Stephanie Flanders Interviews Jackson Live on TV
It has only been a week since I read this fascinating article in the Observer about how the BBC economics editor, Stephanie Flanders, juggles her career and motherhood it was delightful to see her in action on the Andrew Marr show yesterday where as she hoped to make some headlines for today’s newspapers.
I’d prefer to use the word manage rather than juggle as that suggest there is an anticipation of losing control of the balls in the air.
Stephanie, reported as being
the headmistress’s choice: the clever, serious one who can be relied upon not to get all over-excited and start predicting the end of the world, or the death of global capitalism
had read up on everything from the UK-US extradition treaty to Maureen Lipman’s stage career she had four wide-ranging interviews to prepare for, it was with some dismay that her challenge would be General Sir Mike Jackson’s mobile phone.
Stephanie Flanders commented on her splendid blog – Stephanomics at the BBC that it is “somewhat disconcerting that the former head of the British army doesn’t know how to switch off his phone”.
Full credit to the Sir Mike who when realised he couldn’t turn the damned thing off flung it accross the studio – a superb piece of military strategy and essential viewing but the winner has to be Stephanie, who calmly and politely thanked the general for joining her and for despatching his mobile phone…eventually.
As someone said we tried our best, you know the rest!
Stephanie Flanders tried her best and you have already known the rest
Yeah, quite an amusing scene but nice to see a Flanders keep cool and her show professionalism. I think that on the whole, most tv journalists do have a sense of calm and composure, eg John Snow
Stephanie Flanders, whilst interviewing the former head of the Army, realised he didn’t know how to switch off his mobile telephone – but professionally refrained from calling him a muppet.
Stephanie is correct in saying that it is disconcerting. But what Sir Mike did was quite funny, too.
that was too funny, awkward but funny! you could see frustration and embarrassment written all over sir jackson’s face as he struggled to turn of his mobile – that was priceless…
i could have sworn flanders was gritting her teeth while the mobile was at it, but still, kudos to her for keeping her cool!