Steerpike Steerpike

New Today editor’s great Brexit adventure

Although Nick Robinson claims the BBC no longer has a duty to ‘broadly balance’ the views of Remain and Leave in its Brexit reports, this hasn’t stopped the Today programme facing flak for its seemingly gloomy broadcasts. A recent News Watch study found that — in the six month period after the referendum vote — of the 366 guest speakers who appeared in the Business News segment, only 60 (16.3pc) expressed opinions which were pro-Brexit or saw the post-referendum economic outlook as positive.

But can we expect a more sunny outlook in the coming months? Mr S only asks after reading Sarah Sands — the incoming Today editor — in the Evening Standard. Sands will take over from Jamie Angus — a former Lib Dem press officer — as the editor of the Radio 4’s flagship current affairs programme in May. A Remain voter, Sands has written of her attempts to look on the bright-side over the UK’s decision to leave the EU:

Steerpike
Written by
Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

Topics in this article

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in