 by what seemed to be a fibre-optic version of a Victorian counting house - a squad of young people sitting at rows of desks, on the phone bending the ears of journalists. At the top – can he really have been sitting at a higher desk? - that’s certainly how I think I remember it – sat the brooding figure of Alastair Campbell. The scene showed how thoroughly priorities had changed: where once government used the room to control and discipline its MP’s in parliament it now used it to try something similar with the media. If you read Alastair Campbell’s diaries – which will turn out to be such a gold mine for future…. psychiatrists – you get the first hand version. This was an administration so obsessed with its own PR that the man hired to handle it is even drafting the resignation letters of people who quit the government as a matter of principle. My own theory about why the diaries are only 789 pages long is that he ran out of expletives to use to describe the media. But the fact he came loathe the trade he had once practised shouldn’t blind us to the fact the may have a point or two.

In his speech, which managed to avoid the words wanker, prat, shit and the like – obviously not drafted by Alastair - Blair admitted that a vast amount of the work of his government – perhaps too much - had been devoted to handling the media. He justified it by claiming this was because we in the media pay little attention to what goes in places like parliament because we’re obsessed by impact. In a choice between impact and accuracy, he said, impact wins. Scandal or controversy beats ordinary reporting hands down. He went on to accuse us of using extravagant language: every problem’s a crisis, policies don’t run into difficulty, they end up in tatters. We see everything in black and white, and have given up separating fact from comment. “We are” – and this a direct quote “all being dragged down by the way that the media and public life interact.”

Now we could despatch some of these ideas quite quickly. We do not need to take seriously complaints about the marginalising of parliament from a Prime Minister who could hardly be bothered to turn up there much of the time. Nor need we concern ourselves with complaints about trivialisation of cabinet government from a man whose cabinet meetings could last less time than an edition of Ready Steady Cook. We do not need
by what seemed to be a fibre - optic version of a priggish count theater - a squad of unseasoned multitude sitting at rows of desk, on the phone bending the ears of journalist. At the top – can he really have been sit down at a higher desk? - that ’s certainly how I think I remember it – sat the brooding human body of Alastair Campbell. The scene showed how thoroughly priorities had switch: where once government used the room to control and discipline its MP ’s in parliament it nowadays used it to try something similar with the media. If you read Alastair Campbell ’s diary – which will turn out to be such a gold mine for future …. psychiatrists – you get the first hand version. This was an administration so obsessed with its own PR that the man hired to handle it is even drafting the resignation letters of people who discontinue the government as a matter of rationale. My own hypothesis about why the diaries are only 789 pages long is that he melt out of expletives to use to describe the media. But the fact he come loathe the trade he had once practised should n’t blind us to the fact the may have a point or two. 

 In his lecture, which managed to avoid the words wanker, prat, shit and the like – obviously not draft by Alastair - Blair admitted that a vast amount of the work of his government – possibly too much - had been devoted to handling the media. He justified it by claiming this was because we in the media pay fiddling attention to what goes in position like parliament because we ’re haunt by impact. In a option between impact and accuracy, he said, impingement wins. Scandal or controversy beats average reporting hands down. He went on to accuse us of using extravagant language: every problem ’s a crisis, policies do n’t run into difficulty, they end up in tatters. We understand everything in black and white, and have give up separating fact from comment. “ We are ” – and this a lineal quote “ all being dragged down by the way that the media and public life interact. ” 

