Serious airheadism

In the Independent, an interview with Andrew Marr plugs the Bevins prize. Marr says: "it's time to save serious journalism." He laments

a discernible shift from policy stories towards reports focused on personalities.

In the Times, Camilla Long shows what he's talking about with another bitchy - and probably racist - attack piece on Michelle Obama, whose problem seems to be that she's not an airhead like Cindy McCain and Long herself. It's hard to believe that such a small-minded piece can appear in a national broadsheet - but then it is a Murdoch paper...

Marr the true heir to Frost

I saw Andrew Marr interviewing Alastair Campbell this morning, to help promote Campbell's book. Marr was a true pro and the true heir to David Frost.

Anyone wanting a cosy, non-threatening interview will have no worries about going on Marr's show. They will get an easier time than on Richard and Judy without being quite so blatant.