The News

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 12 Jan 2005, 20:30

I've decided that my New Year's resolution is to try not to watch, read or listen to the news. Maybe it's just me but I feel battered by all the bad and depressing stuff that's been on since before Xmas. The Jodi Jones trial is really upsetting me. Do we really need every single graphic piece of detail broadcast ten times a day and in every single newspaper? Maybe I'm just burying my head in the sand and perhaps it will make me a better and more informed person if I know everything that's going on but personally I think it's just depressing me. Anybody else feel the same?

DG · Post by DG » 12 Jan 2005, 21:54

Yes, really depressing news of late. And there seems to be difficulty finding some more happy news at the end of the grim stuff. Sign of the times I'm afraid

DG

bll · Post by **bll** » 12 Jan 2005, 22:25

I don't think "Good" and "Happy" sell as well in the media as "Disaster" and "Slaughter"

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 12 Jan 2005, 22:32

My dad used to say to me 30 years ago he was stopping watching the news because it was too depressing. We have more access and continual coverage now but at at the end of of the day its the same old s**t for our generation.

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 12 Jan 2005, 22:33

The thing I hate about watching the news is the way the vultures are so desparate to find out how many have died.

They almost seem to be disapponted when they find out it may not be as many as first thought

It turns my stomach

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 12 Jan 2005, 22:42

foxy wrote:...They almost seem to be disapponted when they find out it may not be as many as first thought...

The News coverage is getting to the stage where they will soon be creating the news like one of the James Bond baddies. In the film Tomorrow Never Dies, the main villain owned a global media company and started wars, murdered people etc so his company could be first to break the news!

I hope Rupert Murdoch has not seen it.

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 12 Jan 2005, 23:25

I'm with you on this one Epykat, I try not to watch the news more than once a day if I can help it and hardly ever read the newspapers, I only buy them for the crosswords and on a Saturday it's on the back page so I don't even have to open it.
Maybe it is burying our heads in the sand but it is preferable to feeling depressed all the time.

Lizzie · Post by **Lizzie** » 12 Jan 2005, 23:32

DG wrote:Yes, really depressing news of late. And there seems to be difficulty finding some more happy news at the end of the grim stuff. Sign of the times I'm afraid

DG

I remember many years ago that "News at Ten" used to end in a happy note, once all the grim stuff had been announced.

It was sometimes something very trivial but always made you smile and go off to bed feeling just a little bit better

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 12 Jan 2005, 23:35

Lizzie, maybe you should get in touch with the news companies and suggest that, sounds like a good idea.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 12 Jan 2005, 23:52

Lizzie wrote:sometimes something very trivial but always made you smile and go off to bed feeling just a little bit better

Ah ha, the infamous Eammon Holmes trick. Sombre voice: "Well, i am somewhat overcome by those tragic scenes in Asia, all those little kids, orphans every single one"....pause... "anyway enough of that, here's Keith Chegwin, is that your house? Could you be the winner of the Ã‚Â£10,000 today?"

Eh, no thanks Liz.

Is it my imagination or is the regional Scottish News even more depressing than the national news or is it just Jackie Bird?

Heather the Weather "Hello there". It makes me want to vomit.

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 13 Jan 2005, 00:09

I wouldn't class Eammon Holmes as a "newsreader"

I won't be rude and say what I would call him after all I don't want to lose another foot, then I'll be hobbling nowhere.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 13 Jan 2005, 00:12

teddygirl wrote:I wouldn't class Eammon Holmes as a "newsreader"

Neither would I, its his style I was referring to. You must ken whit I mean?

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 13 Jan 2005, 00:16

Yep I ken, but I still think a wee bit of light hearted "news" at the end of the night would be a good idea. There must be SOME good news ? Please ?[/b]

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 13 Jan 2005, 14:07

teddygirl wrote: There must be SOME good news ? Please ?

Well, Mark Thatcher has avoided getting banged up for his part in an attempted coup and Prince Harry has said he's very sorry for dressing up as a Nazi.

So, there's two bits of good news for starters!

Mimpty · Post by **Mimpty** » 13 Jan 2005, 14:41

BBC newsreader Martyn Lewis complained about the news being all bad news a few years ago. He wasn't very popular after that.

