Hurd calls on PR to redress bias in media coverage

Former Foreign secretary Lord Hurd this week attacked the media for

putting business and political leaders in the dock, and called on PR

people to redress the balance.

His remarks came at a dinner in London for the 70th birthday of Hill and

Knowlton.

’As soon as you make a mistake anything you have ever done for good in

your life is forgotten, and the searchlight fastens only on your

failure,’ said Hurd. ’Whether it can be buttressed by PR, I don’t know.

I only hope so.

’The answer must lie in informed public opinion - a public which knows

something about the issues before the crisis occurs.’

H&K UK chairman Antony Snow echoed Hurd’s sentiments. ’The public

interest is being hijacked by those with the least public

accountability,’ he said.

’If the public has the will to decide, then it must have the opportunity

to listen. Listening means hearing all sides.’

The dinner was attended by senior politicians, business leaders and

journalists including former cabinet ministers Michael Heseltine and

Virginia Bottomley; Associated Newspapers chairman Sir David English;

Boots CEO Lord Blyth; Mail on Sunday editor Jonathan Holborow; Schroders

chairman Wynne Bischoff; FT commentator Sir Samuel Brittan; WPP CEO

Martin Sorrell; H&K president Howard Paster; and Sir Bernard Ingham.