You are currently browsing the monthly archive for February 2008.

Gone to find some sunshine – back in a week or so.

This is much more like it from David Cox: (Bitching about Guardian Unlimited to date, here, here, here, here and here.)

What may appear disproportionate outrage about a minor act of nepotism perhaps reflects something deeper. It’s a feeling that those who occupy the public pulpit don’t altogether deserve the airs they give themselves. Any such feeling wouldn’t be without foundation.

Since the dawn of the mass media, its practitioners have enjoyed a peculiar degree of immunity from the complaints of those they address. Understandably, they’ve taken advantage of this, growing lazy, sloppy, self-satisfied, self-indulgent, nepotistic and arrogant. Readers have sensed this, but until recently have been powerless to do anything about it. Now, the internet has given them a voice.

Just how they use this voice is not something that media managers will be able to dictate. The people are under no obligation to be mannerly. They may be unruly and often are, but they’re also often right. Certainly, they’ve already shown themselves well up to finding the flaws in illustrious journalists’ output. And, right or wrong, they aren’t going to shut up now.

Politicians have long grown used to facing the wrath of the rabble. It was the vote that brought them to heel. Now, it seems, the web may subject journalists to similar treatment. We shouldn’t be surprised that they don’t like it. Priesthoods prefer quiescent congregations.

That actually makes the Max Gogarty affair feel like the start of something.  Up the revolution.

Okay – so I get angry at The Guardian.  I get irritated at it because, for the want of anything better,  it’s my paper of choice.  There are others you expect only (and this is in no way too strong a word) EVIL from.

Despite this lowly opinion of them, they occasionally still manage to behave in a manner so low that it very nearly takes you by surprise.

See below, with thanks from Liberal Conspiracy and The Enemies of Reason for the info and links.

Diana Appleyard – I hope your parents are very proud.

PUBLICATION: Daily Mail (Request for personal case study)
JOURNALIST: Diana Appleyard (staff)
DEADLINE: 14-February-2008 16:00
QUERY: I am urgently looking for anonymous horror stories of people who have employed Eastern European staff, only for them to steal from them, disappear, or have lied about their resident status. We can pay you £100 for taking part, and I promise it will be anonymous, just a quick phone call. Could you email me asap? Many thanks, Diana
HOW TO REPLY:
Email:
mailto:dianaappleyard@aol.com

Liberal Conspiracy tells us that her website says she is a contributor to Women’s Hour and a member of the NUJ.  Will they have a problem with this?

I believe the LabourHome was the first to publish this.  Well done to the whistle blower.  No doubt they were pretty close to the journalist in order to receive the mail. 

Congratulations to them for doing the right thing and forwarding it to someone who could bring wider attention to this horrific behaviour.

More evidence, following the Max Gogarty blog,  of the Guardian’s absolute disdain for its readers. 

The message below was sent out as part of its football-based, Friday Fiver Email and was written by Barney Ronay and Barry Glendenning (yes it took two of them to write that snappy intro).

“Possibly after witnessing the cyber-monstering dished out to young Max Gogarty, 19, for the heinous crime of going travelling and agreeing to write about it for a travel website in exchange for bead and beer money, the Premier League has categorically dismissed reports that it will sue Fifa if it tries to stop its foolish plans to play Premier League matches abroad in exchange for TV and merchandising money.

“After all, who in their right mind would hop on a plane and if they knew it would send guardian.co.uk’s more malevolent and sanctimonious readers into a simmering self-righteous fury over … not much really when you think about it? Yep, us too.”