Comments by "Ash Roskell" (@ashroskell) on "farage's inconsistent story" video.

  1. Example: Farage says, “I said was awful. What more do you want me to say? Of course it was an apology.” Journalist COULD have responded: “You made a, ‘comment,’ NOT an apology. Since you ask, I want you to either apologise or explain WHY you refuse to apologise?” Basic, syllogistic, chain of reasoning logic, that would have cornered Farage into showing us more of the truth of who he is. Example: Farage asks, “Have you covered the Labour MP . . .” etc. Journalist: “Your job is to answer the questions and mine is to ask them.” Or better still, “Isn’t it an insult to British intelligence that you think you can avoid answering tricky questions by trying to pose your own, when you happen to know that the people want you to answer this question?” Example: Better even still, in response to Fargage’s, “awful,” dodge; “So, why do you refuse to apologise for such abhorrent racism in your party?” Being PREPARED to field the next move, “I already said it’s awful,” with the above, “That’s an observation and comment, NOT an apology.” See? It’s all about whether the journalist cares and is prepared. Though I hasten to add, I do not judge this particular journalist, as I don’t know her, and don’t know what circumstances she was labouring under. But I would hope she would agree that she could have done a much better job?
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  2. I think I can answer your opening query. It’s because media follows algorithms all the time and are so obsessed by chasing, “engagement,” that they don’t engage. They tick off the list of questions without having the intellectual discipline sufficient to understand what they’re asking. The sort of follow-up questions that occur naturally to engaged journalists, who know and CARE about their topics, or who grasp the basics of intellectual rigour (something journalists are meant to be trained in) don’t seem to occur to them, because they are under pressure from their editors to get through the whole list and onto the next question. Keep in mind that it’s a lack of intellectual rigour that keeps Farage on the front pages and at the top of every news show. Including yours. You have given Farage a disproportionate amount of coverage. I have to say, this time you’re asking the right questions and I’m glad you’re doing this video. But certainly not so glad that you keep helping them.
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