Here’s the right way to criticise the media
Did you catch Elon Musk’s blockbuster 90-minute interview with the Economist editor Zanny Minton Beddoes?
It starts off with Musk’s predictions about the future of AI, which are interesting and alarming in equal measure. A lot of them sound far-fetched – will we really never need to work again in 10 years’ time? – but those who dismiss Elon’s prognostications do so at their peril.
Before long, though, the discussion descends into heated exchanges about Musk’s support for alt-right European parties, such as Rupert Lowe’s Restore, and his claim that the UK will one day descend into civil war because of Islam.
Under pressure, an exasperated Musk lashes out at Minton Beddoes: “I think a lot more people hate you and the media more than you realise. Do you realise that the media is despised?
“The shoe is on the other foot – they hate you. They hate you far more than they hate me.”
Minton Beddoes does well to keep her cool here – but she misses a golden opportunity to mount a robust defence of journalism and her colleagues. Instead she capitulates, admitting to media “mistakes” and finding ways that “we can at least agree” on this, that and the other.
Musk’s media attacks are vile – but there are of course cases in which criticism is warranted and, crucially, well-executed.
One such came this week from Spoons boss Tim Martin, who responded to a snarky Financial Times story that called Wetherspoon pubs “grotty” and alleged that the firm made more money from fruit machines than food.
“You don’t need to be J.K. Galbraith, Milton Friedman, or even Rachel Reeves, to regard this as voodoo economics,” Martin said, before carefully dissecting the piece’s claims.
Referring to other occasions where he took issue with FT commentary, Martin concluded: “At the risk of immodesty, I’m pleased to say that this fruit machine debate makes it three-nil to Timbo.”
Suffice to say, I won’t be buying a Tesla anytime soon, but I know where to get my next pint.