2 posts tagged “journalism”

I was going to write down my thoughts about the shameless acts of "journalism" perpetrated recently by The (Scottish) Express Newspaper, "hack" Paula Murray and Editorial Director Paul Ashford about the survivors of the Dunblane school massacre. 

But, instead I'll point you toward Graham Linehan's piece (below).  It's a far more eloquent, insightful and weighty overview and commentary on the story than I could have achieved.  But, it represents my views completely.

http://whythatsdelightful.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/the-express-wins-the-race-to-the-bottom/

Please read it and if you feel strongly enough act on it. 

On the other hand, if you really think it is justifiable for a journalist to

a) cynically add specific young people to their Facebook friends with a view to ambushing them when they turn 18 years old
b) then splash what are normal "exploits" of teenagers all over the pages of a national newspaper 
c) with a view to making them appear disrespectful of their friends who died at Dunblane

then don't act on it, just hang your head in shame. 

I know there's been a distinct preponderance of the unfunnies around here lately. I have co-opted some fun from elsewhere to make up for it and although I may have done so in a smooth and seamless fashion, it's very possible that you have noticed my sleights of hand.  I apologise, although I don't feel too bad given the circumstances, and I hope you don't either.  Of course you don't. Dear. Reader.

I am becoming increasingly convinced that the local newspaper that is "delivered free to your door" (when it has not been thrown into a local hedgerow) does not actually have any reporters, journalists or other writers working on it.  I don't know if having these things is necessary in order to be called a newspaper, or if indeed there is any legal requirement at all, but it surely does limit the output at the very worst, and is an inconvenience at the very least. 

Some clues have set me on this path.  No mention of writer's names was the first.  A distinct lack of any quotes from parties involved in the stories was a close second.  Third, that there is actually very little in the way of actual content.  Fourthly, I can gather that no-one is proof-reading copy and similarly that no-one is doing any editorial shaping of things like tone and headlines.  I sense I am on to something.  To be blunt:  my local free delivered newspaper has more padding than a locker room full of American Footballers.  More padding than the annual trade convention of The Women's Sanitary Products Manufacturers Association.  Combined.  That's a lot of padding.

This past week's main page "splash" is a good case in point.  It is basically a story about how many of the local road bridges have been hit by lorries and other larger vehicles.  The actual content of the story relates mostly some statistics about which bridges have been hit and how many times in 2007.  The blame for this - without any reference to any kind of data, quoting from parties involved or having interests, or even anything else resembling evidence (anecdotal or otherwise) - is laid at the door of satellite navigation system.  The headline, of course:  "SAT-NAFF!".  Brilliant.  Just Brilliant.

The rest of the piece and most of the rest of the newspaper is made up of "reportage" that sounds vaguely reminiscent of pub conversations or half-remembered stories overhead in the queue at the Post Office.  I half expect in the future to hear the other participant's "No?", "Really?", "They didn't?", "Oh, that's awful", "And what did she say to that?", interspersed within the copy.  Now that would be interesting. 

The rest of the paper is suitably filled by standard press releases and advertiser-led copy. All of which makes the vast proportion of its pages unadulterated padding, the like of which is ordinarily and understandably reserved for those awkward times during a radio broadcast when the line to the studio has suddenly gone dead and the announcer is called upon to scrabble around the studo for newspapers to fill the time.  Read headlines.  Sweat.  Look anxiously at producer.  Rustle pages.  Start reading..  Realise the News of The World is all you have in front of you.  Panic. This is Radio Four. Can't say THAT word.

It probably isn't easy running a newspaper.  It almost certainly is difficult doing it with no writing and editorial staff to speak of.  But, if you are lucky you might get your stories first-hand.  You might, for example, stumble across a burnt-out car in your local woods whilst out walking and be able to craft a story around it (half page) or bump into a bloke who won a medal for his NVQ result (half-page).  Although, it would certainly be a concern for me if the road traffic accident reportage is similarly sourced...

I will hope to make this commentary - which I have cunningly called "The Weakly Output" to protect the good name of the newspaper - a regular feature. Possibly weekly, unless of course my "source" ends up in a hedgerow in which case it will not be, and I will have to resort to my own thoughts or even to posting photographs or videos in an effort to fill the silence.  For shame.