Conquest of the Useless

In Praise of Jeremy Bowen

Jeremy Bowen’s eleven‑minute monologue on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme offered a calm, historically grounded analysis of US‑Iran tensions, contrasting sharply with the sensationalist tone of much contemporary coverage. Drawing on his decades of frontline reporting—from the 1991 Gulf War shelter bombing to the 2000 South Lebanon incident—Bowen highlighted the pattern of Western interventions sowing future conflicts. The piece sparked right‑wing backlash, with outlets like the Daily Telegraph and Spiked accusing him of bias, while supporters praised his commitment to eyewitness journalism and nuanced storytelling. The author of the blog post argues Bowen’s approach exemplifies the high‑quality reporting the BBC should prioritize.