Can I ask you all, do you think the British Press are the most scandelous/intrusive in the world. Max Clifford was on a tv show in Dublin on Friday and said that the British press are the worst in the world - or words to that effect. I divide my time between Irl and Germany and know that there is salicious gossip rags in both countries. Just wondered what British people feel about this subject.
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This coming from Max Clifford whose made his career out of using them 
I cant talk for other countries as I dont know about their press but I would say ours is pretty intrusive.
quote:Originally posted by Baz:
I think it is quite intrusive, but don't know how Max Clifford has the gall to comment on it!
My intended sis-in law from London was visiting us at the time the show was on and she said exactly the same thing.But as she is v v pish posh I wondered was it just a class thing or is Mr. Clifford really a hypocrite.
Our press is only as intrusive as the public wants it to be. If the public did not buy the newspaper/magazine that had all the rubbish in it then it would stop.
If I get involved in this thread (having worked in local newspapers) I'll only get extremely agitated.
I'm sick and tired of people who know nothing about my job thinking local rag hacks (always played by weaselly-looking actors) they see on soap operas are in any way representative of how we operate in the real world.
I'm sick and tired of people who know nothing about my job thinking local rag hacks (always played by weaselly-looking actors) they see on soap operas are in any way representative of how we operate in the real world.
quote:Originally posted by Demantoid:
If I get involved in this thread (having worked in local newspapers) I'll only get extremely agitated.
I'm sick and tired of people who know nothing about my job thinking local rag hacks (always played by weaselly-looking actors) they see on soap operas are in any way representative of how we operate in the real world.
Demantoid, point taken and understood. As we say in Irl- Good Woman!
quote:Originally posted by Hollygolightly:
Demantoid, point taken and understood. As we say in Irl- Good Woman!
Sorry Holls, I don't mean to rant but it just makes me furious
Granted, there are sections of the national press that I wouldn't wipe my backside with, but there are also a lot of good people out there doing a good job.
Constantly being lumped in with the Daily Stars of this world doesn't help the rest of us, neither does the invariably negative portrayal of us in soaps and other dramas. Actors always whine about 'the press' misrepresenting them, but they do it far more regularly to us.
As for Max Clifford, talk about biting the hand that feeds him..
quote:Originally posted by Demantoid:quote:Originally posted by Hollygolightly:
Demantoid, point taken and understood. As we say in Irl- Good Woman!
Sorry Holls, I don't mean to rant but it just makes me furious
Granted, there are sections of the national press that I wouldn't wipe my backside with, but there are also a lot of good people out there doing a good job.
Constantly being lumped in with the Daily Stars of this world doesn't help the rest of us, neither does the invariably negative portrayal of us in soaps and other dramas. Actors always whine about 'the press' misrepresenting them, but they do it far more regularly to us.
As for Max Clifford, talk about biting the hand that feeds him..
Agree with you Missus. Just opened this thread because it was a major talking point in our household over the weekend. With Irish, (Unmentionable) Germans, English and a smattering of other nationalities this subject ended up in a major debate.
BUT I totally get where you are coming from. (One bad apple and all that....) Enjoy your posts/contributions by the way!
i dont read any newspapers
quote:Originally posted by Demantoid:
If I get involved in this thread (having worked in local newspapers) I'll only get extremely agitated.
I'm sick and tired of people who know nothing about my job thinking local rag hacks (always played by weaselly-looking actors) they see on soap operas are in any way representative of how we operate in the real world.
Hear hear Demantoid! It is thanks to these perceived sleezebags that the whole HP expenses debacle was uncovered! And it was Daily Telegraph sleezebags at that, a newspaper often associated with pro-establishment journalism.
And I've met Max Clifford at a charity function. He's a bright and affable bloke!
I think our press is fantastic 
Thank God we have a free press and the likes of them in Westminster cannot dictate what is printed
Thank God we have a free press and the likes of them in Westminster cannot dictate what is printed
Thankooo 
I always find it funny how many people consider themselves authorities on the Press, and can debate it until the cows come home. Because everyone watches the news and reads papers and magazines, they believe they know all about journalists' jobs.
But most people also buy houses, shop in supermarkets and drive cars. Yet you never see them claiming to be authorities on the jobs of builders, farmers, retailers or car manufacturers - or denouncing them all en masse. Weird..
I always find it funny how many people consider themselves authorities on the Press, and can debate it until the cows come home. Because everyone watches the news and reads papers and magazines, they believe they know all about journalists' jobs.
But most people also buy houses, shop in supermarkets and drive cars. Yet you never see them claiming to be authorities on the jobs of builders, farmers, retailers or car manufacturers - or denouncing them all en masse. Weird..
