The Daily Mail

[Lord Brett]

There was an interesting opinion piece in The Independent last week about how poor the coverage of the London Majoral elections has been. There are real differences between the candidates, but our celebrity-obsessed press has failed to cover policies, instead turning the whole thing into 'the red newt-fancier verses that blonde bloke who's funny on the telly'.

His point is mainly about telly, but here's a link as you might find it interesting Johann Hari: I like to be informed – but TV's not helping - Johann Hari, Commentators - The Independent

No matter what political views you might have, you deserve a better press than the one we've got.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Lord Brett There was an interesting opinion piece in The Independent last week about how poor the coverage of the London Majoral elections has been. There are real differences between the candidates, but our celebrity-obsessed press has failed to cover policies, instead turning the whole thing into 'the red newt-fancier verses that blonde bloke who's funny on the telly'. His point is mainly about telly, but here's a link as you might find it interesting Johann Hari: I like to be informed – but TV's not helping - Johann Hari, Commentators - The Independent No matter what political views you might have, you deserve a better press than the one we've got.

Even one of our local papers has turned out to be very biased - in favour of Boris. They've been running editorials knocking Ken for some time and now that we're getting closer to the election they're running lots more articles about Boris. And this is in a free paper that is pushed through everyone's door.

But in one of their pieces which was generally in favour of Boris they did mention how he was playing in some charity football matches and he rugby tackled one of the opposition. I think they meant it to show what a fun, sporting chap he is - but you could read it as saying that he's a cheat or doesn't understand the rules

Steve

[batman]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook But in one of their pieces which was generally in favour of Boris they did mention how he was playing in some charity football matches and he rugby tackled one of the opposition. I think they meant it to show what a fun, sporting chap he is - but you could read it as saying that he's a cheat or doesn't understand the rules Steve

Boris in action!

YouTube - Boris Johnson vs Germany

[Lord Brett]

Originally Posted by batman Boris in action! YouTube - Boris Johnson vs Germany

He could always just turn out to be a blithering idiot. Just a thought, mind you...

[batman]

Originally Posted by Lord Brett He could always just turn out to be a blithering idiot. Just a thought, mind you...

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by Lord Brett turning the whole thing into 'the red newt-fancier

I think it's moved on a bit. More to do with the whisky-swilling despot who berates his critics on the council, gets all his staff doing his press handouts on the computers at work and has three women and sets of kids on the QT........

S'wonder he's got time to run the city.

Maybe we get the politicians we deserve if not the 'papers

Hartlepool had the right idea

[Lord Brett]

Originally Posted by Moor Larkin I think it's moved on a bit. More to do with the whisky-swilling despot who berates his critics on the council, gets all his staff doing his press handouts on the computers at work and has three women and sets of kids on the QT........ S'wonder he's got time to run the city. Maybe we get the politicians we deserve if not the 'papers Hartlepool had the right idea

I must admit to being clueless to the fine detail of Livingstone's Mayorship, being from Bradford. The point is more that policies aren't being covered by all sections of the press to the extent they should be.

I have a suspicion it's to give Boris an easier ride, as he's bound to say something stupid or offensive when asked a serious question.

At least you generally have to get Ken drunk before he'll say something offensive.

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by Lord Brett I must admit to being clueless to the fine detail of Livingstone's Mayorship, being from Bradford. The point is more that policies aren't being covered by all sections of the press to the extent they should be.

He's hilarious. He has to have these sessions filmed but is so certain of his authority he just insults the assembled throng. If he was in Zimbabwe,he'd be president.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Lord Brett He could always just turn out to be a blithering idiot. Just a thought, mind you...

Turn out to be? It's what he's been doing for years.
Some people say it's all an act, but I'm not so sure

Steve

[penfold]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook Turn out to be? It's what he's been doing for years. Some people say it's all an act, but I'm not so sure Steve

I'm positive Boris the buffoon is an act....to disguise his real character of a very unpleasant, self-obsessed, vain and conceited man, and a dangerous one at that. Have people forgotten the recorded phone conversation where he and a crony were planning to pay someone to beat up a bloke who had crossed him somehow??? Eyes passim.

[Moor Larkin]

The sooner we get a None of the above box the better. The rule could be that whenever None of the Above wins, they simply eliminate that position. A few years and we might be putting our own pay in our own pockets.

I'd start a None of the above Party but I'm too old and tired

[kelp]

Originally Posted by batman I am increasingly amused by the constant references to The Daily Mail on the forum. Whenever there is a debate about politics, law and order etc The Daily Mail is hauled out as if it was the Handbook of Satan, particularly if a member makes a comment about something they have read. Those people often get a response like ... 'I bet you read that in The Daily Mail'. I don't read newspapers (except if I see one at work) and I have very personal reasons for regarding them all as primarily trash. However, I feel it is unfair to single out The Daily Mail as the purveyor of all things evil. There is just as much political propaganda and social bias in the likes of The Guardian, which seems to be regarded as a kind of oracle of for the 'right kind' of thinking. Surely to criticise The Daily Mail and it's readers is no different from criticising, for example, Gay News and it's readers. Both publications are entitled to their points of view and their readers entitled to have a place to read about issues in a way that they can relate to. What is so wrong with that?

Well said Bats.

[samkydd]

Originally Posted by Dave Rattigan The Daily Mail is a disgrace. Just ugly, and unconcerned with real journalism.

The Daily Mail should be praised for its free DVDs, and how wonderful its pages are for lighting the fire in the front room.

But seriously, journalists move from 'paper to 'paper like footballers signing for new clubs, so surely the opinions and political stance of that individual isn't dictated by the editor or newspaper owner otherwise they'd just train any monkey up to write exactly what they want to see printed!

I have never bought newspapers on a regular basis and the way they wind some people up I am surprised at anyone buying them. The celeb news seems to cover more pages than real news, and even some broadsheets have gone down the Lowest Common Denominator reader route by focussing on celebrity tittle-tattle, as if people really give a damn what Jordan and Pete Doherty are up to!

I think the Mail's reputation has been to feed the fears of so-called Middle England by preying on sensitive issues such as immigration, crime, asylum seekers, missing prisoners, care in the community psychopaths, paedophiles at large, human trafficking etc so it's no surprise that the average suburban dweller reads this stuff and cowers in fear behind his monkey-puzzle tree in case he's beaten to death by passing chavs!

That's not to say that these problems don't exist but they often get blown up out of all proportion by some newspapers!

[Lord Brett]

Boris Johnson does get quite an extraordinarily easy ride from the press. Haven't people learned after George W Bush that you can't give a top job to someone you think is just a harmless bufoon?

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by Lord Brett Boris Johnson does get quite an extraordinarily easy ride from the press. Haven't people learned after George W Bush that you can't give a top job to someone you think is just a harmless bufoon?

Well they did give to Ken