I WOULDN'T count myself among Julian Cole's greatest admirers, but the criticism he levelled at fellow journalists in his review of the response to the Hutton Report was, for once, spot on (February 5).

A vibrant democracy requires a free, robust, interrogative press which is able to hold those in power to account, a job an impartial broadcast media has, in particular, done admirably in the past.

However, the healthy scepticism which served journalism, the political process and the people of Britain so well for so long has, during the past decade, mutated into an unhealthy cynicism.

This is particularly true of the Today programme and Channel 4 News, where any concept of balance, impartiality and mature debate has been replaced by a jaundiced world view, and a new journalism of arrogance, which sees its main goal as exposing politicians specifically, and those in public life generally, as the two-faced, hypocritical, lying shysters they are. Or, more accurately, as presenters and journalists on the aforementioned programmes believe them to be.

I do not have stars in my eyes about the cut and thrust of politics, or the dubious ideological and personal motives which drive some politicians - few people do.

But all the politicians I have met, be they active locally or nationally regardless of political persuasion, have clearly made themselves part of the democratic process to change society for the better.

I believe that applies to the body politik generally.

One hard fact which cannot be refuted is: Mr Blair is accountable to his constituency party, the parliamentary Labour party, parliament, and, ultimately, the British electorate.

The cynics on the Today programme and Channel 4 News are accountable only to their own news organisations.

Stephen Dalby,

Irwin Avenue,

York.

Updated: 10:18 Wednesday, February 11, 2004