This is not the first time MC has stated that the British Press (or sections of it) are the most intrusive and scandalous in the world. And of course he would say that. If they weren't, if they were nicey nicey and touchey feeley then he would not have carved out a career in PR, promotion and protection.
He's just echoing what we all know.
He's just echoing what we all know.
quote:Originally posted by tupps:
This is not the first time MC has stated that the British Press (or sections of it) are the most intrusive and scandalous in the world. And of course he would say that. If they weren't, if they were nicey nicey and touchey feeley then he would not have carved out a career in PR, promotion and protection.
He's just echoing what we all know.
Off Topic.... Tupps.... Berroca...
I am hooked (but me wee is the colour of the crayola 'is it green or is it yellow' colour crayon!)quote:Originally posted by tupps:
This is not the first time MC has stated that the British Press (or sections of it) are the most intrusive and scandalous in the world. And of course he would say that. If they weren't, if they were nicey nicey and touchey feeley then he would not have carved out a career in PR, promotion and protection.
He's just echoing what we all know.
And yet people in other countries say their tabloids are far worse - any footballer who's played in Italy, for instance.
Our red-tops aren't angels, but on the whole I think our press does a good job under very tough circumstances. One thing that is never reported (because the owners won't allow it) is how badly the press is being affected by the economic downturn - thousands of jobs have gone all over the UK, and tose left have to do more, with less, in order to carry on making the shareholders' dividends.
There, I was worried I'd start getting too ranty - time to leave this thread before someone hands me a placard..
Ridiculously so...Max Mosely case in point...who cares how the fella gets his jollies, it was not in the public interest (though I guess they were interested)
quote:Originally posted by Dirtyprettygirlthing:
Off Topic.... Tupps.... Berroca...
I tell ya it's the best hangover cure going.. and the interesting wee rainbow thing is an added bonus
quote:Originally posted by tupps:quote:Originally posted by Dirtyprettygirlthing:
Off Topic.... Tupps.... Berroca...
I tell ya it's the best hangover cure going.. and the interesting wee rainbow thing is an added bonus
Berocca rocks
I first tried it halfway up the Eiffel Tower, in a bottle of Vittel with a thumping vin rouge headache...
quote:Originally posted by Demantoid:quote:Originally posted by tupps:
This is not the first time MC has stated that the British Press (or sections of it) are the most intrusive and scandalous in the world. And of course he would say that. If they weren't, if they were nicey nicey and touchey feeley then he would not have carved out a career in PR, promotion and protection.
He's just echoing what we all know.
And yet people in other countries say their tabloids are far worse - any footballer who's played in Italy, for instance.
Our red-tops aren't angels, but on the whole I think our press does a good job under very tough circumstances. One thing that is never reported (because the owners won't allow it) is how badly the press is being affected by the economic downturn - thousands of jobs have gone all over the UK, and tose left have to do more, with less, in order to carry on making the shareholders' dividends.
There, I was worried I'd start getting too ranty - time to leave this thread before someone hands me a placard..
Oh yeah.. no denying that other countries have their slimebuckets. I think our slimebuckets have a certain panache
Note I said '(sections of it)'. I wouldn't lump all the British press together. There are some really talented people out there doing some good work.. some of the reporatge stuff coming out of this country is second to none. It's like any profession: you get your wheat and you get your chaff. But you have to remember what MC does for a living and the types he will do most 'business' with or encounter doing his protection work. He comments on what he knows.
I can imagine times are lean in press circles. A paper is one of those 'luxuries' you buy when times are good and discard when times are bad. No sales, no advertising, no paper in the end.
quote:Originally posted by Hollygolightly:quote:Originally posted by Baz:
I think it is quite intrusive, but don't know how Max Clifford has the gall to comment on it!
My intended sis-in law from London was visiting us at the time the show was on and she said exactly the same thing.But as she is v v pish posh I wondered was it just a class thing or is Mr. Clifford really a hypocrite.
LOL.... well I'm not posh
quote:Originally posted by Demantoid:
Berocca rocks
I first tried it halfway up the Eiffel Tower, in a bottle of Vittel with a thumping vin rouge headache...
Hardcore
Apparently it is something to do with the huge amounts of Vit C and B vitamins in it that knocks the hangover on its backside. They are something like 7 or 8 times the recommended daily allowance.. hence your body getting rid of what it doesn't need and your wee going a funny colour..
