Is it me or is it Saffron?

I have recently watched some interesting clips on the BBC news website about some of the reporting done in the lead up to and during the “credit crunch”. One particular clip was centred on Robert Peston the BBC’s Business Editor discussing with MP’s earlier this month, his reporting of the Northern Rock difficulties in 2007, that some have said lead to the collapse of the Bank.

For once I found myself actually siding with the journalist, as to be fair Robert did not suggest that Northern Rock customers queue up and withdraw their cash, he simply reported the fact that the Bank had had to seek emergency assistance from the Bank of England. The rumour machine and our own fear did the rest.

We are in danger of becoming a nation where no one will be prepared to express a view or say what they know for fear of recrimination. It is true there have been some high profile cases of celebrities saying or doing things that they probably wish they hadn’t. Jonathan Ross and Jeremy Clarkson spring to mind, to which I should add that I disagree with what they did/said. However I increasingly see examples of people checking themselves or holding back, in case they say something inappropriate.

Indeed at my own board meeting earlier today we had a debate about whether we should put a disclaimer on this blog, stating that the views and opinions are my own and not necessarily those of Saffron Building Society. We decided against it, in favour of good old fashioned common sense.

I do not think the media should be gagged, in fact I don’t think anyone should, we have a right after all to freedom of speech. However I do think they have a duty to show both sides of the coin, not just the bad news that invariably grabs the most attention or is the most sensationalist story.

If that is something that comes from the review of the media’s reporting of the economic problems, then great, we should be brave enough to take the rough with the smooth, but please a bit of smooth occasionally would be great….