Well who would have thought it? Less than 24 hours after the announcement of the new Leader of the Labour Party the UK's media seems to have lost its collective marbles! Reading through some of the myriad of stories, which become ever more fanciful as time goes on, I wonder if those who write them really do believe the tripe they are spouting, or are they being (a) forced by the media owners to write it or (b) have they really been brainwashed into believing what they write?
Years ago, when I worked for a major trades union in London, I attended a good many seminars, conferences and meetings which those who worked in the media also attended as members of their own unions. Journalists, sub-editors, print workers, compositors: they all had a good understanding of what were the real dangers to working people, and to those unable to work for whatever reason. So what has happened in the intervening years that now journalists write the most right-wing, biased rhetoric as if it was gospel?
Have they lost their ability to think for themselves? Have they been brainwashed into believing that the interests of big businesses and arms manufacturers and banks are also their interests? If that isn't the case then why are they doing it? I do not understand why there is such a witch hunt from working journalists against a man who stands to protect the rights and freedoms of all working and non-working people. It simply does not make sense!
Journalists you are not sheep, so please stop behaving like you are! Journalism was once a profession to be proud of. Now it is regarded by many as one to be ashamed of. Why? Because we have cottoned on to the huge bias in what you write, present and broadcast. We can see through the attacks on decent politicians, on the disabled, on welfare claimants, on refugees and asylum seekers. You are doing the dirty work of the Tory government and their big business chums for them, but remember, you are only useful to those groups whilst you toe the line. Have an accident, fall ill, lose your job and you will become one of those vilified by the media by which you are now employed. Can you live with that? Can you ask your family to live with that? Is there not a better way?
How about reporting the news objectively and fairly and allowing the readership to make up their own minds? How about ceasing the intrusive and often scurrilous and unwarranted attacks on those in the public eye and their families and friends? How about behaving like decent human beings and showing compassion to those in reduced circumstances? How about telling the truth rather than writing an article just because it will make a good story and sell papers, and make more money for the media barons?
You do not have to be a sheep. Be objective not objectionable. Why not give it a try?
