Expect journalists to refine their questioning techniques quickly in the age of the virtual press conference

At the moment reporters must decide whether to try to cover the whole range of issues, or hammer away at one single topic, writes Andrew Woodcock

The health secretary, Matt Hancock, at the latest government press conference (PA)

Social distancing stemming from the coronavirus crisis has created the bizarre spectacle, new to British journalism, of the virtual press conference.

And it’s a development that has led to a certain amount of dismay and concern among members of Westminster’s lobby, currently dispersed to spare rooms around London and the home counties rather than hunting as a pack in SW1.

In what has now become a familiar routine, ministers and senior health officials appear at 5pm every evening, carefully maintaining at least two metres’ distance from one another as they deliver the latest dose of bad news to the watching nation from an empty room in 10 Downing Street.

And then they invite questions from members of the press, who appear as disembodied heads on a TV monitor, the broadcast journalists as immaculate as ever in their studios, the print journalists in varying degrees of dishevelment peering into laptops perched on dinner tables.

So far, there have been six questions a night – three each for broadcast and print – with the selected reporters called in turn by name.

Reporters are told in advance that they will get a question that evening, which gives them time to perfect and rehearse their lines – sometimes in collaboration with editors and specialists, sometimes sneaking in a little plug for their publication’s worthy campaign or pet subject.

Everyone agrees that the format encourages showboating, as correspondents try to fit in as many questions as they can, knowing that they can’t really be cut short when they’re on the screen.

And everyone agrees that it gives ministers maximum opportunity to dodge questions by waffling at length, taking the opportunity to thank all and sundry for their efforts and hand over to the health professionals whenever the questions get awkward.

The short sharp question that requires a precise response, often the best way of winkling information out of a politician, is difficult to deploy in a virtual presser when you know you’ll have no chance of a comeback and you might not be invited to pose another query for a week or two.

Tactically, reporters must decide whether to try to cover the whole range of issues by asking a variety of questions or to hammer away on the same issue in the hope of getting a single nugget of truth out of the minister.

As time goes by and the crisis drags on, expect journalists to refine their strategy and try out different approaches as they attempt to make the format work. But don’t expect ministers to become more frank and forthcoming any time soon.

Yours,

Andrew Woodcock

Political Editor