Jon Sopel, a renowned former BBC correspondent and now a successful podcaster, was recently caught in a traffic jam in the heart of London while conversing over a sporadically unreliable mobile network. Sopel, accompanied by fellow associates Emily Maitlis and Lewis Goodall, had previously achieved a significant accomplishment by earning a much-coveted gold at the British Podcast Awards. Their daily programme, The News Agents, stood out and was awarded first place in the News & Current Affairs segment.
Sopel, however, chooses not to delve into the award aspect and rather discusses his latest literary undertaking, Strangeland: How Britain Stopped Making Sense. It’s an exploration of his experiences returning to a drastically different UK, following his tenure as a correspondent in Washington, and his reactions to these transformations.
Portions of his book bear notable resemblances to the highly successful contemporary British literature genre that includes works like James O’Briens’ provocative piece, How They Broke Britain – associated with the “isn’t everything rubbish?” perspective. According to Sopel, the UK has made unconventional choices, epitomized by Brexit – a self-destructive action that spearheaded years of political turmoil and wreaked havoc on its foundational institutions.
Sopel, however, doesn’t entirely buy into the notion of “everything being rubbish”. He expresses, albeit with reservation, a feeling of hope and a belief that the UK is not as fragmented as the US. He acknowledges some poor decisions but believes the country can move past it.
Sopel primarily wants to shine a spotlight on the subject of populism – which he describes as a plague that fools people into believing that complex problems have easy fixes, only to disappoint them with the reality of unexpected consequences. He believes this perpetuates feelings of disillusionment, anger, and resentment towards the political elite, resulting in the common cynicism of “everyone’s the same”.
The book highlights Sopel’s return to the UK early in 2022 after an eight-year stint in the US as being somewhat perplexing. Sopel, who was born and raised in Stepney, East London, finds himself unfamiliar with his home country. Despite his deep-rooted love and pride for the UK, he admits it’s either the country or him, or perhaps both, that have undergone fundamental changes, making it seem like a foreign land.
The apex of the chaos was epitomised by Liz Truss’s stint of 49 days in 10 Downing Street, an episode which played out like an ill-fated automobile accident moving at an alarming pace, driven by an unfathomable recklessness.
Her tenure serendipitously coincided with the launch of The News Agents, effectively boosting the initial audience of the young venture. She garners gratitude from the team who view her as their guardian angel.
Appraising the whirlwind of events, Sopel pondered the disappearance of the powerhouses of British politics such as the Blairs, Browns, and Thatchers, even extending this list to Camerons and Osbornes. He then questioned whether this thought possibly hinted at his ageing.
Regardless, the sudden ascend and swift fall of Truss in power is still met with incredulity. As Sopel notes, for the rest of her living days, Truss will be recognised every remembrance Sunday, laying a wreath at the Cenotaph as a former prime minister.
Now in the twilight of his middle age, Sopel, a 40-year BBC oracle reporting from global conflict zones, still clings to optimism and faith in the politcal machinery. However, according to him, life has taught him that societal norms often seen as static can vanish over weeks and even days.
He believes that social media, despite its destructive tendencies, can not be measured by likes or shares for determining political fulcrums or public sentiment. Given their ability to swiftly block certain content such as football match highlights, he questions their inability to weed out misinformation.
Sopel also asserts the duties of conventional media, a term he disapproves of, to impartially scrutinise politicians, rather than indulging in sweeping, negative generalisations.
Sopel, a journalist, can’t buy into the kind of news reporting that simply presents two opposing views and leaves it there, with no clear conclusion or judgement. He feels journalism like this falls flat and fails to really inform people. Just laying out both sides of the argument can sometimes be a form of cowardice, according to him. The recent conflict in Ukraine, for instance, doesn’t work well with this ‘on one hand, on the other hand’ approach.
His perspective was ultimately reshaped by the events he witnessed on January 6th, 2021 in Washington DC, when supporters of ex- president Donald Trump constructed a gallows intended for Vice-president Mike Pence. The shock of that day fuelled his fears about the repetition of similar happenings elsewhere. He dwells on how this ever-growing wave of populism can be countered, and how journalism needs to adapt.
He’s concerned about how to reach out to an audience that’s steadily leaning towards news that echoes their existing beliefs rather than news providing insight on global happenings.
He points out a case in point – President Trump’s false claim about the size of his inauguration crowds, insisting they were the largest ever in American history while visible evidence told a different story. To Sopel, this was a clear demonstration of his duty as a journalist – to challenge and debunk untruths.
Clarifying his stand, Sopel maintains that his actions aren’t in opposition to Trump per se. He’s critical of the polarised direction of American television that seeks monetary benefit, either by cultivating pro-Trump or anti-Trump sentiment. His aim is instead to keep people in power accountable, rather than turning this into a business strategy. Sopel is hopeful that his programme, The News Agents, is managing to reach a demographic previously overlooked by other broadcasters.
Podcasts are attracting a unique group of listeners, separate from the traditional audiences of BBC or RTÉ. This shift in content consumption highlights the division of younger and older audiences, with the former not as inclined towards linear TV news, at least in the UK, according to him.
In spite of the overarching gloom, Sopel perceives sparks of optimism. He believes that America is transitioning back to more mature politics under Biden, unlike the hollow promises made during Trump’s tenure.
In the UK also, he finds shoots of hope, although the initial leadership period of Keir Starmer has been tainted with recurring issues relating to donations and internal power struggles.
Sopel criticised the handling of the controversy over donations saying “it was just utterly idiotic. I’ve never had anyone purchase my eyewear or my attire or any such thing. Although it was recorded, it was sheer folly for him to put himself in that predicament”.
Regardless of the donations controversy, Starmer’s attempt to introduce a new style of politics after 14 years of the Conservatives in power was capital. This endeavour offered no easy routes.
According to Sopel, Starmer emphasises the intricate nature of policy-making and refuses to provide oversimplified solutions, telling the UK public that worthwhile changes will take time. However, Sopel doubts whether the public will have the patience to endure this transition. He also raises questions about Starmer’s ability to effectively communicate his vision and strategy to the public.
Nevertheless, he acknowledges this shift as a return to more responsible and mature politics.