Snow’s Comments Create a Storm

Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow has sparked fury by praising a US website for breaking the news of Prince Harry’s deployment in Afghanistan.

In an e-mail to subscribers, Snow wrote: “I never thought I’d find myself saying ‘thank God for Drudge’. The infamous US blogger has broken the best-kept editorial secret of recent times.

“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 media bosses again. Or perhaps this was a courageous editorial decision to protect this fine young man?”

His comments sparked a furious response.

Sue Smith wrote: “I have long admired Channel 4 News and Jon Snow for their independently-minded stance. However, the e-mail from Jon is so far beyond the pale I will never watch Channel 4 News again.”

Sharon Murphy wrote: “You have put lives at risk in Afghanistan, one of which is my husband.”

But viewer Ethel wrote: “Well done to Channel 4 News. May you long continue to break controversial bits of information that you would only otherwise get online or by pointing your dish at a more democratic country’s satellite.”

A Channel 4 spokesman said: “The studio guests all broadly held the view that the blackout was the right thing to do and so it was vital that Jon expressed that there was an alternative view.”

(c) 2008 Press and Journal, The Aberdeen (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.