Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
29 November 2009
13:3134071I made a comment on a previous post which was a continuum from other posts, which really deserved a new posting. What are members views on the press, and do they believe everything in print? Over the years, I`ve seen so much crap appearing, including the headlines, that it`s now been well over 20 years since I bought or read a newspaper, and I haven`t missed them in the slightest! With my interests, I wait till the appropriate magazine appears with the facts, (and the truth). I`m not criticising people who read the press, but I also ask, what do members look for in the press?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
29 November 2009
13:4134072interesting debate you have opened colin.
i find most newpapers simply pander to their readers prejudices, good business really, keeps sales up.
i still read a broad mix of them, at some time or another, each will come out with a "scoop".
who can forget the daily mirror expose about cambodia, all those years ago?
the mail a year or so back done a massive spread on where plastic carrier bags end up, antarctica for instance.
so many animals and birds had died as a result of swallowing one that since then i have been very careful with their use and try to avoid them whereever i can.
the good old torygraph caught our betters out on the subject of expenses, that made us all gasp in disbelief for a while.
i quite like the "caught with the trousers down" stories that feature in many of the sunday red tops, depending on who it is. when a show biz, rock star or footballer is found out, not really that interesting, but when it is an archbishop, politician or someone else that talks down to us, then it is great stuff.
you may get a few more views on this one.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
29 November 2009
15:4834079I am all for the local newspapers they do a job I only wish that they had a local office even if it was only man part-time.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
29 November 2009
16:5134083Im definitely for newspapers. They are still unparalelled in actual news gathering and the depth to which they can cover it. TV might do all the main stories but cant cover them in any depth. The Internet can do some of the stories much like TV, but for sheer volume of content is generally beaten by the newspaper. Somehow it is more easily digestible on the printed page anyway. It may seem odd saying that what with me doing a website and so on....but the internet is also the home to the most spurious rubbish ever to see the light of day.
I bought The Telegraph for 25 years and then switched to the Times for the last fifteen, although I dont buy either now. I buy both local newspapers every week and also check out Your Dover online. Its still the best way of knowing what goes on locally.. although we do our best around here and its always good when members break new stories on here. Its tip top in fact.
The Newspapers do bring us some fantastic stories though. Howard mentions the Telegraph and the expenses scandal. What an espose that was and brilliantly done. They were able to throw 40 journalists on to that one which is just a pipedream for the web resource-wise. Of course as anyone knows they are not always brilliant and dont always get it right, but Im afraid thats part in a way of the human psyche in that we all make mistakes all the time.
But yes Vic a great shame when the local offices closed. A town not able to support a newspaper is in a sorry state. But the next bext thing is that they publish a Dover edition still.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
29 November 2009
20:1434092I buy one newspaper a week - The Daily Torygraph on a Saturday, specifically for the weekly crossword competition and the puzzle pages in the Weekend section; it also means I get the TV guide supplement as well, but that's not the reason for buying the paper.
Other than that, I haven't bought a local or national newspaper since the 1980s when I became so disillusioned with the power and influence that the newspaper editors in general, and the tabloids in particular, bring to bear over the people of this country. In masquerading as news reporting, they influence the nation so much - especially at times of General Elections - that I find them open to huge political bias (both sides of the political spectrum) that is, to my mind at least, dangerous. I don't accept the argument that individuals are able to make their own mind up on political issues - it simply isn't the case when facts reported by The Sun, The Mirror and The Daily Mail are twisted to suit the political colour of the editor, owner and readership.
As for local papers, my views on the Dover Express have been well documented on Dover Locals, so I won't reiterate them here, but I will admit to reading my mother-in-law's copy of the Dover Mercury every Thursday. I have every respect for Graham Smith, their editor, with whom I had the pleasure of working on the Dover Regatta Core Group for two years, and whom I found to be a man of honour and integrity; it's not often that you can say that about journalists, but all on the KM staff I have found it to be so.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
29 November 2009
20:1634094I do agree if you on that Andy and well said.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
29 November 2009
20:5534098the problem is that without national newspapers, the only reading matter with regard to current affairs would be the internet.
as said earlier on this thread, the internet is so full of rubbish that it is difficult to find what is fact, and what is opinion.
there is even an on line encyclopeadia that is littered with untrue facts.
with regard to local papers, i am amazed that a town our size can support two, both very different journals.
i find the express to be more entertaining than the mercury, but the latter has more local stories and some very good journalism. the free sheet "your dover" carries a lot of editorial content for such a small publication, i rather like the style of the lady journalist with the foreign sounding name, can never remember names.
all in all we are are quite well served, i feel.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
30 November 2009
08:3634111I think its fair to say I have very strong views on both National and local papers;
As has already been said I have a lot of respecT for Graham Smith and his team, but the other paper, well beyond belief.