It's been on the cards for a few years, tupps, and it's mostly down to falling ad revenue, greedy shareholders, short-termist boards who come from ad backgrounds and know nothing about local news and over-emphasis on online sites, which don't make enough money to float the boat. 
quote:Originally posted by Demantoid:
It's been on the cards for a few years, tupps, and it's mostly down to falling ad revenue, greedy shareholders, short-termist boards who come from ad backgrounds and know nothing about local news and over-emphasis on online sites, which don't make enough money to float the boat.
gone are the days of the hard working local journo with their finger on the pulse of the local community and a reserved bar stool down the local boozer.. like you say it is all slick operators with fat ties now.. and people are fickle and will always want something for nothing too.. cue the rise of the freebie newspaper you get wacked around the chops with every morning and evening on your commute..
quote:Originally posted by tupps:quote:Originally posted by Demantoid:
It's been on the cards for a few years, tupps, and it's mostly down to falling ad revenue, greedy shareholders, short-termist boards who come from ad backgrounds and know nothing about local news and over-emphasis on online sites, which don't make enough money to float the boat.
and people are fickle and will always want something for nothing too.. cue the rise of the freebie newspaper you get wacked around the chops with every morning and evening on your commute..
Local papers have so few reporters now, they can hardly get out of the office, never mind devote proper time to developing stories and covering local events. Hence the rise and rise of PR bumf and press releases.
The money is also awful. Anyone who thinks local hacks go into it for the money should know most of them would be better off working in McDonald's.
But the british red top press does have an international reputation for being intrusive. So much so that if an English(they're always English) journalist shows up in any kind of telly drama then we immediately know that he's a bit of a lowlife. It's a kind of shorthand which means that the writers dont have to bother explaining anything about the character.
quote:Originally posted by tupps:quote:Originally posted by Demantoid:
Berocca rocks
I first tried it halfway up the Eiffel Tower, in a bottle of Vittel with a thumping vin rouge headache...
Hardcore
Apparently it is something to do with the huge amounts of Vit C and B vitamins in it that knocks the hangover on its backside. They are something like 7 or 8 times the recommended daily allowance.. hence your body getting rid of what it doesn't need and your wee going a funny colour..
It worked, that's the main thing. At that point, all of me was a funny colour so I didn't care what shade the wee came out..
quote:Originally posted by Demantoid:
Local papers have so few reporters now, they can hardly get out of the office, never mind devote proper time to developing stories and covering local events. Hence the rise and rise of PR bumf and press releases.
The money is also awful. Anyone who thinks local hacks go into it for the money should know most of them would be better off working in McDonald's.
It must be soul destroying.. when you choose a career and you see the life being sucked out of it.
Now you're going to get a hug.. 
Far far rather intrusive press than repressive. There are enough secrets without gagging the press, which some elements of our government would love to do.
Also those of you who have been to America. Have you seen the papers over there? When we were there we saw loads and loads of ads, coupons, sports pages, showbiz etc. Very little real news in my opinion. Certainly very little that showed a broader spectrum of international news. You might know better but that was my conclusion.
quote:Originally posted by captain marbles:
But the british red top press does have an international reputation for being intrusive. So much so that if an English(they're always English) journalist shows up in any kind of telly drama then we immediately know that he's a bit of a lowlife. It's a kind of shorthand which means that the writers dont have to bother explaining anything about the character.
Marbs, the ones in soaps are always from the local paper, not the Sun or Mirror. And yet they always have handfuls of fivers to dish out for dirt (never happens, they can barely aafford to pay the staff) and absolutely no knowledge of the law regarding reporting ongoing criminal cases.
So bad, in fact, that similar antics would get the editor of any paper in the real world summoned before a judge for contempt.
We don't behave like that, we can't afford it. Local papers rely on having a good relationship with the communities they serve. Sadly, we are affected by people who watch soaps and think they reflect real life.
quote:Originally posted by tupps:quote:Originally posted by Demantoid:
Local papers have so few reporters now, they can hardly get out of the office, never mind devote proper time to developing stories and covering local events. Hence the rise and rise of PR bumf and press releases.
The money is also awful. Anyone who thinks local hacks go into it for the money should know most of them would be better off working in McDonald's.
It must be soul destroying.. when you choose a career and you see the life being sucked out of it.
Thanks
I'm glad I'm not at the sharp end of it any more, or just starting out. Papers don't train their young reporters properly now, and it's having a knock-on effect.
Fewer good staff to move on to the nationals, or into broadcasting - pretty soon there'll be an entire generation of reporters who've never done a face-to-face interview, or covered a court case.
My OH works in broadcasting and he's already seeing it - some of them are horrified at the idea of going out and interveiwing people, because they're only used to doing it over the phone.
