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Leading journalists give evidence to government communications inquiry

Nick Robinson, political editor at the BBC, was among witnesses at the second evidence session of the Lords inquiry into the state of government communications.

The Lords Communications Committee inquiry focuses on how successfully the Government has implemented reforms recommended by the Phillis Review in 2004 to build public trust, openness and regional communication.

At the first session on 9 July, the committee heard from Sir Robert Phillis, the chair of the original report, Howell James, former Permanent Secretary Government Communication and head of profession, and Alan Bishop, the chief executive of the Central Office of Information (COI). This session focused on the creation of the Government Communications Network (GCN) and how well the Government is engaging with the public through websites such as DirectGov.At the second session on Wednesday 16 July, seven leading journalists gave their view on whether the Government is communicating openly and fairly with the press. Most felt that there have been improvements since the Phillis Review and all seven offered their opinions on what more the Government could do.

While some Government press offices received criticism, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Cabinet Office and 10 Downing Street press offices were commended for their openness to journalists and knowledge of departmental issues.

The Lobby

The Committee first questioned Nick Robinson, Political Editor at the BBC, Tom Bradby, Political Editor at ITV, and Adam Boulton, Political Editor at Sky News on the parliamentary lobby system.

The ‘Lobby’ is the small number of political journalists who are given privileged access to enter the Members' Lobby at Parliament to interview MPs. ‘Lobby terms’ dictate that information given to these journalists here are non-attributable. Lobby journalists are also invited to morning and afternoon daily briefings at 10 Downing Street.

At the committee meeting, all three lobby journalists said that they did not think that the lobby's ‘cloak of anonymity’ of non-attributed quotes was bad for journalism. Tom Bradby said,

‘Non-attributed quotes are deeply embedded in our journalistic culture. We feel it allows us to quote freely and fairly what’s going on.’

Nick Robinson did explain that there is an increasing pressure from viewers to know where journalists obtain their information.

‘I certainly detect in the internet age a desire for knowing where I got my facts from. There's an increasing sense among the audience that they want to know how we know.’

The lobby was a valuable system, all three journalists agreed, but needed strengthening. According to Adam Boulton, you get ‘very basic operational information and extremely limited expressions of the Prime Minister's opinions.’

None of the three journalists agreed that this problem is counteracted by the fact that much more information is available to the public through government websites. Nick Robinson said the public can ‘mug up’ on things like green papers but that the job of journalists is to get behind government pronouncement, into the details.

‘What hasn't essentially changed is that we still have an a la carte system. There's still a presumption that there's not a lot of info that the public and the press should have access to.’

It is this that he thinks needs to change. ‘Downing Street should build on what they've already done and consider what the media and public have a right to know.’

When asked what they would like to see changed with the lobby system, both Tom Bradby and Adam Boulton said that it would be greatly strengthened by bringing back the conventions that both Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition hold weekly briefings. Adam said that this ‘was very good for political discourse – they get much more to the kernel of matters than televised press conferences.’

Press Offices

Some press offices were singled out for praise. As well as complimenting the Cabinet Office and Downing Street press offices, Tim Marshall said, ‘I think the FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office] is possibly the best press office in Government. The FCO does exactly what Phillis recommended.’ He believed that the key reason for its success is that it's made up of departmental specialists willing to develop relationships with journalists.

‘When you get a relationship going with several press officers it’s extremely healthy as they know that their words aren’t going to be taken out of context …If you don’t develop the relationship you’ll get the read outs.’

The next evidence session of the inquiry will be held on 8 October.

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