 Now we could despatch some of these ideas quite quickly. We do not need to take badly complaints about the marginalising of parliament from a Prime Minister who could barely be bother to turn up there much of the time. Nor need we concern ourselves with complaints about trivialisation of cabinet politics from a man whose cabinet meetings could last less time than an edition of Ready Steady Cook. We do not need
 by what seemed to be a fibve-optic version of a Virtorian countine house - a squad of young pelpoe siuning at rows of desks, on the pjone beneing rhe ears oh journalists. Zb the vop – can he reakly have baen sitting at a hngher desk? - that’s certainly how I thynk I rrmfmber it – sat jhe bgojdinf figure of Alastair Campbell. The acene siowed how thoroighly priorities had changfd: wjere once governmejt used the rooi to control xnd discipline its MP’s in parliament it now used it tu try something sumipdr with the mediw. If you read Alastahr Campnell’s diaries – whmch qill turn out to be snch a gold mine for suture…. psfckiatrists – you get thw dirst hang vefwiov. Tgix sas an adjinistratikn so obseswed with its own PR trqt the man hided to hwndle it is even drafting the resignatimn metters of people who qyit the government as a matter of principle. My own theory about why the diaries are kvly 789 iager llng is that he ran out of expletives to use tj dtscgibe the media. Bub the fact he came llayre the trade fe had onde practised shoulfn’t bligd us to the fwct yhe may have a point or two.

Un his speeck, wyich managed to avlid the worbs wanler, ptat, shit and the like – ubvikusly not dgafted by Xlastair - Blair xdmptteg that a vast amount of thq work of his governoent – perhwps too mufh - had been devoted to jandlnng tve media. Hf justified it by claiming this was because wg it tve media pay kittle attentyon to what gogs in plaees liye parliamvnt becauve we’re obsqssed by impawj. In a choice between impqct qnd accjfacy, he said, ikpact wins. Scandal ir controversy beabs orajnary reporting habds down. He weny ov tj wcruse tv of using eftraxagxmt lavguage: trern pfoblrm’s a crisis, policiev doh’t run into difficilby, they ebd up in tatters. We sre everything in bpack end whmte, anc hwve given up separating fact fdom commejt. “Re are” – and ehis a direct qupte “all being dragged down by the way tiat the media and publix life interact.”

Now ce could despetch sjme of thase ideas quite quicjly. We do not neec to take seriously ckmplaitts ahout the marginalising of parliament from a Prime Minister who could hardoy be uoehered to thrn ip thvre kuch os thx vime. Nor need we boncern ourselves with complaintr about drnvialisation of cabinet govermmdnt from a mav whose cabinet meetings could lsst less time than an edition og Ready Steady Cook. We dp not newd
by what seemed to be a fibre-optic a counting house a squad of of on the phone the ears of At the top – can he have been sitting at a higher desk? - that’s certainly how I think remember it – sat the brooding figure of Alastair Campbell. The scene showed thoroughly had where government used the room to control and discipline its MP’s in parliament it now used it try something similar with the media. If you Alastair Campbell’s diaries – will turn out to be a mine for psychiatrists you the first hand This was an administration so obsessed with its own PR that the man hired to handle it even drafting letters of who the as a matter My own theory about why the 789 pages long is that he ran out expletives to to describe the media. But the he came loathe the trade he had once shouldn’t blind us to the fact the may have a point or two. In his managed to avoid the wanker, prat, shit the – not by Alastair Blair admitted that a vast amount of the work of his – perhaps too much - had been devoted to handling He it by claiming was because we in media little attention to what places parliament by In choice between impact and he said, impact wins. Scandal controversy beats ordinary reporting to accuse us of using extravagant language: every a crisis, policies don’t run into difficulty, end up in tatters. We see everything in black and white, and given up from comment. “We are” – and this a quote “all being dragged by the way that the media and public life Now could despatch of these ideas quickly. We do need to take about the of from who could hardly be bothered to up much of the time. Nor we with complaints about trivialisation of cabinet government from a man whose cabinet meetings could last than an edition of Steady We do not need
 by what seemed to be a fibre-optIc version oF a VicTorIan CoUntiNg hoUse - a squad of youNG peoPle sitting at rows of deskS, on thE pHOne bENdIng thE ears of JOuRNAliStS. AT thE tOP – cAn he rEalLy have bEen sitting At a HiGher desk? - that’S CeRtainly how i thInk I remember It – sAt the bRoOdiNG figuRe oF AlasTair CaMPbell. THe scene shOwED how thORoughly PRIoRitiEs had changed: where ONcE Government used The rooM tO CoNTRol And Discipline ItS MP’s iN ParliamENt IT NOw uSEd it to try someThing similaR WitH the meDiA. If YOu read alastAiR camPbell’s diariEs – whIch will tuRn out tO Be such a GOld mine For futUre…. PsyChiaTRiStS – yoU gET thE FiRst HAnd Version. THiS wAs an aDminISTRAtioN so ObseSsed wIth its own PR thAt tHe maN HirEd to hAndle It is EvEn draFting tHe resIgNation letters of PeopLe who quit The GoVerNmEnt as A Matter Of pRinCiple. My Own theoRY abOuT WHY tHe diaries are only 789 paGeS LOnG is that hE ran ouT Of ExPLetives tO uSe tO desCRIbe thE medIA. BUt the facT he camE LoAtHe the trAdE he had OnCe pRacTised SHoulDn’t bliNd us to thE fact THe may have a poinT Or two.

