Journalists, don't be part of the government's 'fake news' machine

[papasmurf]

But slightly puzzled why a complaint has been lodged with the Advertising Standards Authority, was the published article relating to a news story or an advert ?

It is a paid for advertisement by the DWP but that is not stated, there already is an ASA investigation into similar propaganda exercises in the recent past:-



https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dwps-universal-credit-metro-lies-backfire-by-sparking-new-campaign-network/">https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/d ... n-network/">https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dwps-universal-credit-metro-lies-backfire-by-sparking-new-campaign-network/



https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/universal-credit-adverts-metro-campaign-dwp-a8925691.html">https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/h ... 25691.html">https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/universal-credit-adverts-metro-campaign-dwp-a8925691.html



https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/dwp-universal-credit-advert-metro_uk_5ce5146be4b0547bd12f591d">https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ ... 7bd12f591d">https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/dwp-universal-credit-advert-metro_uk_5ce5146be4b0547bd12f591d

[patman post]

Interesting comment on the Sky News website more at link:-



https://news.sky.com/story/sky-views-journalists-dont-be-part-of-the-governments-fake-news-machine-11845093">https://news.sky.com/story/sky-views-jo ... e-11845093">https://news.sky.com/story/sky-views-journalists-dont-be-part-of-the-governments-fake-news-machine-11845093



"British journalists have become part of Johnson's fake news machine", alleging "from the Mail, The Times to the BBC and ITN, everyone is peddling Downing Street's lies and smears. They are turning their readers into dupes".

The full article appears to be more nuanced than the selected comment. Leaks and unattributed briefings have been part of business and political journalism for as long as I've been interested. It's up to the reader/listener/viewer to judge what weight they place on each item. The current problem is that Trump's populist success is due to his "unconvential" direct approach to the truth, and this is being replicated around the English speaking world where political advisors ply their trade like itinerant sheep shearers...

[Churchill]

I cannot comment of the article you claim is propaganda and lies published in Cornwall as I have no idea what was stated and when or source, or how you know its lies and propaganda.



But slightly puzzled why a complaint has been lodged with the Advertising Standards Authority, was the published article relating to a news story or an advert ?

[papasmurf]

Sadly I suspect things are going to get worse before they get better.

Judging by a propaganda and lies article in the local media recently about Cornish JobCentre Plus offices and Universal Credit.

(Complaint already put in to the Advertising Standards Authority) It already has got worse.

[Ciaphas]

The problem seems to be that a good portion of the media is hopelessly partisan and so can't be trusted to report on events accurately, or are studiously neutral to the point where they may as well just hand the pen or microphone to their guest and go get a drink for all the good their questioning does.



In respects to the issue raised by Sky News of journalists acting as a platform for mysterious and unnacountable 'sources' seeking to influence the public this is just part of the rot.



Sadly I suspect things are going to get worse before they get better.

[Churchill]

You have a very dim view of your neighbours, perhaps they may have similar views about you.



Some will believe what they read in the papers or told by the News programmes, but I think most people are bright enough to read between the lines and more worldly wise than you may think

[Baron von Lotsov]

 do you think that people who do buy newspapers or watch the news are not bright enough to work out what is what?

Of course, or they would not watch it if they knew.



People in my area though take stupidity to new and uncharted territory. Any further in that direction and they could get sectioned.

[Churchill]

Do you mean if they also write about the opposition that their articles are factual true and accurate ? do you think that people who do buy newspapers or watch the news are not bright enough to work out what is what?

[Baron von Lotsov]

You know there is such a thing as conformational bias on Youtube. Go to a song and typically there will be ten times +  as many likes compared to dislikes for any tune you come across.



However, when you get a Guardian broadcast it does not look like that. The last one I was chatting to people about had 2500 thumbs down compared to 1000 thumbs up. My theory is they only manage to stay in business because of the advertising income they receive from state employment advertising.



I think the same sort of thing happens with other papers as well but with different funders. The Daily Mail will be funded by Tory industrial donors, i.e. those in industry who do deals with governments, like for example their sponsorship by land developers.



There is of course the other profitable line of business, and that is selling the sensation and mystery fiction. If you go up to a prole and tell them an incredible fact they will get all excited and full of fascination. Of course the incredible is fake, because it is the opposite of credible. One of the recent ones is "we are all going to die" re climate change.

[papasmurf]

Interesting comment on the Sky News website more at link:-



https://news.sky.com/story/sky-views-journalists-dont-be-part-of-the-governments-fake-news-machine-11845093">https://news.sky.com/story/sky-views-jo ... e-11845093">https://news.sky.com/story/sky-views-journalists-dont-be-part-of-the-governments-fake-news-machine-11845093



"British journalists have become part of Johnson's fake news machine", alleging "from the Mail, The Times to the BBC and ITN, everyone is peddling Downing Street's lies and smears. They are turning their readers into dupes".