Lord Chris Smith, the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, has spoken out regarding the treatment of the late Professor Jason Arday by various media outlets prior to his death. Professor Arday, a prominent black academic, had been the subject of significant media attention, which Lord Smith described as a 'racist feeding frenzy.'

Lord Smith’s comments suggest a belief that the nature of the reporting was disproportionate and racially motivated, rather than a standard journalistic inquiry. By labeling the coverage in this way, the Chancellor has brought attention to the intersection of academic scrutiny, media ethics, and racial bias. The Independent reports that Lord Smith questioned the motives and the intensity of the coverage, implying that the professor was unfairly targeted.

While the specific details of the media reports in question were not fully elaborated upon in the provided source, the Chancellor’s intervention highlights a growing concern within academic institutions regarding how public figures, particularly those from minority backgrounds, are handled by the press. The situation underscores a tension between the public's right to information and the potential for media narratives to cause harm to individuals. As of now, there has been no formal response from the media organizations involved in the coverage that Lord Smith criticized.