open Democracy News Analysis - Media - Comments

John Morrison on "Can the Staggers return?"

John Morrison — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:43:20 +0100

I cancelled my subscription as soon as I saw Alastair Campbell on the cover. I cannot think of anything I would less want to read than an interview by him with Alex Ferguson, with the exception of an article on faith by Tony Blair. It was quite a good read when John Kampfner was editor but has now lost its way completely and scurried back underneath the Labour government's soiled skirts.

Anna Gardner - Good Credit on "Capra for the credit crunch"

Anna Gardner - Good Credit — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:07:54 +0000

Nice quick review, Stuart. I've seen this one too. I think it's one of the most underrated Hollywood films ever released. Capra, too, I think is an underrated film genius. I've seen his Meet John Doe and Mr Smith Goes to Washington, and both were great. I'm also reminded of the Beningni's "Life is Beautiful." I guess Italians really have a flair for war/depression era films. They always have a heartfelt insight injected in a seemingly depressing story.

Anna

PCorrigan on "Bloggers expose Sun's anti-Muslim propaganda"

PCorrigan — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:38:38 +0000

Tom, all extremely serious points worth scrutiny ...

Of course, I don't get my news from the Sun or the Daily Mail, so maybe that's why I am able to laugh at their regular aburdity: Has the Human Rights Act Molested the Memory of Diana?

Sometimes, just as humour is the best form of defence, satire is the best form of attack!

anon2 on "Missing the point: from Panorama to Prescott"

anon2 — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:32:54 +0000

I'm just listening to John Humphrey's righteously splutter all over Sir Michael Lyons on DAY FIVE of the smut scandal.

OMG! Humphrey's just said, "There was a filthy joke made about the Queen the other day *splutter splutt*"

This is mad. The BBC should be made smaller, not, in the face of editorial error, to be called upon to act as 'the civilising agent for the nation' as spluttery John seems to be offering himself up for (what a Saint!). For a very well paid agent of the BBC to use his show to 'correct' said corporation's wayward younger sons after they dumped on a beloved former employee of the corporation is like some kind of reverse Oedipal drama.

Yesterday on Radio 1's 'Zane Lowe' show another BBC broadcaster, 'Vernon Kaye' was invited on as a guest to share his favorite records. 'You are a legend Zane' said Vernon. 'So are you mate' said Zane.

I switched off.

Sarah2 on "Missing the point: from Panorama to Prescott"

Sarah2 — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:32:31 +0000

Prescott has a fine inner hatred of the upper class that he has brought with him from ten years of serving them on liners, and good for him.

What's so great about him hating people?

James Graham UD on "The Video Republic"

James Graham UD — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:45:32 +0100

I'm surprised this article lacks the three words "stock market crash."

For how much longer is YouTube going to be free? And what happens then?

Toque on "The Video Republic"

Toque — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:46:27 +0100

On reading this I thought that "vlogger" was a typo! Every day is a school day, time to get with it and buy a digicam.

A teachers point of view on "The Video Republic"

A teachers point of view — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:47:11 +0100

As of right now, people who don’t know how Del.icio.us Twitter can be, or why Facebook can be as important to your career as any other book, is at a distinct disadvantage.

If the National Curriculum is designed to prepare kids for adult life, embracing this new technology, especially in our service oriented economy – is an absolute must this Demos report is 100% right.

The only problem we see with this idea is that the kids know more about the subject than the teachers.

Check out our blog at www.free-teaching-resources.blogspot.com.

Not logged in on "Welsh democracy without ITV "

Not logged in — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:33:54 +0100

It's your fault you idiot. Join Plaid Cymru and fight for Welsh freedom.

The Cornish Democrat on "Welsh democracy without ITV "

The Cornish Democrat — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:53:39 +0100

CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION

OFCOM SLAMMED OVER ITV CUTS

The General Secretary of the Celtic League has written to the Chief Executive of Ofcom to express concern over regional news and programming cuts and the potential impact on several of the Celtic countries (see
below):

"Dear X

Cutting of regional news services by ITV

We were extremely disappointed to hear that Ofcom has given its approval for ITV to cut its regional news programming and reduce regional programming by 50% from next year.

