Shortcomings of the Today show

As a former professional broadcaster who has plied his trade in both radio and television in places diverse as East Africa, the Far East and here in Britain, I have experienced first-hand an African coup d’etat, Northern Ireland in the troubled seventies, and the IRA Birmingham bombings in 1974.

I must proclaim my despair at the quality of reporting on programmes such as Radio 4’s Today.

In a week when we have been reminded of the quality of Richard Dimbleby’s reporting as he entered Belsen, we have to endure the undignified ranting of presenters on the Today programme as they scramble to fill the shoes of recently retired John Humphrys.

They clearly think creating a story, and building their own image, is more important than reporting the facts.