Blair Compares News Media to ‘Feral Beast’ in Angry Parting Shot

BLAIR COMPARES NEWS MEDIA TO 'FERAL BEAST' IN ANGRY PARTING SHOT
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Alan Cowell]
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tony Blair used one of his last speeches before he leaves office in 15 days to settle scores with a press corps he holds responsible for hounding, badgering, blustering and bludgeoning the nation’s leaders since he came to power 10 years ago. “The fear of missing out means today’s media, more than ever before, hunts in a pack,” he declared in the speech, at the Reuters headquarters here. “In these modes it is like a feral beast, just tearing people and reputations to bits. But no one dares miss out.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/13/world/europe/13britain.html
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MEDIA TIPS FROM A DEPARTING PREMIER: KEEP NEWS AND VIEWS DISTINCT
[SOURCE: The Christian Science Monitor, AUTHOR: Tony Blair, British prime minister]
[Commentary] Excerpts from Blair's speech given at Reuters headquarters in London on June 12. "The audience needs to be arrested, held, and their emotions engaged; something that is interesting is less powerful than something that makes you angry or shocked. And the consequences of this are acute. First, scandal or controversy beats ordinary reporting hands down. News is rarely news unless it generates heat as much as or more than light. Second, attacking motive is far more potent than attacking judgment.... Third, the fear of missing out means that today's media, more than ever before, hunts in a pack.... Fourth, rather than just report news, even if sensational or controversial, the new technique is commentary on the news being as, if not more, important than the news itself."
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0619/p09s02-coop.html

* Blair Likens News Media to 'Feral Beast'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/12/AR200706...