Soundbites and Spin Doctors

The relationship between British politicians and the news media is ambivalent. Politicians are quick to complain about media distortion and intrusion, and as quick to offer themselves to the media when it is in their interest to do so. Lubricating this relationship are the press secretaries and the lobby, the image consultants and the spin doctors. In this work Nicolas Jones, BBC correspondent for over 20 years, draws on examples from David Mellor and Tim Yeo to Michael Portillo and Tony Blair. He analyzes how politicians use the media, and vice versa; and examines what motivates each side, and which has the most to gain or lose?