I have been concerned about the number of reporters who have gone out to report the aftermath of the tsunami. I couldn't help but think how much extra aid could they carry if they didn't have to carry the reporter, his cameraman and probably a soundman too. The reporter then made the same remark adding that the plane couldn't take them back right away as it was needed to carry supplies. Don't think he offered to return to the UK though.
We do need to be told the news, but I suppose all organisations are looking for exlusives and won't leave as long as others are there.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 13 Jan 2005, 15:01

Mimpty wrote:BBC newsreader Martyn Lewis complained about the news being all bad news a few years ago. He wasn't very popular after that.

I have been concerned about the number of reporters who have gone out to report the aftermath of the tsunami. I couldn't help but think how much extra aid could they carry if they didn't have to carry the reporter, his cameraman and probably a soundman too. The reporter then made the same remark adding that the plane couldn't take them back right away as it was needed to carry supplies. Don't think he offered to return to the UK though.
We do need to be told the news, but I suppose all organisations are looking for exlusives and won't leave as long as others are there.

The BBC always seem to refer to other news or media journalists as invasives who put pressure on whomever the news is about. "Beckham is hounded by the press".... excuse me,WTF are you?

Post by **wangi** » 13 Jan 2005, 15:20

Mimpty wrote:I couldn't help but think how much extra aid could they carry if they didn't have to carry the reporter, his cameraman and probably a soundman too.

Although some of the aid that does get delivered is wasted due to lack of folk on the ground to distribute, or facilities to store. I'm sure you saw the pictures yesterday of the pile of soggy boxes that were once medical supplies...

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 13 Jan 2005, 15:45

wangi wrote: I'm sure you saw the pictures yesterday of the pile of soggy boxes that were once medical supplies...

I thought that was sickening especially as they are much needed supplies.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 13 Jan 2005, 16:09

What really got my rag was Colin Powell going to Aceh and saying he'd never seen destruction like that before :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-p ... 147853.stm

He has seen it before, especially in Vietnam.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 13 Jan 2005, 18:12

But they all say "it's the worst I've ever seen" or "the worst in living memory" or "the worst since records began"

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 13 Jan 2005, 19:50

I dont know about records but definelty since CD's.

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 13 Jan 2005, 20:06

Porty wrote:The BBC always seem to refer to other news or media journalists as invasives who put pressure on whomever the news is about. "Beckham is hounded by the press".... excuse me,WTF are you?

What annoyed me about the media coverage of the tsunami, and the BBC in particular, was how at the start they only seemed to be interested in how many "Brits" were killed/missing. As some stages it was almost like "and two Britons are now confirmed dead.........oh yes, another 50,000 'others' are now confirmed dead too"

I know they are reporting for British TV, but with disasters of this magnitude it seems to me pointless.

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 13 Jan 2005, 20:16

bearcub wrote:
Porty wrote:The BBC always seem to refer to other news or media journalists as invasives who put pressure on whomever the news is about. "Beckham is hounded by the press".... excuse me,WTF are you?
What annoyed me about the media coverage of the tsunami, and the BBC in particular, was how at the start they only seemed to be interested in how many "Brits" were killed/missing. As some stages it was almost like "and two Britons are now confirmed dead.........oh yes, another 50,000 'others' are now confirmed dead too"

I know they are reporting for British TV, but with disasters of this magnitude it seems to me pointless.

Nothing new unfortunately.

Reminds me of the story of the headline in the Dundee Courier in 1912 when the Titanic sank with the loss of 1500 lives
"Dundee Man Drowns"

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 13 Jan 2005, 21:42

foxy wrote:Reminds me of the story of the headline in the Dundee Courier in 1912 when the Titanic sank with the loss of 1500 lives
"Dundee Man Drowns"

Foxy, I'm full of admiration,dear. There's certainly nothing wrong with your long term memory. Share with us the secret of your longevity - is it a wee dram before bed or toy boys perhaps?

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 13 Jan 2005, 21:47

Marya wrote: - is it a wee dram before bed or toy boys perhaps?

Yes

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 14 Jan 2005, 13:53

Don't you know the old maxim?
Interest declines in line with the distance away from your front door!

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 26 Jan 2005, 14:29

I stopped reading newspapers years ago - this always seems to surprise people. And I hate being talked at first thing in the morning, so I put teletext on the tv, and choose which bits of news I want to read - if any. I do the same thing at night when I get in. I only watch a bulletin if something really dire has happened - like the tsunami - which I feel I ought to look at.

It's absolutely right that as you get older there's a distinct feeling of same old, same old about the news ....... along with the feeling that there's s** all you can do to influence things, or help.