Unleashing Humphrys or Paxo is a democratic service

Abstract

In a special section devoted to the forthcoming general election, the British Journalism Review examines the roles of broadcasting, the press and politicians in the high-profile climax of the democratic process. To begin, Bill Hagerty interviewed three prominent television journalists who will be in the front line of the BBC's election coverage. Andrew Marr, political editor of the BBC, began as a reporter on The Scotsman and eventually edited The Independent before moving into television. Presenter and interviewer Jeremy Paxman worked as a reporter on Tonight and Panorama before joining Newsnight in 1989. Peter Snow, Newsnight's first anchor and a co-presenter for the BBC on election night, covered his first general election, as a reporter for ITN, in 1964.