines. Please don’t blow us up because we’re real good at keeping secrets.
(not that I think it was good or smart to reveal Harry’s presence in theater. I just think it odd that the press would be given access at all.)
it was an Australian publication(along with the German Das Bild) that first broke the news and they’ve now taken it off after some 110 comments were received by people thoroughly pissed off with it:
http://www.crikey.com.au/Media-Arts-and-Sports/20080229-No-Idea.html
Jon Snow: now I don’t watch Channel 4 News (or any TV) here, but from what I’ve read, he’s an extremist liberal cretin whom I couldn’t bear to watch anyway. He made comparisons concerning the news blackout with China and the former Soviet Union. Bit ironic really: given his political leanings, he should be only too pleased that we’re behaving like his heroes.
http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/viewtopic/t=90436.html
For the most part, I despise the British mainstream media; I think that any country without freedom of the press contemplating allowing it, only has to look at the British one to come out against.
My biggest beef with Drudge was that his radio show was 75% commercials.
He screwed the pooch releasing military secrets.
“Editors have been sworn to secrecy over Prince Harry being sent to fight in Afghanistan. Drudge has blown their cover. One wonders whether viewers, readers and listeners will ever want to trust the media again.”
To be honest, the first thing that pops into my mind upon reading of this is that certain persons in England want Harry the hell out of Afghan and having Drudge blow his cover is how they get their way.
Saw him interviewed on the news the other night. Said something to the effect that the Queen requested he serve in the military like his uncle did. How often do you see a grandma desiring their grandson go to war.
Snow is a certified American hating piece of crap. I hate the guy with a passion.
Sorry for the language.
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