Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair today gave a speech about the media. The New York Times headlined its report of the speech in these words: ‘In Parting Shot, Blair Calls Press a ‚ÄòFeral Beast.” It is instructive as to the bias of media to read the Times report of what Blair said and then read the actual transcript. Much of the text of the speech is about the ways in which changes in media in our digital times have affected dealing with the media and what it reports. Two of the sections I found particularly interesting follow:

I am going to say something that few people in public life will say, but most know is absolutely true: a vast aspect of our jobs today - outside of the really major decisions, as big as anything else - is coping with the media, its sheer scale, weight and constant hyperactivity.

At points, it literally overwhelms. Talk to senior people in virtually any walk of life today - business, military, public services, sport, even charities and voluntary organisations and they will tell you the same. People don’t speak about it because, in the main, they are afraid to.

But it is true, nonetheless, and those who have been around long enough, will also say it has changed significantly in the past years. The danger is, however, that we then commit the same mistake as the media do with us: it’s the fault of bad people. . . .

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The reality is that as a result of the changing context in which 21st Century communications operates, the media are facing a hugely more intense form of competition than anything they have ever experienced before.

They are not the masters of this change but its victims. The result is a media that increasingly and to a dangerous degree is driven by “impact”. Impact is what matters. It is all that can distinguish, can rise above the clamour, can get noticed.

Impact gives competitive edge. Of course the accuracy of a story counts. But it is secondary to impact. It is this necessary devotion to impact that is unravelling standards, driving them down, making the diversity of the media not the strength it should be but an impulsion towards sensation above all else.

Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair today gave a speech about the media. The New York Times headlined its report of the speech in these words: ‘In Parting Shot, Blair Calls Press a ‚ÄòFeral Beast.” It is instructive as to the bias of media to read the Times report of what Blair said and then [...]