Private Eye

Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical magazine-newspaper. It is currently edited by Ian Hislop.

Criticism

Overall, criticism of the Eye should perhaps be viewed in the light of a remark made to the editors by Jonathan Miller: "When are you lot going to develop a point of view?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Critics of the magazine in the distant past have suggested that it had an antisemitic tone, perhaps because it refers to the Daily Telegraph newspaper as the Telavivagraph (but also as the Teheranagraph), and frequently lampoons events in the Middle East by writing them up into mock KJV Biblical verse ("And first they visited upon the city of Jen-in in a terrible plague of fire and brimstone, so that many of the Araf-ites and Hamas-ites were slain, even men, women and children"). The fact that the previous owner of the Telegraph, Conrad Black, and his wife and contributor Barbara Amiel, are both vocal supporters of Likud party policies is a possible explanation for the Telavivagraph jibe. The paper faithfully reflected the owner's prejudices, making it ripe for satire.

Related Topics:
Daily Telegraph - Telaviv - Teheran - KJV - Conrad Black - Barbara Amiel

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The magazine has also been claimed to have other racist attitudes which still occasionally surface, such as the 1971 cover showing Emperor Hirohito visiting Britain with the caption "A nasty nip in the air" (subhead: "Piss off, Bandy Knees").http://www.strobes.uklinux.net/256/ Idi Amin also was characterised speaking in Pidgin English. In the 1960s and 1970s the magazine mocked the homosexual political movement as "Poove Power". In recent years, some have accused the "Dumb Britain" section of being based around cultural snobbery and sneering at the working class.

Related Topics:
Hirohito - Idi Amin - Pidgin - Homosexual - Snobbery - Working class

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, (as per the remark by Jonathan Miller) the magazine is something of a moving target, which always maintains a fog of irony making it hard to discern if it is being serious in intent or just joking. This even applies to readers' letters, which might be published because they make a valid point or just so that other readers can be entertained by the naïve notions discussed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The magazine's irreverence and occasional crudity can also offend some. Upon the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, it printed a cover headed "MEDIA TO BLAME". Under this headline was a picture of many hundreds of people outside the gates of Buckingham Palace with one person commenting he couldn't get hold of a newspaper, and another saying, "Borrow mine. It's got a picture of the car."http://www.strobes.uklinux.net/932/

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The issue also featured a mock retraction of everything negative that they had said about Diana. This was enough to cause a flood of complaints, many cancelled subscriptions, and the temporary removal of the magazine from the shelves of many newsagents (including WH Smith – a.k.a. "WH Smugg", which had previously refused to stock the Eye until well into the 1970s).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Following the terrorist attacks on New York on September 11, 2001 the magazine's cover featured an aide briefing George W. Bush on the tragedy. The aide says, "It's Armageddon, sir"; to which the President replies, "Armageddon outta here".http://www.strobes.uklinux.net/1037/

Related Topics:
New York - September 11, 2001 - George W. Bush

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Following the 7 July 2005 London bombings the magazine's cover featured Tony Blair saying to Ken Livingstone "We must track down the evil mastermind behind the bombers...", to which Mr. Livingstone replies ".. and invite him around for tea". A reference to Ken Livingstone's controversial invitation of Yusuf al-Qaradawi to London. http://www.private-eye.co.uk/covers/1137/1137pe.jpg

Related Topics:
7 July 2005 London bombings - Tony Blair - Ken Livingstone - Yusuf al-Qaradawi - London

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It is easily claimed that the magazine is more interested in ridiculing people than being fair and kind – the magazine's editorship might well agree. Equally, the magazine is seen as opposed to those in power for the sake of being opposed – it has never been in the least bit content with politicians' actions.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~