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Apology for Andrew Tyrie

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Gavin Allen | 18:01 UK time, Tuesday, 1 November 2011

Tonight the 大象传媒 has apologised to the Conservative MP Andrew Tyrie. For those of you who haven't seen it, here's what we said:

"Last month we carried some reports from the Conservative Party conference which fell below our usual standards. Our reports gave a misleading impression that Andrew Tyrie MP had been influenced by a Downing Street official to say something he did not believe to be true. We have apologised to Mr Tyrie for these reports".

Mr Tyrie gave this response within the past hour:

"I am extremely grateful to the 大象传媒, and for doing this without needing to make a formal complaint. They have accepted that they made a mistake - we all make them - and apologised. As far as I'm concerned that is an end of the matter".

Before the Conservative conference Mr Tyrie had criticised the government's long-term economic growth strategy as being, in parts, "incoherent and inconsistent".

After the chancellor's conference speech he spoke warmly about it.

Steve Hilton put his arm round Andrew Tyrie's shoulder as they held their conversation

The 大象传媒 aired footage on that day which appeared to show Mr Tyrie being led away for a private chat by Steve Hilton - one of the prime minister's closest advisers. He was then asked by the 大象传媒's James Landale whether he had been "nobbled" and responded 鈥淚 think you know me well enough, James, to know the unlikelihood of that.鈥

Some of our reporting suggested that this encounter was evidence that he had changed his view as the result of pressure from Downing Street.

After Andrew Tyrie contacted us some days later, however, it became clear that he had indicated to the 大象传媒 before meeting Steve Hilton - and having heard the chancellor's speech - that he welcomed George Osborne's policy announcements.

He said the chancellor had responded positively to his critique and moved substantially in his direction on several issues such as re-examining the employment tribunal system and re-assessing the government's unilateral targets for reducing carbon emissions. And it was Mr Tyrie and not Mr Hilton who had initiated the conversation which had been caught on camera.

The 大象传媒 regrets that the footage was not shown in its proper context which happened as a result of it being broadcast and commented upon swiftly and before some extra editorial checks could be made.

The most widely viewed reports of the incident on the 大象传媒's News at Six and Ten did not assert that Mr Tyrie had changed his views under pressure - they asked whether Mr Tyrie had changed his mind about the government's economic policy because of the chancellor's speech or because of his meeting with a senior Number 10 official.

Nevertheless we regret that mistakes took place and that the footage was not shown across the 大象传媒 in its proper context. There was never any intention to deceive our audience but we now accept that the impression created by the coverage taken as a whole was misleading. As a result we have decided to take the unusual step of apologising on air. We are glad that Mr Tyrie, for his part, accepts our apology.
Our journalistic reputation is built on trust and on this occasion, we got it wrong and we have apologised for that.

Gavin Allen is editor, 大象传媒 Political News.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Quite right to apologise.

    Hardly any of us believe a word that politicians say.
    When will politicians apologise to us for making it so.

  • Comment number 2.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 3.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 4.

    "he had indicated to the 大象传媒 before meeting Steve Hilton - and having heard the chancellor's speech - that he welcomed George Osborne's policy announcements."

    And where is the evidence that Tyrie had indicated this beforehand? All other self-respecting news organisations that sought to reassure the public of their integrity would provide it. Until the 大象传媒 does so, I can only believe that the 大象传媒 has been leant on by someone in government. Very poor show all round.

  • Comment number 5.

    How can a person become a bloger or editor?

  • Comment number 6.

    Having being taken into a side room for a friendly chat he would say he was now satisfied having heard the chancellors speech ,was that after they had a friendly chat explaining the chancellors the speech.
    That,s what friendly chats are for.

  • Comment number 7.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 8.

    Gavin,

    I am glad that the 大象传媒 has made the apology for mistakes and using less than good standards of reporting.....

    -Dennis-

  • Comment number 9.

    If a picture paints a thousand words then there's no smoke without fire.

  • Comment number 10.

    Dear Gavin Allen, Editor, 大象传媒 Political News,

    what a beautifully measured 大象传媒 apology.
    I thought it really hit the spot,
    and it was suitably responded to in such diplomatic terms by the Tory MP.

    Such 'old world charm'.

    Then I read the rest of your piece (above).
    You really are some piece of work, aren't you.

    Geoff Ward

  • Comment number 11.

    I should like to rescind my comment at #7 & #10, my assessment was in error. A closer reading leads me to believe that the 大象传媒's Editor's response was in order and the apology was honestly given.

  • Comment number 12.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 13.

    'Our reports gave a misleading impression...'

    Control of the edit suite can prove corrupting.

    Here with 'creation', but also when it is via omission.

    And with near 50% of the thread so far removed, that also gives cause for concern as to the trust and value to be placed in online offerings too.

  • Comment number 14.

    When I saw the apology on Newswatch, I thought it was meant ironically.

    I do sometimes wonder to what extent the 大象传媒 has become the mouthpiece of the present government. Since the Tories came to power, anybody who does not share their views has become a laughing stock (and is treated as such by interviewers). Has nobody else noticed this? The only interviewer who asked critical questions of all party members has disappeared (Laura Kuenssberger - sorry about the spelling). Can't she come back?

  • Comment number 15.

    14. At 12:41 6th Nov 2011, IvyFling -
    I do sometimes wonder to what extent the 大象传媒 has become the mouthpiece of the present government.


    Making up totally inaccurate, spin-based stories seems an odd way to meet that description.

    'The 大象传媒 regrets that the footage was not shown in its proper context which happened as a result of it being broadcast and commented upon swiftly and before some extra editorial checks could be made.'

    But well worth a wonder. Maybe worth a few on the state of so-called professional standards at an entity that claims most trusted status in speaking for us all?

  • Comment number 16.

    Vilnius mayor Arturas Zuokas: "Don't Make Me Get The Tank"

  • Comment number 17.

    Good job. I really hope he does accept your apology but sometimes these things happen. The situation has been corrected as far as i see it.

  • Comment number 18.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

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