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Viewers furious as C4’s Jon Snow thanks God for Drudge
Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter29.02.08
Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow was embroiled in a massive row today after praising an American website for revealing Prince Harry's deployment in Afghanistan.
Mr Snow's comments sparked a flurry of criticism from viewers who contacted Channel 4, vowing never to watch its news bulletins again.
The media and the Ministry of Defence had agreed a voluntary news blackout, promising not to report on Prince Harry's presence in Helmand province for fear of increasing the risk to his life and the soldiers serving with him.
The blackout had largely held — bar an unnoticed report in an Australian magazine in January — until the American website the Drudge Report broke the story yesterday afternoon, prompting the Ministry of Defence to make an official confirmation.
The Drudge Report, a largely Right-wing political gossip website, first rose to prominence by revealing Bill Clinton was having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
Mr Snow yesterday praised the Drudge Report for ending the “British media's conspiracy of silence". In his regular and popular email sent out to subscribers, Mr Snow declared: “I never thought I'd find myself saying thank God for Drudge.
“Editors have been sworn to secrecy over Prince Harry being sent to fight in Afghanistan … Drudge has blown their cover. One wonders whether viewers, readers and listeners will ever want to trust the media again?"
Viewers were, however, angered by Mr Snow's questioning of the media blackout, a suggestion repeated on Channel 4 News last night. Sue Smith, from Coventry, emailed to complain: “Tonight's show talking about a conspiracy of silence' and the email from Jon … is so far beyond the pale I will never watch Channel 4 News again.
“By these standards you would have been notifying Hitler of all our secrets. Shameful. Utterly utterly shameful."
Another stated: “Jon Snow in one absolutely idiotic, thoughtless stupid statement has just lost Channel 4 News one viewer." And Caroline McNicholas declared in an email: “Jon Snow's petulant reporting of Prince Harry's deployment to Afghanistan was television at its worst."
Other emails accused Mr Snow of “treason" and this outraged response in turn prompted fans of Mr Snow to issue a flurry of emails in defence of his comments.
The media row continued to rumble on today with Bethnal Green and Bow MP George Galloway highly critical of the blackout. “I pay for the BBC and I don't like the idea that the British media should be part of the war effort," he said on BBC1's Question Time.
The Respect MP also damned the prince for comments made while fighting on the frontline.
Mr Galloway said: “Prince Harry was saying on TV that he was engaging the enemy. I don't know about you, but I have no enemies in Afghanistan … The Taliban are not the enemy for me."
While the Drudge Report was showing no signs of regret for its “world exclusive", the Australian weekly women's magazine New Idea, which actually broke the story in January, apologised for doing so, insisting it was not aware of an embargo.
Today, a spokesman for the magazine said: “New Idea was not issued with a press embargo and was unaware of the existence of one.
“The story was published on Monday 7 January. Since then New Idea has received no comment from the British Ministry of Defence.
“We take these matters very seriously and would never knowingly break an embargo."
The magazine added: “We regret any issues the revelation of this story in America has caused today."
Reader views (14)
I thought this behaviour came under the heading of treason,or aiding and abetting it. Or am I wrong?
- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy.
If he loves the Drudge Report so much, why doesn't he go and work for them? Why is he thanking god anyway, I thought he was GOD!
- Jonny, london
If you want to question Jon Snow's on tv behaviour look back at him competing with a chimp. His obsessive need for all concerned to recognise that his memory was as good as the chimp was truly disturbing.
It does seem odd that his behaviour appears to be becoming very self obsessed. As a journalist making a point is ok but pushing it this hard calls judgement into question.
- Billg, Gerrards Cross
Jon Snow is a disgrace to England . What has he ever done for this country except earn a huge salary for doing nothing more dangerous than sitting in a TV studio. Has he bothered to wonder if he would have done the same thing had it been his son out there?
Prince Harry didn't have to go and fight and I , as I'm sure are most English people, am very proud of him.
- Sue Arnold, London England
There is an extremely fine line between what one could term `necessary censorship' and `conspiracy of silence'. But strip the thing down and I think the MOD took a liberty in attempting to silence or curtail the media in an internet world. And, I wonder, why on earth did the media apparently AGREE or submit to being silenced?
- Ted, Shetland
Good on Jon Snow for telling us as it is. The media is supposed to tell the truth and not cover up for this government. I for one will keep watching Channel 4 news for the unbiased coverage.
- Jonathan D'Souza, London
Well, we know where John Snow stands. He professes devotion to freedom of the press, but is not prepared to honour those who fought for it and all the other freedoms we enjoy. He refused to wear a poppy! Now, he thinks it is big to praise those who broke the silence over Harry's tour in Afghanistan. In what way will the public good be served by inviting the Taliban to kill more British soldiers? Good for the viewers who complained. I stopped watching C4 News after the poppy incident.
- Dbr, London
Good grief. Get a grip you lot. Jon didn't break the news, he merely commented upon freedom of the press and the relationship between the media and the public. I'm impressed the news stayed as quiet as it did for this long.
I do, however, have one major concern now that the news has broken. The military airfield comes under fire far too often as it is. Now that it's known H will be heading home, I suspect every single plane will come under attack. If H has already left, the chiefs should announce such and save a few 'tricky' moments.
- Peter M, London, UK
Is Jon Snow the reporter who was not good enough to remain at the BBC?
Perhaps C4 should send him to the front line in Afghanistan with a target painted on him?
- Tom, Watford
How arrogant of Snow to think we believe every word that comes from his lips. The media aren't trusted in this country, hasn't that news filtered up to his ivory tower yet?. His own political agenda is obvious from his questioning of guests with gushing thanks to some and short shrift to others.
The embargo was BECAUSE of the media, not some sort of conspiracy, because the media's own stupidity would have endangered many lives and not just Harry's.
I can just picture his smug face if Harry had been killed or injured, shame on you Snow and Channel 4.
- Steve, London
My personal opinion is that the Prince did his duty as a soldier and reporters like Drudge & Snow are a disgrace to their profession. Why is it that reporters will do anything for a headline, even if it means putting peoples lives at risk? I bet if it was their children they were putting at risk, they would keep their proverbial gobs shut!
- Mike Fitzgerald, Calne Wilts
This is always the problem when newsreaders start to regard themselves as journalists or social commentators.
Often, of course, they are (frustrated?) ex-journalists, and maybe this where the problem lies. The bottom line is that Snow and his colleagues are paid to smile and read the news from an Autocue, and should simply stick to that.
- Mark, London
"One wonders whether viewers, readers and listeners will ever want to trust the media again?"
One wonders whether Jon Snow actually thinks readers and listeners ever trusted the media in the first place.
Everyone knows that if you want real news about the UK you have to go to foreign websites.
- Roger, london
Channel 4's 7 o'clock news has always been loony left, as is Jon Snow. The news presenters are all so full of themselves - I can't bear to watch it. I much prefer the BBC or Sky. Jon Snow hates everything British, the Iraq war, the Royal Family, etc. I just can't bear him.
- Anthony, London,