The affect that this cut will have on regional television quality
in Alba/Scotland, Cymru/Wales, Kernow/Cornwall and the north of Ireland and the loss of jobs in these areas cannot be qualified. We are aware that ITV wants to make budget cuts and that Channel 4 will be able to increase its commitment for productions sourced from Alba/Scotland, Cymru/Wales and the north of Ireland, but as a spokesman for Bectu, the broadcasting union, said on the matter, it is not:

"...healthy for the broadcasting ecology just to have BBC and a token effort from ITV".

We believe that regional programming will be adversely affected and in the case of Kernow/Cornwall especially, one local news programme that covers the whole region from Penzance in Cornwall to Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, is nothing short of bonkers.

The licence fee paying public has the right to receive regional programmingb that is not just limited to the BBC. If the funding of other broadcasters cannot be met without a reduction in regional programming, the BBC should be forced to distribute part of its £3.4 billion-a-year public funding (and its other resources) to other broadcasters who have experienced a drop of funding by a decrease in advertising expenditure and the rise of digital viewing.

We are aware that the final decision on how public service shows will be funded in the future lies with the Westminster Government. We will be writing to the Governments and Administrations in the Celtic countries to ask them to apply pressure to Westminster to reject Ofcom's final recommendation next year.

We look forward to hearing from you with your views.

Yours sincerely

General Secretary
Celtic League

CC Michael Grade, ITV's executive chairman"

Wyrdtimes on "Welsh democracy without ITV "

Wyrdtimes — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:55:04 +0100

It's those greedy shareholders again, eh?

Thank goodness for Pravda and the license fee.

britologywatch wrote:

So
why don't they just convert it all into national-English programmes?
I'm sure there'd be more of an audience than for the paltry regional
diet we're being offered. But 'national English' broadcasting?

That would be so good, and potentially a very nice earner for ITV.

britologywatch wrote:

Can't
see that being deemed politically acceptable or even logically
thinkable, can you? At least 'Welsh democracy' is an admissible term in
the political lexicon.

That's bang on too from where I'm sitting.

Do you think that 'national English' broadcasting was even considered for a moment?

britologywatch on "Welsh democracy without ITV "

britologywatch — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:24:38 +0100

Count yourselves lucky: there are precisely no hours in the schedule for English factual programming or news. Of course, we're being offered 'regions' news, aren't we. But the fact that, apart from news programmes, only 15 minutes per week on average are being reserved per English 'region' gives an idea of the amount of real interest they think there is in regional programming in England. Come to think of it, multiply that by nine (the number of ITV 'regions' now neatly dovetailing with the 'official', governmental English regions) and the total of English-regional broadcasting (2.25 hours) doesn't seem too disproportionate compared to Wales' 1.5 hours of national programming. So why don't they just convert it all into national-English programmes? I'm sure there'd be more of an audience than for the paltry regional diet we're being offered. But 'national English' broadcasting? Can't see that being deemed politically acceptable or even logically thinkable, can you? At least 'Welsh democracy' is an admissible term in the political lexicon.

Anthony Barnett on "A Scottish Broadcasting Corporation?"

Anthony Barnett — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:26:08 +0100

Thanks to Jon - sorry it took so long

Toque on "A Scottish Broadcasting Corporation?"

Toque — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:42:03 +0100

It's difficult to understand on what grounds the British could object to a Scottish terrestrial channel. They told us that devolution was all about "celebrating difference" - what better way to celebrate than with your own national TV station?

Well done on the blog design, it's so much better.

Not logged in on "England's libel laws - a global menace?"

Not logged in — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:17:19 +0100

There is no cause to worry at all, the "defendant" simply tells the agressive libel lawyer to Fuck Off.

How can they sustain any case without publication? No jury would even be arraigned , never mind listen.

This was a celebrated defence by Private Eye, many , many years ago and constituted the total body of a letter to the lawyers involved.

This doesn't mean that there aren't some very peevish people in the FCO who would like to cause Craig Murray as much personal damage as they can.