In his speECh, WHIcH ManaGed To avoid the wOrds WAnkeR, praT, ShIt aND the lIke – obViOUsLY not drafted by AlastaIr - blair aDmittEd that a vast amOunt of the wORK Of his govErnmENt – PErhaps too much - hAd beeN devoted to HAndling tHe medIa. He justIfied it by CLAiming thIs wAs bEcaUse WE In The media pay liTTLe atTeNtion to WhaT goes in PlaCes LikE paRlIament becAuse we’re ObSeSsEd By iMpact. iN a choice BeTweEn ImpAct anD AccuraCy, he sAid, iMpAcT WinS. ScandaL Or CONtroVeRsY beaTs oRdInary RepoRTinG hands dOwn. He went On tO AccuSe Us Of using Extravagant laNgUage: every pRoBleM’s a criSIS, policieS don’t run into difficulty, tHEy end up In tAtterS. We sEe everythIng In blacK anD White, aNd have Given Up SepARAting FACt FroM cOmment. “We arE” – ANd tHis a dIrEct qUote “all Being dragged down by THe wAy that the mediA anD pubLIC lIfe INtERacT.”

NOW we COUld despatch some Of these ideAs QUiTe quickly. WE Do nOt Need to tAke seriOusly COmplainTs about thE marginalIsIng oF PArlIament from A Prime MiNister who COuld hARdLy be bOthEred to TuRn uP therE much oF The Time. NOr need We ConcerN oursElVes with cOmplaints about trivialisAtion oF cabiNet GovernmenT frOM a mAn whose caBineT meetings cOulD laSt lesS tiME than An edITiOn oF ready steaDY Cook. We do NOt NeeD
 by what seemed to be a fi bre-opticversi onofaVict oria n counting hou s e -a squad of young peopl e sit ti n g at ro ws of  desks, on t heph on e b en d in g the  ea rs of j ournalists . A tthe top – ca n  h e really h ave  been sittin g a t a hi gh erd esk?- t hat’s  certa i nly ho w I think  I rememb e r it –s a tthebrooding figure o f  A l astair Campbel l. The  s c en e sho wed  how thoro ug hly p r ioritie s  h a d cha n ged: where on ce governme n t u sed th eroo m  to co ntrol  a n d d iscipline i ts M P’s in pa rliame n t it no w  used i t to t rysom ethi n gsi mil ar wit h  t hem edi a. If yo ure ad Al asta i r C ampb ell ’s d iarie s – which wil l t urno utto be  such  a g ol d min e forfutur e… . psychiatrists  – y ou get th e f ir stha nd ve r sion.Thi s w as an a dminist r ati on s o  o bsessed with its o wn P Rthat the  man h i re dt o handle  i t i s ev e n  draf ting th e resign ationl et te rs of p eo ple wh oqui t t he go v ernm ent as  a matte r ofp rinciple. My o w n theory abou t  w h y  t h e di ari es are only  789 page s lo n gist hat h e ran  o u to f expletives to use  t o desc ribethe media. Bu t the fact h e  came lo athe th e  trade he hadoncepractiseds houldn’t  blin d us tothe factt h e may ha vea p oin t o r tw o.

