A piece in the Press Gazette caught my eye today.
It was reporting on a study by US based Pew Centre on attitudes towards the media in Western Europe.
The full report can be accessed here.
According to the study, which was based on 16, 000 respondents, less than half of UK adults say the news media is doing a good job at getting facts spot on.
That’s basic stuff for any journalist and any reputable media organisation.
The UK findings in the rpeort were the worst rate for trustworthiness in western Europe.
This led me to think that there is a PhD thesis awaiting for any journalism grad student who wishes to replicate this study in Fair Caledonia apropos coverage of the national game.
Perhaps, the study would look at a before and after of the famous world exclusive in the Daily Record about the billionaire Craig Whyte.
Sadly, that gushing pish in November 2010 has become industry standard for anything that makes The People feel good about the future.
My coverage of that period can be accessed here at the blog archive.
I am happy to stand over my record on reporting these matters.
Of course, others may not be so content with their journalistic role in the Ibrox sitcom.
Indeed, these award-winning types may harbour a secret hope that the newspaper buying public forget that such stories were ever published.
However, if I had written such weapons-grade pish about Craig Whyte then I would be so embarrassed that I would not be detectable by radar.
It is my settled view that the denizens of Fair Caledonia should be better served by the Fitba Fourth Estate.
As I have written here many times, there should not be a need for this site.
Sadly, I think as the Gerrard caravan rolls into town this summer it will be more needed than ever.
They intimidate threaten anyone who reports anything that resembles the truth. Why is there never any reports on Dave Kings victims in South Africa…
Phil, how about some public support for a brave Ms Haggarty and the vile treatment at the hands of the cybernats?
Already done
I think your last paragraph sums it up Phil. And You’re right, it really IS sad.
Some of the sport hacks are not journalists in my opinion. They are just reporters of guff. If they were journalists then surely they would be asking why a man who has never managed a football team, and who knows little or nothing about the Scottish game, will win the league next season. Makes no sense to me. I would doubt very much that Mr Rodgers is losing any sleep over his appointment. Also to manage a team that is attempting to win back to back trebles, he deserves much better press than is currently on offer. Keep doing what you do Phil it is greatly appreciated.
The media on the whole never let facts get in the way of a good salacious copy selling story . Furthermore , the most apparent FACTs are the obvious agendas which most media outlets serve to further with reporting so propaganda laden poor old Lord Haw Haw himself would cringe.
From the vast over representation of all things Zionist / Unionist /Militaristic to the pathetic Englander jingoism and Sevco wet dream , 95 % of the media is little more than a dumbed down lite entertainment version all of the aboves warped slants .
Be careful reading anything these days ….best go back again and read between the lines …
For me, it was Blair and Campbell who killed any faith I had in the MSM – including the BBC.
Now the internet routinely confirms that the MSM is – and probably always has been – full of fake news.
And perhaps more importantly, we are more aware now of the major stories that the MSM has deliberately chosen not to cover.
Much more than sporting fodder is fed to the people of Scotland. Seems journalists are now answerable to the people for what they write. That is how it should be.
I have no problem with opinion pieces, but I do have a problem with pushing out generalised rubbish compiled at some agency or other. Your work is pretty good and perhaps others should take up that challenge.
Is it any wonder falling newspaper sales result from lazy or even biased reporting? Probably not.
Disagree… opinion should be based on fact.. interpretation of the facts is allowable, yes, but that should be based on logic not prejudice and facts should not be hidden which night contradict the opinion. How often do we actually get that?
Hard to believe it’s been eight years since Craig Whyte was a billionaire …
That made me chuckle. It’s right up there with the Groucho Marx line, “She forgets I knew her before she was a virgin!”
‘Not even nostalgia is as good as it used to be’
‘Outside of a dog,a book is a mans best friend,
Inside of a dog,it’s too dark to read’
Noo there was a man I’d pay to listen to speaking after dinner.
The Late Great Groucho Marx.
COMEDY SUPERMAN WAE A SWAGGER N A TASH,WHAT A GUY.???☮️
Sadly, and as you have noted consistently over the years it is peoples preference to be told comforting lies rather than harsh truths. This is the market the Record now operates in order to stay afloat and as long as emotion has priority over logic for its readership the paper serves a purpose. It just shouldn’t be allowed to be described its purpose as providing news.