Complaint response 16/03/11

Email received from BBC Complaints, which completely misses the point:


Reference CAS-658871-TTXCP8

Thanks for contacting us regarding Jeremy Vine’s show on BBC Radio 2.

I understand you had concerns that Jeremy failed to accept Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne’s explanation in relation to a discussion on the British rescue teams’ efforts in Japan. I also note you feel he didn’t research the topic before conducting the interview.

Political figures and others in positions of responsibility should be given the opportunity both to explain their thinking on matters of public concern and to answer criticisms of it. The interviewer's job is to put the questions likely to be in the minds of informed viewers and to look for answers. While this can lead to forceful and persistent questioning, most leading politicians expect their views to be put under scrutiny and are prepared to respond with corresponding firmness.

Those being interviewed can sometimes significantly influence the style and outcome of the interview by their unwillingness to respond to certain questions. The interviewer’s intention in this situation is not to generate hostility but to persist in pressing for answers to important questions with the proper combination of firmness and civility. While courtesy should always be observed, it is worth noting that politicians are no less professional in handling questions than our interviewers are in posing them, and that the task of informing the public sometimes demands a degree of persistence which would be out of place in ordinary social conversation.

May I also add that we don't engage any interviewer unless we believe they're competent and can meet the specific demands required of them.

Please be assured that I've registered your comments on our audience log. This is a daily report of audience feedback that's made available to all BBC staff, including all programme makers, channel controllers and BBC senior management.

The audience logs are seen as important documents that can help shape decisions about future programming and content.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact us.

Kind Regards

Jxxxxxxx Dxxxxx
BBC Complaints


Follow-up complaint lodged on BBC web site:


Thank you for your email. I note, however, that you failed to address my point about poor research.

It was only after the interview was over that Mr Vine revealed that he had had contact with the rescue team and that they had written permission from the Japanese authorities to assist. Had Mr Vine have done some research and had been in possession of this information BEFORE the interview with Mr Browne he could have challenged Mr Browne's statements.

I have just listened back to the interview using iPlayer and again I can only come to the conclusion that Mr Browne had answered Mr Vine's questions before they had been asked, and that Mr Vine only succeeded in labouring the point unnecessarily.

I note your comment "Those being interviewed can sometimes significantly influence the style and outcome of the interview by their unwillingness to respond to certain questions.". Mr Browne was clearly not unwilling to answer any questions. However, Mr Vine failed to ask the relevant question due to his lack of prior research.

I would be grateful for your further comments.