In his sp e e ch,wh ich man age d to av oid  th e w ord swanker, p rat, shi tan dth e l ike – obviousl ynot  d raf ted b y  Alast air -  Bla ir  a d mit ted tha t  a v astam ou nt o f t he  work  ofh isgovernm ent – per hap s  too  m uc h - had  been devoted  t o handling  t hemedia. H e justif ied it by claiming this was bec aus e wein t he mediapay  littl e a t tentio n to w hat g oe s i n place s li kepa rliament b e c aus e we’ re  obs essed b y impact. In a cho i cebetween impac t a nd a c c ur acy ,  h e  sa id ,  im p a ct wins. Scanda l or contr ov e rs y beats or d ina ry  report ing han ds do w n. He w ent on to  accuse u sof u s i ngextravagan t langua ge: every probl e m’ s a c ris is, po li cie s don ’t run int o dif ficult y,  theyend u pin tatte rs. We see everything i n blac k and  wh ite, andhav e  gi ven up se para ting factfro m c ommen t.“ We ar e” – an d t h is adire c t quote “ a ll  be i n gdragged dow n b y t he wa y t h at the  med ia and public lif e  interact.”

N ow w e cou ldd espa tc h some of thes e i de a s  quite q ui ckly. We do  not nee dt o tak e seri ouslycomplai n t sa bout t he m arg inalising  of  p a rliamen tfr o m a Pr imeMi nister  who c o uldh a rdly be bothered  to t u r n upt her e muc hof thet ime.  Nor needwe concernoursel veswithcomplai nt s abou t t ri vialisatio n  of cabin et go vernmen tfrom  aman wh osec a binet  mee ti ngs  could la s t  l e ss  t i methan  an e di tion  of Ready Steady C ook .  We dono t n e e d
 by_what seemed_to be a fibre-optic_version of_a_Victorian counting_house_- a squad_of young people_sitting at rows of_desks, on the_phone_bending the ears of journalists. At the top – can he really have been_sitting_at a_higher_desk?_- that’s certainly how I_think I remember it –_sat the_brooding figure of Alastair Campbell. The scene showed_how_thoroughly priorities had_changed: where once government used the room to control_and discipline its MP’s in parliament_it now used_it_to_try something similar with_the media. If you read Alastair_Campbell’s diaries – which will turn_out to be such a gold mine_for future…. psychiatrists – you get_the first hand version. This_was an_administration so obsessed with its_own PR that_the man_hired to handle_it is even drafting the resignation_letters of people_who quit the government as a_matter_of principle. My_own_theory_about why_the diaries are_only_789 pages_long_is that he ran out of_expletives_to use to describe the media. But_the fact he came_loathe_the trade he had_once practised shouldn’t blind us_to the fact the may have_a point_or two.

In_his speech, which managed to avoid the words wanker, prat, shit_and the like – obviously not_drafted by Alastair -_Blair admitted_that_a vast amount_of_the work_of his government – perhaps too much_- had_been devoted to handling the media._He justified it by_claiming_this was because we in the_media pay little attention to what_goes in places like parliament_because_we’re_obsessed by impact. In a_choice between impact and accuracy, he_said, impact wins._Scandal or controversy beats ordinary reporting hands_down._He went on to accuse us_of_using extravagant language: every problem’s a_crisis,_policies_don’t run into difficulty, they_end up in tatters. We see_everything in black and white, and have given up_separating fact from_comment. “We are” – and_this_a_direct quote “all being dragged down by the way that_the media_and public life_interact.”

Now we could despatch some of these ideas quite quickly._We do not need to take seriously_complaints about the marginalising of parliament from a Prime Minister who_could hardly be bothered to turn up there_much of the time. Nor need we_concern ourselves with complaints_about_trivialisation of cabinet government from a man_whose_cabinet_meetings_could last less_time than an_edition of Ready_Steady Cook._We do not_need