Even Stephen
From Richard Porter Sir: Based on her viewing of just three of Stephen Sackur’s BBC HARDtalk programmes, Miriam Gross has concluded that he is ‘pathologically anti-American’ (Diary, 23 July). Perhaps Miriam feels that Stephen should not have asked the Polish and Romanian foreign ministers whether they regretted their support for the Iraq war? Or maybe he should not have allowed Iraq’s ambassador to London to suggest that the Americans were ill prepared for their post-war role in his country?
HARDtalk has gained a reputation for asking tough questions of those in power all over the world — something which is appreciated by BBC World’s growing global audience, now reaching 59 million each week. One American viewer who watched the programme online in the US wrote recently to tell us, ‘What a breath of fresh air. An interview programme that actually demands real answers to real questions from those whose decisions shape our lives. Kudos to Stephen and to the BBC for having the guts to air the programme and for bringing back some respectability to the media at large.’
Richard Porter
Editorial director, BBC World, London W12
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