Like Nick, I am lost for words for describing the state of many of the media in this country (particularly newspapers). Sooner or later their low quality affects how a democracy functions and I think we are seeing the results in our country too.

Agree completely with this, xioni.

I know that the BBC is still rated very highly by many people for the quality of its news coverage and general everyday output, but for me the quality of its news coverage, especially when it comes to politics, has dropped markedly from what I remember it being during my schooldays (I left school in 1997). For me, one thing that is wrong is that there seems to be as much, if not more, emphasis on entertaining the public as there is on informing them. The BBC is far from alone in this regard, though.

 

You are obsessed with Uncle Rupert for some reason (like many on the left).

What do you think of my post above? That many news organisations emote about the particular, rather than exploring the general (which is what matters to society as a whole).

Not just him, all of the billionaire barons. When I was working for Priti the Bitch (nearly 20 years ago now), one of our clients was Richard Desmond, who owned the Express at the time. 

An absolute monster of a man with no redeeming features whatsoever. Maybe that's why they are so successful!

As for your Tesco story, it is important for the BBC to highlight flaws in the system, as that's often the only way they are fixed - awareness

 

Not just him, all of the billionaire barons. When I was working for Priti the Bitch (nearly 20 years ago now), one of our clients was Richard Desmond, who owned the Express at the time. 

An absolute monster of a man with no redeeming features whatsoever. Maybe that's why they are so successful!

As for your Tesco story, it is important for the BBC to highlight flaws in the system, as that's often the only way they are fixed - awareness

You worked for Priti Patel?

 

See if he turns up at PMQ's today and that will hopefully put you and a few others out of their misery 😃

What do mean "if"? 

You think it should be optional? 

Incredible how this charlatan is always treated like some kind of loveable rogue, just because he is good at making jokes and talks posh, and has funny hair

But you get the leaders you deserve. This country is finished

I don't want to appear mean spirited but I do agree. An amazing achievement raising the funds he did which has been recognised  with an honorary military promotion, a birthday flypast and an unprecedented RM post mark....but a Knighthood seems a bit excessive.   

I suppose instead he could just have made a whopping donation to the Tory party and saved himself a lot of bother.

Regarding schools, this argument seems convincing to me. I struggle to see how anyone could argue against this.

https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/20/british-schools-science-children-education-testing-tracing?CMP=share_btn_tw&__twitter_impression=true

Those that do argue against it are living in cloud cuckoo land. 

Guardian saying the NHS app-ocalypse is delayed until June:

Plans to introduce coronavirus tracing have been hit by fresh uncertainty as it emerged that a mobile tracking app will not be ready until June.

Unacceptable.

 

You worked for Priti Patel?

A long time ago now, but thankfully not for long! I left the company in 2003 after I fell ill with an ear infection and couldn't work.  

 

They are behaving like petulant children. "Do not engage" "Do not respond to emails" - that is not a constructive way forward, it is playground behaviour.

As I explained previously, it's nothing of the sort.

The teaching unions are seeking a universal, nationally-implemented agreement on a framework of minimum standards to cover the whole UK (or at least E&W). They don't want teachers in individual schools weakening their collective bargaining position by making their own agreements which may be weaker than those sought by the teaching unions nationally.

Divide & rule is an age-old device used by those in power. The antidote is to stand united and strong and not be picked-off one by one.

 

Boris reminds me of a WW1 general, sending out his ministers to be mown down by the ranks of machine guns from the press while he stays in a dug-out, sorry, comfortable hotel, well back from the front line.

Or do you prefer the Duke of Plaza Toro "He led his army from behind / he found it less exciting" (G & S)

Reminds me of the Blackadder Goes Forth sketch with General Melchett  

"Men, I will be right behind you as you go over the top...…."

Blackadder interjects - "about 35 miles behind you"

I don't want to appear mean spirited but I do agree. An amazing achievement raising the funds he did which has been recognised  with an honorary military promotion, a birthday flypast and an unprecedented RM post mark....but a Knighthood seems a bit politically-motivated.   

I've just amended that for you 

OMG - Cambridge University are having only distance learning for students for whole of next year !!! If other universities follow suit at this early stage it will be a national disgrace. We've wiped out a fair few of the elderly now we may be throwing away a whole life experience for our youngsters. I just can't imagine how devastated 18 year olds will be. They have lost the experience and excitement of doing their A'levels and to have this snatched away from them is unimaginable. At the very worst i thought there would be a term by term review. Furthermore they intend to charge the full tuition fee.

In fact, where has this story about the BMA dropping their opposition to schools opening even come from? Their chair was on GMB just this morning stating that infections remain too high for them to open.

Lies from the Daily Torygraph, but it worked. The broadcast news seem to be repeating it this morning

I despair at this country

A key role of the media is to inform, not misinform.

Bless

(the key role of the media is whatever their owners decide their role is - and in the majority of the print media at least, that role is to further the owners' economic interests)

I left the company in 2003 after I fell ill with an ear infection and couldn't work.  

Are you sure it wasn't Covid-19?

OMG - Cambridge University are having only distance learning for students for whole of next year !!! If other universities follow suit at this early stage it will be a national disgrace. We've wiped out a fair few of the elderly now we may be throwing away a whole life experience for our youngsters. I just can't imagine how devastated 18 year olds will be. They have lost the experience and excitement of doing their A'levels and to have this snatched away from them is unimaginable. At the very worst i thought there would be a term by term review. Furthermore they intend to charge the full tuition fee.

But they have also said that they will have smaller classes that are face to face to compliment the distance learning. And, it will be reviewed in line with government guidelines so may not be for the full academic year.

Meanwhile, Greece is bringing forward the reopening of restaurants, cafes etc. as they have contained their epidemic. They also signed bilateral agreements with various 'safe' European countries to allow their citizens to travel during the summer (risky IMO, but it might work). My sister says that almost all shops have sanitisers in their entrances and most people are wearing reuseable masks. Their contact tracing teams are working like 999 calls, they try to reach infected people as quickly as possible and they are testing all their contacts. They will probably re-open all schools during the summer, but authorities say that there is a significant risk that they will close again next winter.

OMG - Cambridge University are having only distance learning for students for whole of next year !!! If other universities follow suit at this early stage it will be a national disgrace. We've wiped out a fair few of the elderly now we may be throwing away a whole life experience for our youngsters. I just can't imagine how devastated 18 year olds will be. They have lost the experience and excitement of doing their A'levels and to have this snatched away from them is unimaginable. At the very worst i thought there would be a term by term review. Furthermore they intend to charge the full tuition fee.

Regarding schools, this argument seems convincing to me. I struggle to see how anyone could argue against this.

https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/20/british-schools-science-children-education-testing-tracing?CMP=share_btn_tw&__twitter_impression=true

I don't have a strong opinion on this subject, but that article seemed quite reasonable to me. I am sure our world class newspapers will be equally reasonable.

">https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/20/british-schools-science-children-education-testing-tracing?CMP=share_btn_tw&__twitter_impression=true

I don't have a strong opinion on this subject, but that article seemed quite reasonable to me. I am sure our world class newspapers will be equally reasonable.

Difficult to say whether newspapers are leading or following. There are still millions of "nodding donkeys" who think the UK government has done a good job in difficult circumstances.