Why has journalism, and Tucker Carlson, become so controversial?

Why I'm interviewing Vladimir Putin. pic.twitter.com/hqvXUZqvHX

— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) February 6, 2024

So it appears that the well-known US journalist Tucker Carlson will interview President Putin.

On the positive side, this is a good thing – many people are expressing interest in seeing the interview. But on the negative side, this is seen as a terrible thing by many Western governments and many US citizens. Politicians have called for Carlson to be refused entry on his return home to the US and there are many internet memes presently Carlson, often very crudely, as a “Putin puppet.”

Since when has journalism become so controversial?

It’s about time for us to be allowed to hear “the other side” on this brutal war. Or even to hear what one of the current important and prominent world leaders thinks. After all, we are continually being told by our journalists and politicians what President Putin “really thinks” and what his reasons for this war are – but views invented by our opinion makers without any recourse to evidence.

The last time Western audiences were treated to an interview of President Putin by a Western reporter was in October 2021 when he talked to CNBC reporter Hadley Gamble. A lot has happened since then. Important things with consequences that affect us all.

We deserve a lot more than the diet of extreme demonisation of President Putin and his country and fellow citizens we have been exposed to.

And why the extreme reaction to the news that Tucker Carlson intends to interview President Putin?

Why did US authorities prohibit an earlier planned interview (back in September 2023) that Carlson attempted to arrange?

Why the extremely negative reaction to what should be seen as normal journalism – and would be treated as normal journalism in a sensible world?

I will probably watch the interview if I get a chance (fortunately Elon Musk is promising not to censor it on Twitter). Having taken the trouble to read some of Putin’s speeches I don’t know if there will be anything new for me in the interview. But for people who have never taken the trouble to search out “the other side” the interview could provoke a lot of interest and many might actually find it shocking.

After all, a diet of demonising and frankly ignorant and crude demonisation of a leader, his country and his fellow citizens, is hardly a preparation for understanding reality.