dʒˈɑːn mˈeɪdʒɚ kˈɔːld dʒˈɛŋkɪnz ˈeɪ "ɡɹɛɡˈɛɹiəs mˈæn ʌv lˈaɪvli wˈɪt ænd ɡɹˈeɪt tʃˈɑːɹm, ænd ɐn ʌndɪspjˈuːɾᵻd mˈæstɚɹ ʌv hɪz pɹəfˈɛʃən", ænd dˈeɪvɪd ˈoʊɪn sˈɛd hiː wʌz "ɐn ɛksˈɛpʃənəl dʒˈɜːnəlˌɪst wɪð ɐ dˈiːp ˌʌndɚstˈændɪŋ ʌvðə lˈeɪbɚ mˈuːvmənt".
John Major called Jenkins a "gregarious man of lively wit and great charm, and an undisputed master of his profession", and David Owen said he was "an exceptional journalist with a deep understanding of the Labour movement".