I posted about my own experiences with this last week:
Having listened to UK talk radio (courtesy of the builder in our home) I now understand why political discussions in the UK have become so toxic – I hadn’t realised that we’d reached Fox News levels of reporting here because radio tends to be more hidden from view. It was full to the brim with loaded, hate-baiting language that was telling people what to think: “it’s disgusting” / “how dare they“ / “elites” etc. This was sprinkled with complete misrepresentations of the facts.
When I chatted to the builder about the station he told me it is “all he listens to because it’s balanced and tells it like it is”.
We used to have the concept of [Due Impartiality](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code/section-five-due-impartiality-accuracy) to protect us – the idea that every program must expose the viewer to some semblance of balance, but a few years ago they found a loophole: splitting the balance between two rabidly fanatic shows rather than maintaining balance *within* a single show. It should never have been allowed. Regardless of what ‘side’ you’re on you shouldn’t want it. We only need to look to the US to see how that plays out. It doesn’t make either side happier.
Suddenly there’s renewed interest in UK TV from certain factions. We get stations on the scene claiming they are ‘meeting legal requirements’ but knowing full-well what they’re doing. Johnson /ERG were pushing for Paul Dacre to become head of OFCOM a while back.
Make no mistake, boundaries are being tested right now and there are people who want to sow as much discord as possible between us because it benefits them. They want to make us angrier. The next few years will dictate the direction the UK heads in. I wish I had more faith that the outcome will be good.
Don’t forget Australia.
Lynton Crosby introduced nasty Australian bullshit into political campaigning here, and Ed Miliband tried to counter his influence by appointing another Aussie political spin doctor who managed to make him look a fool every time.
That’s just off the top of my head. The far right climate deniers have lost Australian government for the moment, but they have great influence in Britain.
Boris Johnson is working with Lynton Crosby again, as his popularity has fallen.
Britain owns this. A cess pit of tabloid press for a century now metastasised across many platforms.
3 comments
I posted about my own experiences with this last week:
Having listened to UK talk radio (courtesy of the builder in our home) I now understand why political discussions in the UK have become so toxic – I hadn’t realised that we’d reached Fox News levels of reporting here because radio tends to be more hidden from view. It was full to the brim with loaded, hate-baiting language that was telling people what to think: “it’s disgusting” / “how dare they“ / “elites” etc. This was sprinkled with complete misrepresentations of the facts.
When I chatted to the builder about the station he told me it is “all he listens to because it’s balanced and tells it like it is”.
We used to have the concept of [Due Impartiality](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code/section-five-due-impartiality-accuracy) to protect us – the idea that every program must expose the viewer to some semblance of balance, but a few years ago they found a loophole: splitting the balance between two rabidly fanatic shows rather than maintaining balance *within* a single show. It should never have been allowed. Regardless of what ‘side’ you’re on you shouldn’t want it. We only need to look to the US to see how that plays out. It doesn’t make either side happier.
Suddenly there’s renewed interest in UK TV from certain factions. We get stations on the scene claiming they are ‘meeting legal requirements’ but knowing full-well what they’re doing. Johnson /ERG were pushing for Paul Dacre to become head of OFCOM a while back.
Make no mistake, boundaries are being tested right now and there are people who want to sow as much discord as possible between us because it benefits them. They want to make us angrier. The next few years will dictate the direction the UK heads in. I wish I had more faith that the outcome will be good.
Don’t forget Australia.
Lynton Crosby introduced nasty Australian bullshit into political campaigning here, and Ed Miliband tried to counter his influence by appointing another Aussie political spin doctor who managed to make him look a fool every time.
That’s just off the top of my head. The far right climate deniers have lost Australian government for the moment, but they have great influence in Britain.
Boris Johnson is working with Lynton Crosby again, as his popularity has fallen.
Britain owns this. A cess pit of tabloid press for a century now metastasised across many platforms.