As i'v stated many times before(and won't bore you)
I don't buy National or local papers unless on a long train journey for some entertainment value.
It Is sad listening to people every day swayed by the the National / local media.
For me the loss of the local office is sad for Dover, but all the time pages are allowed to go out as they do, I won't buy the paper.
It was interesting that 2 times I'v heard an indy cllr say at a Town council meeting that she to hasn't brought the express for some years since the express got into the character run down of local people.
So my view quite clear won't go on
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
30 November 2009
09:1134114I start every day by reading newspaper, The Mail midweek and the Sunday Times. I cannot imagine not reading a paper. That is 'topped up' by internet news services and I read them every day as well. I find politicshome.com good at distilling the political news stories through which you can access all shades of opinion.
Why the Mail? Simply because it is a compact easy mid-week read and, of course, it generally reflects my views though not always. Why the Sunday Times? Because at weekends I can spend more time reading at leisure and I like the more in depth round up of the weeks news.
I also read the two local papers though I only get one delivered.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
30 November 2009
15:3134122I am a Daily Telegraph addict through the week, with the Dover Express and Dover Mercury additionally on thursday, the Daily Mail on saturday for the excellent TV guide, and best of all the Sunday Telegraph. Will greatly miss the printed newspaper when it eventually passes into history, as would appear doomed to happen. Also read others online, receive and view a great number of links to the BBC website, and am surprised at how often the Guardian has the most informative articles on stuff which one Googles.
I work 0700 to 1800 on the ship, plus any night-time callouts. When I knock off at 1800, I can't be bothered with getting changed and eating in the officer's mess, I grab my grub and go to my cabin. Satellite internet on my laptop to my left, satellite TV to my right, and newspaper in my lap. Then happily esconced through into the small hours, interspersed with frequent visits to the deck outside for a fag!
30 November 2009
16:5334126I don't feel right unless I have read at least the Telegraph and Guardian on weekdays. Mildly schizoid, I expect..........
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,304
30 November 2009
16:5634128In my early years I was a Daily Express fan but went off them when they unchained the crusader. I moved to the Telegraph but then moved on to the Times although I missed Peterborough.
When my local newsagent closed about four or five years ago I gave up a daily. However I have now gone back to Times on a daily basis.
As to local news I buy both the Express and Mercury in order to get a balanced viewpoint. One is the brash "redtop" and the other is the "county" type paper. I read the YourDover online but I don't bother with KOS or the SG as they seem to ignore Dover.
In the end they all go in the blue bag!
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
6 December 2009
13:4834455I saw coming onto the internet, the headline concerning the Queen taking the gutter media to court over the gutter paperatzi, (not sure if that`s how you spell it, but I don`t care anyway), taking private pictures of the royal family in their private life. Do these pictures sell papers and mags? Are there that amount of sad people in the world who are interested in people`s personal lives? I can understand people having an interest in royalty, but do they go along with these intrusions of the royals private lives?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
6 December 2009
15:3034462I would prefer to fry and eat my own ears than read about royalty or celebs!!
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
6 December 2009
15:4834464Bern
I agree. I also feel that although they (the Royal Family) did not choose to be born royals,they have milked the system and are therefore in some small way public property.They cannot expect to live in a life of luxury where they clamour for appreciation and continuation of their line and then tell the same press to back off when they want to indulge in grouse shooting or the like.
I admire the Queen,I think Phillip is an ass ,rude and ignorant and Charles ,for all his good intentions lives in cloud cuckoo land and harbours a terrible temper with "dolls out of the pram" attitude if he doesn't get his own way. Anne is a diamond it's just a pity she married that shit Mark Phillips when really she is in love with the splendid actor ,from Brideshead Revisited ,Anthony Andrews.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
6 December 2009
15:5634465most of the interest in our royal family is from other countries, italy and germany love pics of them in their magazines.
the states of course have a great interest.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
6 December 2009
17:3034469Ah Bern. Celebs. One of my biggest pet hates. I`m a cardboard cutout, get me out of here! Always thought it was just me who was different to everyone else, but good to see I`m not alone. Marek. Agreed 100%.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
8 December 2009
18:5334603The Mail on line. `Tiger Woods mother in law rushed to hospital`. You know what? I don`t give a shi*. All that money should cure her shouldn`t it?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
31 January 2010
12:2739210Couldn`t miss the unavoidable headline this morning logging on via yahoo, the England football captain has his future in the balance due to an abortion with another woman. What the hell, has it got to do with football, and why oh why, with all the evil`s going on in the world do the news of the world and sunday mirror apparently have this for front page news? Sorry, is it me or is this stuff for public attention or just more gutter journalism? What a very sad state of affairs.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
31 January 2010
14:4739227colin
news of the world and sunday mirror are not intended to be serious purveyors of news.
they are designed as entertainment, you cannot compare proper newspapers with them.