Madam, - Seamus Dooley's outrage (September 6th) would be more credible if many of his NUJ members were not regularly involved in throwing uncorroborated charges at politicians and other unfortunate interviewees.
I am constantly amazed at the brazen arrogance and rudeness of some journalists, particularly on radio and TV here and in the UK, who routinely treat interviewees with contempt, posing any hostile hypothesis they choose and demanding an instant answer, with never an apology even when their proposition has been clearly rebutted. I often wish that more of our politicians were from the John Prescott school: the occasional sound of fist on jaw would cheer me up no end some mornings.
Journalists are often unreliable. Many are more interested in making news than in reporting it and more concerned with circulation and headlines than with the truth. They act as if they are the guardians of the public interest and above reproach - but they are unelected and answerable only to the editor or publisher, who may well have a self-serving business or political agenda.
I wish politicians would regularly refuse to respond to media questions and trust us, the electorate, to assess the reasonableness of such a stance. I would support an official policy of a sizeable "cooling-off" period for any questions to Government, which would help raise the standard of both question and reply and quell the feeding frenzy.
The media want instant and constant news, but I don't believe we are well served by the current media and we shouldn't sacrifice fairness, accuracy or reputations simply to satisfy their commercial needs.
The Hutton revelations to date have reflected very badly on standards in the BBC and I suggest our own national broadcaster and other media should study the ultimate findings with great care. - Yours, etc.,
PETER MOLLOY, Haddington Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin.