Robert Peston in dock over economic crisis

Wednesday 4th February 2009

A committee of MPs will grill financial journalists today on their behaviour during the economic crisis.

The Treasury committee has called Robert Peston from the BBC, Lionel Barber from the Financial Times, Alex Brummer from the Daily Mail, Simon Jenkins from the Guardian and Jeff Randall from Sky and the Telegraph to appear before them this afternoon.

With market volatility at unprecedented levels and the UK slipping deeper and deeper into recession, shareholders, bankers, politicians and journalists themselves have been asking questions about the role of the media during the crisis.

A leak to Mr Peston about the imminent collapse of Northern Rock, for instance, led to massive queues outside the bank which eventually forced the government to guarantee people's savings.

MPs are likely to ask whether there should be restrictions on financial journalists' reporting during periods of market turbulence, or whether they should exercise more restraint.

There are also likely to be questions about whether journalists have sufficient expertise in financial issues, an issue particularly relevant as financial issues move from the inside pages to the front. ADNFCR-1783-ID-19006700-ADNFCR

Related News

RBS boss retires early - 03/02/09
The chairman of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is to step down today

FTSE 100 snowed in - 03/02/09
The FTSE 100 remained frozen against a snowy City backdrop this morning – rising just 0

Mediators called in to resolve refinery strikes - 31/01/09
Mediation service ACAS has been called in to help negotiate an end to the strikes at oil refineries across the UK

FTSE 100 down at end of rocky week - 30/01/09
The FTSE 100 closed down 0

FTSE 100 up after rocky week - 30/01/09
After an initial drop the FTSE 100 was up in morning trading, following yesterday's losses

<< Back To News Listings

News Article Search

Quick Apply