The British press is obviously extremely worried about the regulatory body slated to come into being in the wake of the Leveson report into their ethics - or, more to the point, their lack of ethics. On a selection of front pages today, I've seen the proposed new body described as the manifestation of Orwell's 'Ministry of Truth', seen a full page picture of Churchill along with a quotation of his about the importance of a free press, and, in a transparent attempt to scare ordinary people into opposing the policy, suggestions that bloggers will face huge fines from the regulator if they publish anything deemed to be 'libellous'. Of course a free press, in the sense of being free of government decree as to what they can and cannot publish in the 'political' arena, is a vital defence against the possibility of totalitarianism, but the British press seem to want the freedom to publish anything at all, completely as they see fit, regardless of anyone's personal privacy, and irrespective, in many cases, of whether what they publish is true at all. It seems to me to be a classic example of the press oligarchy demanding 'power without responsibility', and throwing their toys out of the pram when there's the slightest suggestion that they shouldn't be allowed to have it.
Love & best wishes to all
Sammy B
The press/media in general, both sides of the pond, seems to have lost all semblance of fairness, objectivity, balance...all in the name of "free speech". Drives me crazy. Nothing like the journalism I practiced in college!
ReplyDeletePeace <3
Jay
Hello Jay
Delete'Freedom of the press', to the likes of reptilian plutocrats like Rupert Murdoch, seems to mean the freedom to make money, and little, if anything else. And if a few ordinary have their lives ruined in the process, that's fine. By them, of course.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B
"... but the British press seem to want the freedom to publish anything at all, completely as they see fit, regardless of anyone's personal privacy, and irrespective, in many cases, of whether what they publish is true at all."
ReplyDeleteWho do they think they are??? Americans??? !!!
We Yanks had something called the "Fairness Docrtine," which required that braodcasters present controversial issues in a manner that was equitable and balanced.
It was repealed around 1985 or so at the behest of the Reagan administration (it apparently inhibited their ability to lie with impunity.)
Eventually, Murdoch and his malevalent minions morphed 20th Century Fox Film Corporation into Fox (faux) News.
:-)
-ANdy
Hello Andy
DeleteAs I said to Jay, the only 'balance' these people seem to be interested in is the balance sheet, and they will report whatever, and in whatever way, best panders to the prejudices of their identified demographic to keep the money rolling in, hence The Sun, Murdoch's big-selling tabloid over here, screaming ad nauseum about 'paedos', the Mail and the Express ranting about 'immigrants' and 'workshy scroungers', and the likes of Fox News, available over here through Murdoch's satellite TV platform, lying about everything. The only chink of light, our equivalent of the 'fairness doctrine', seems to me to be the BBC, which has, on occasions, been criticised from both sides of the political divide, albeit substantially more from the right than the left, for being 'biased' against the complainants. If both sides complain, it could be that good old Aunty Beeb is actually doing something right in terms of objectivity.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B