I think the writers of soaps use stereotypes in the same way that the writers on the aforementioned US shows do. Once there's a certain perception then it's far easier to go with the flow.quote:Originally posted by Demantoid:quote:Originally posted by captain marbles:
But the british red top press does have an international reputation for being intrusive. So much so that if an English(they're always English) journalist shows up in any kind of telly drama then we immediately know that he's a bit of a lowlife. It's a kind of shorthand which means that the writers dont have to bother explaining anything about the character.
Marbs, the ones in soaps are always from the local paper, not the Sun or Mirror. And yet they always have handfuls of fivers to dish out for dirt (never happens, they can barely aafford to pay the staff) and absolutely no knowledge of the law regarding reporting ongoing criminal cases.
So bad, in fact, that similar antics would get the editor of any paper in the real world summoned before a judge for contempt.
We don't behave like that, we can't afford it. Local papers rely on having a good relationship with the communities they serve. Sadly, we are affected by people who watch soaps and think they reflect real life.
BTW Deman, I'd be interested to know if you think that there's any film or telly programme which does, or did, reflect the reality of what goes on in a newspaper office?
quote:Originally posted by tupps:quote:Originally posted by Demantoid:
Berocca rocks
I first tried it halfway up the Eiffel Tower, in a bottle of Vittel with a thumping vin rouge headache...
Hardcore
Apparently it is something to do with the huge amounts of Vit C and B vitamins in it that knocks the hangover on its backside. They are something like 7 or 8 times the recommended daily allowance.. hence your body getting rid of what it doesn't need and your wee going a funny colour..
I take these massive doses of vit c to ward off colds n stuff (when I first feel the signs).
I have felt like I may be getting swine flu last two days... so have been necking the berroca... and it seems to have worked!
The only newspapers I read these days are the local papers. It's very rare that they get their facts wrong either deliberately or accidently.
I haven't read a national paper for years. If there's blame to be had for the demise of our national papers then much of the blame can be laid at the feet of their editors, not their journalists and don't forget Rupert Murdoch.
I haven't read a national paper for years. If there's blame to be had for the demise of our national papers then much of the blame can be laid at the feet of their editors, not their journalists and don't forget Rupert Murdoch.
quote:Originally posted by captain marbles:I think the writers of soaps use stereotypes in the same way that the writers on the aforementioned US shows do. Once there's a certain perception then it's far easier to go with the flow.quote:Originally posted by Demantoid:quote:Originally posted by captain marbles:
But the british red top press does have an international reputation for being intrusive. So much so that if an English(they're always English) journalist shows up in any kind of telly drama then we immediately know that he's a bit of a lowlife. It's a kind of shorthand which means that the writers dont have to bother explaining anything about the character.
Marbs, the ones in soaps are always from the local paper, not the Sun or Mirror. And yet they always have handfuls of fivers to dish out for dirt (never happens, they can barely aafford to pay the staff) and absolutely no knowledge of the law regarding reporting ongoing criminal cases.
So bad, in fact, that similar antics would get the editor of any paper in the real world summoned before a judge for contempt.
We don't behave like that, we can't afford it. Local papers rely on having a good relationship with the communities they serve. Sadly, we are affected by people who watch soaps and think they reflect real life.
BTW Deman, I'd be interested to know if you think that there's any film or telly programme which does, or did, reflect the reality of what goes on in a newspaper office?
The fifth series of The Wire really does it well - it's largely based in a newspaper office. It reflects the problems papers currently face (being squeezed dry by greedy owners) as well as the sort of characters me and OH recognised. The awful one who falsifies quotes to puff a story up, the old stagers, the brilliant news editor, etc.
My point is, they were all different and rounded characters, not caricatures. I don't think my profession should be used as "shorthand for lowlife". Never mind lazy journalism, that's lazy drama.
How would people in other walks of life like it if their job was nearly always used for negative dramatic effect?
quote:Originally posted by squiggle:
Far far rather intrusive press than repressive. There are enough secrets without gagging the press, which some elements of our government would love to do.
My sentiments exactly squiggle
Thanks Deman. I'm watching it via the beeb at the moment so it'll be a while before I get to see series 5. Unless somebody springs for the box set for Xmas.
The one TV series I can remember showing journalism in a positive light was Lou Grant. Great show but whether it reflected reality or not I have no idea.
The one TV series I can remember showing journalism in a positive light was Lou Grant. Great show but whether it reflected reality or not I have no idea.
quote:Originally posted by Rexi:quote:Originally posted by squiggle:
Far far rather intrusive press than repressive. There are enough secrets without gagging the press, which some elements of our government would love to do.
My sentiments exactly squiggle
Hurrah! I've never been a fan of the Torygraph, but they deserve an award for this one..