Channel 4 chairman Luke Johnson, giving the keynote speech at the annual lunch held by UK advertisers' body Isba, couldn't help but take a pop at the "cynical and negative" approach that the media - his own organisation included - frequently adopt in reporting stories. Johnson says believes in a "balanced outlook with a dose of optimism". The rise of "digital rivals" is perhaps partly to blame, he said, meaning that traditional media felt pressured into producing stories that are often fuelled by hype. Not to mention the odd feeding-frenzy over questionable news topics.
"Is this a healthy state of affairs?," he asked, rhetorically. Perhaps; perhaps not. But then Johnson should know what he's talking about, having been on the receiving of one of the biggest media feeding frenzies of recent times - last year's Celebrity Big Brother race row. Still feeling bruised, Luke?
