The Poppy Thread

Inspired in equal measure by the discussion in the BBC News thread, one of the Daily Mail's more ridiculous anti-Beeb stories, Jon Snow's explanation of why he won't wear a poppy on Channel Four News, and Sarah Smith's rebuttal giving her reasons for wearing a poppy on More4 News, I give you The Poppy Thread.

So what do the good people of TV Forum think? Should newsreaders, and presenters in general, don poppies? I know there'll be those who say this isn't truly a TV Pres question, but it's certainly a question of the way TV presents itself...

My twopennyworth says that it should be up to the individual presenter. Enforcing a rule that all presenters should wear one is as meaningless as them all not wearing one. I'm certainly not a fan of Sarah Smith's argument that their ubiquity means that not wearing one is more a statement than pinning one on - surely that defeats the object?

They both missed the point I feel. Wearing a poppy is a mark of respect, not making a political statement or just supporting a charity. Wearing a poppy is more than supporting military charities; it is unlike other charity lapels in that sense.

If it wasn't for people who fought in wars (especially WWII), they wouldn't have the freedom to be bloody-minded and not wear a poppy. I just feel it is disrespectful for a PSB newsreader not to where one Where does Jon Snow get off? I recall one time that he said newsreaders should be more subjective

Afterall, it's only for the first couple of weeks in November. Why is Mr Snow being so awkward about it-- seems from his blog he's doing it for the sake of it.

Anyway, rant over

That mail article really is preposterous.

That was the point? He did turn an honour down as well, for the sake of it I guess....

I don't think not wearing a poppy equates to not supporting the cause, it's almost as if it's the 'thing' to do on TV at this time of year, regardless of the thought put into it. At least the guy has thought about it quite a bit, I doubt everyone wearing one on-screen has

Sky News was having the red/white poppy debate, and one of the presenters was asking something along the lines of whether wearing a poppy is now for some people simply a matter of being politically correct and not the cause they were intended for.

I think the wearing of a poppy should always be a matter of personal choice. I believe Studio Managers provide them as a matter of course for inteviewees at this time of year (in case they "forgot/misplaced" theirs), but I wouldn't think badly of someone I saw on TV not wearing one.

Some people can see the commemoration of those who died in war as a subconscious endorsement of the policy of war.

Whilst I object to war, I don't have a problem with wearing a poppy, but I respect the choice of those who don't.

I would dread the day when someone was publically criticised for their legitimate viewpoint and deciding not to wear a poppy. It goes against the whole point of all those wars

Is the poppy an endorsement of war though? The poppy is a mark of respect to those who have died in war, who made the sacrifice-- no more than a gravestone of a soldier is an endorsement of war. It is commemorative thing.

Of course it is up to the individual, but I feel it is disrespectful for public figures like John Snow not wear the poppy-- all so that he can feel like a trendy rebel. It's his choice of course, but not wearing one reflects badly on him in my eyes.

If it weren't for people that the poppy commemorates, we probably wouldn't be having this debate or even be able to have this debate. And free-speech broadcasting probably wouldn't either Mr Snow.

My main point is that poppies aren't a political statement, they are a respectful memorial.

I hear you Roger, but surely the freedom of speech argument works in the other direction, too - we should be able to choose not to wear a poppy without fear of criticism. Should we not, each and every one of us, be allowed to thank our fore-fathers and remember them in our own way? And isn't that much more meaningful?

That's the argument of Sean Thomas. And Channel 4 News fans may be interested to see that Lindsay Taylor has added his thoughts as to why he won't be wearing a poppy, either. And it has nothing to do with being a trendy rebel:

I shall clarify my position: I said that is John Snow's (or anyone else's) option whether he wears a poppy or not-- it people's choice.

My saying that a PSB broadcaster not wearing a poppy is disrepectful-- that is just my opinion . I feel that he is just being bloody-minded. In my view, he's there to read the news not to use Channel 4 News as petty crusuade. After all sticking a poppy on for a couple weeks isn't a great effort. Again, my opinions.

I do emphasise it's choice whether Mr Snow (or whoever) wants to wear a poppy or not, and I have no problem with that choice. We fought wars for the right to have choices and like that.

The people we commemorate also fought wars so that we can all have opinions, even my opinions

I would argue any symbolic poppy would be superfluous to the task then? I don't subscribe to the view that lack of a poppy is more of a statement than with. If anything I'm probably biased in the opposite way for this situation - I'd rather see impartiality upheld on certain programmes rather than allow (albeit worthy) causes to be 'endorsed'. I'd much prefer someone who has thought about the issue carefully and decided to support it in private than someone that was simply handed one as they walked in and told to wear it.

You could argue that, but it is covention in this country for the first couple of weeks in Nov for newsreaders and live TV presenters to wear them. To be honest, John Snow is the only newsreader/live TV presenter I've seen who isn't wearing one.

It is like the professional convention for newsreaders in studios to wear suit-and-tie. I imagine there would be an uproar if John Snow came on the news wearing a clown's suit or catsuit to read the news! A bit of a hyperbolic argument, but hopefully you get the point. I just don't think it's professional for him not wear a poppy at this time of year. Sad I know, but just my opinion; but plenty of people agree, otherwise this subject wouldn't have arisen.

I'm genuinely curious-- what is there to think about with regards to wearing a poppy at this time year? It is not "supporting" anything, in terms of a political ideology. It is there to commemorate the war dead, who fought for the freedom that John Snow can exercise.

Whether he wears one or not is up to him. I just think it would be considerate, professional and respectful for him to wear one while he is on -air, as he is a PSB newsreader-- just as he dresses smartly on air. Of course, whether he wears a poppy off-air is entirely his business, just as is his choice of clothing off-air.

This is just blatant self promotion on the part of John Snow and I fear has nothing to do with his actual feeling on the matter.

If he really is the professional he says he is and believes “in [not] wearing anything which represents any kind of statement”, then why has he commented on this matter at all. It has only made an issue out of something that would have otherwise gone mainly un-noticed.

Had he silently chosen not to wear a poppy on air, then I would suggest we probably wouldn’t even be having this debate.