How effective are the daily COVID-19 Press Conferences?

[Jamiescott1]

They also seem like they want to fill up the broadcast time and justify having them so constantly announce new initiatives at them,such as masks on public transport and in hospitals

 

[LAX54]

Best thing about the daily conference is what Darren Dutton on Twitter does with them https://twitter.com/Darren_Dutton/status/1272676025474994176?s=09

(not sure if twitter links are allowed ? )

 

[C J Snarzell]

I do think the 5pm briefings should be scaled back now. Maybe reduce them to maybe three a week on Monday-Wednesday-Friday.

Much of the questions & answers are the same old topics and when you watch a briefing now it does feel like Groundhog Day.

As another forum member has stated, some questions put to the panel are not really relevant to Covid19 and the UK situation - the Hong Kong/HSBC scenario was a prime example.

The briefings still serve their purpose though in a lot of ways. I feel that even when we have seen the back of this dreadful virus, they should still consider holding one briefing a week into 2021, so we can be brought up to date with updates about our economy which is going to be in the worst state for 100 years.

CJ

 

[underbank]

Much of the questions & answers are the same old topics and when you watch a briefing now it does feel like Groundhog Day.

And often completely unrelated to what has just been announced. The last I watched was a couple of weeks ago when a relaxation of lockdown (shops I think) was announced, which was pretty important, immediately followed by Laura Kuensberg asking an irrelevant question (can't remember what it was), but it was nothing at all to do with what had been announced in the briefing. It was as if she hadn't bothered listening (or had, but didn't have a clue what kind of relevant question to ask). I think the press should at least be able to think on their feet and ask relevant questions, especially someone as senior as Kuensberg - but the ITV's Peston does the same.

 

[scotrail158713]

Best thing about the daily conference is what Darren Dutton on Twitter does with them https://twitter.com/Darren_Dutton/status/1272676025474994176?s=09

(not sure if twitter links are allowed ? )

Janey Godley has done some funny voiceovers with Nicola Sturgeon’s conferences as well
(I can’t find a link just now but when I do I’ll post it)

 

[Jamiescott1]

Now a question about free school meals over summer holidays. Very loosely tied to covid-19.

 

[O8yityityit]

And often completely unrelated to what has just been announced. The last I watched was a couple of weeks ago when a relaxation of lockdown (shops I think) was announced, which was pretty important, immediately followed by Laura Kuensberg asking an irrelevant question (can't remember what it was), but it was nothing at all to do with what had been announced in the briefing. It was as if she hadn't bothered listening (or had, but didn't have a clue what kind of relevant question to ask). I think the press should at least be able to think on their feet and ask relevant questions, especially someone as senior as Kuensberg - but the ITV's Peston does the same.

That's what happens when celebrity journalists roll into the big top.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I do think the 5pm briefings should be scaled back now. Maybe reduce them to maybe three a week on Monday-Wednesday-Friday.

Much of the questions & answers are the same old topics and when you watch a briefing now it does feel like Groundhog Day.

As another forum member has stated, some questions put to the panel are not really relevant to Covid19 and the UK situation - the Hong Kong/HSBC scenario was a prime example.

The briefings still serve their purpose though in a lot of ways. I feel that even when we have seen the back of this dreadful virus, they should still consider holding one briefing a week into 2021, so we can be brought up to date with updates about our economy which is going to be in the worst state for 100 years.

CJ

I suggested that too but Monday is almost pointless as it's Sunday death toll which has reached an all-time low now. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday would make more sense, even if Johnson/Raab/Shapps are on their own for Saturday's briefing.

 

[Andyh82]

And often completely unrelated to what has just been announced. The last I watched was a couple of weeks ago when a relaxation of lockdown (shops I think) was announced, which was pretty important, immediately followed by Laura Kuensberg asking an irrelevant question (can't remember what it was), but it was nothing at all to do with what had been announced in the briefing. It was as if she hadn't bothered listening (or had, but didn't have a clue what kind of relevant question to ask). I think the press should at least be able to think on their feet and ask relevant questions, especially someone as senior as Kuensberg - but the ITV's Peston does the same.

It’s clear now when you watch the later news bulletins, that the question the political editors ask, is the one that fits in within their report that they are already putting together. They want the sound bite for that report, so will ask it regardless of what has actually been announced in the briefing.

It’s been annoying for a while when you get one of the specialist minsters on like Shapps, and then all the questions are about something that isn’t in his remit. And even worse than that, like others have said, increasingly the questions aren’t even about Covid-19.

 

[O8yityityit]

It’s clear now when you watch the later news bulletins, that the question the political editors ask, is the one that fits in within their report that they are already putting together. They want the sound bite for that report, so will ask it regardless of what has actually been announced in the briefing.

It’s been annoying for a while when you get one of the specialist minsters on like Shapps, and then all the questions are about something that isn’t in his remit. And even worse than that, like others have said, increasingly the questions aren’t even about Covid-19.

Glad it's not just me seeing those antics for what they are.
God help them if they had to think on their feet.

 

[C J Snarzell]

To be fair to the cabinet, if they scale the briefings back to maybe two a week and just have BJ take the podium - he is our leader and the one who ultimately everyone wants to hear from.

As another forum member has stated about other MPs holding the press conference - people like Matt Hancock & Dominic Raab are sometimes being asked to answer questions which are not in their field of responsibility.

It's a bit like asking a firefighter about crime prevention - they are all emergency service staff but they can't be expected to know about everything the other worker's profession entails.

CJ

 

[BJames]

Update: Daily Press Conference scrapped.

Current Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/l...-updates-pubs-restaurants-cinemas-and-museums (See 14:10)

 

[MikeWM]

Good. Another step back to 'normal'.

 

[scotrail158713]

Update: Daily Press Conference scrapped.

Current Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/l...-updates-pubs-restaurants-cinemas-and-museums (See 14:10)

Good. Daily was too frequent anyway.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Good. Daily was too frequent anyway.

I'd still like to have kept one or two a week, though, perhaps one presenting and explaining the massively more detailed information that is sent out on Thursdays each week.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

I'd still like to have kept one or two a week, though, perhaps one presenting and explaining the massively more detailed information that is sent out on Thursdays each week.

Preferably not with a politician, but with a medical officer and/or a scientific advisor.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Preferably not with a politician, but with a medical officer and/or a scientific advisor.

Matt Hancock and Chris Whitty, I'd go with, possibly also his deputy who seems very competent (I forget her name).

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Matt Hancock and Chris Whitty, I'd go with, possibly also his deputy who seems very competent (I forget her name).

Jenny Harries? I agree, she's very competent, transparent and always gives very thorough answers.

 

[scotrail158713]

I'd still like to have kept one or two a week, though, perhaps one presenting and explaining the massively more detailed information that is sent out on Thursdays each week.

They’ll still go ahead when there’s a big announcement. That’s the way I think it should’ve been for a few weeks now - most days they really have just been going through the motions. (Not surprising though - most days it’s just been the number of tests and deaths)

 

[Scrotnig]

Jenny Harries? I agree, she's very competent, transparent and always gives very thorough answers.

I'd rather have Jenny Harries than Chris Whitty actually. Harries seems to have some notion of balancing medical needs with the need for life to carry on, whereas Whitty seems to focus purely on the science and would have us under house arrest for life if he could. At least that's how he comes across anyhow. "Social distancing is here to stay"...no it really isn't. The moment it's safe to get rid of it, (which isn't just yet), we will get rid of it. Either the government will, or the public will get rid of it for them. Their choice!

 

[Scrotnig]

Preferably not with a politician, but with a medical officer and/or a scientific advisor.

Then all you'd get is "stay at home, stay at home, stay at home" coming back again.

 

[BJames]

I agree actually, one press conference a week probably would have been quite a good idea. In that post it did say that they will still hold conferences for "important announcements" - probably will only be Johnson or Hancock taking them in the future then if they are ever held again.

And yes, it's one step back towards normality - the daily slides will still be published online every day, and they're increasingly running out of things to say at the conferences.

 

[scotrail158713]

they're increasingly running out of things to say at the conferences

That’s the part that persuaded me they should be gone. And then you had the journalists increasingly asking non-covid questions.

 

[Mojo]

They’ll still go ahead when there’s a big announcement. That’s the way I think it should’ve been for a few weeks now - most days they really have just been going through the motions. (Not surprising though - most days it’s just been the number of tests and deaths)

Although recently, including today, it seems as if the big announcements have been announced before the press conferences in any case.

 

[AlistairCowell]

I did research on the UK press conferences at the weekend to see who was at the briefings.
We have had 92 daily press conferences - this afternoon will be the 93rd - and also the last daily conference.

Hancock leaded the press conferences the most - at 24, while the Prime Minister did 17.
A total of 12 politicians have leaded the daily press conferences.

 

[MikeWM]

Although recently, including today, it seems as if the big announcements have been announced before the press conferences in any case.

Any big announcement should be given to Parliament first, not a press conference, so for once they've got that right. It's rarely the way it works nowadays, but it is the way it is supposed to work.

 

[C J Snarzell]

I do welcome the need for the press conferences to be scaled down but I do think they should still hold them at least a minimum of once a week throughout July and then maybe go once a fortnight in August if further restrictions are lifted.

I watched the final one tonight & Chris Whitty is really straight to the point with his statements and lays it on the line quite clearly that the UK is still a long way off beating this virus.

Chris Whitty and Jenny Harries are needed to keep reinforcing the dangers we still face. I do think that as a nation many many people will start to become complacent & I do feel it is important we maintain these conferences on a reduced basis to at least emphasise the importance that we should main reduced social distancing for the foreseeable future.

CJ

 

[Huntergreed]

I do welcome the need for the press conferences to be scaled down but I do think they should still hold them at least a minimum of once a week throughout July and then maybe go once a fortnight in August if further restrictions are lifted.

I watched the final one tonight & Chris Whitty is really straight to the point with his statements and lays it on the line quite clearly that the UK is still a long way off beating this virus.

Chris Whitty and Jenny Harries are needed to keep reinforcing the dangers we still face. I do think that as a nation many many people will start to become complacent & I do feel it is important we maintain these conferences on a reduced basis to at least emphasise the importance that we should main reduced social distancing for the foreseeable future.

I do still get the impression that Whitty and his medical colleagues aren't fully comfortable with the data anymore, perhaps because they are fully aware that the 'new cases' statistic is starting to flatline, and they feel like we've reached a trough before another peak, however only time will tell.

 

[Yew]

Indeed, some pretty macabre doom-mongering from Prof Whitty!

 

[MikeWM]

Indeed, some pretty macabre doom-mongering from Prof Whitty!

Probably knew it was the last time people would see him - if things did turn bad, he gets to look like he knew stuff. If not, no-one will remember or care.