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Interrogating the Media

The media is quite good at challenging everyone else in society. It is less wonderful at being modest about its own contribution to debate. Every week the media demonstrates how noisy it can be, and how wonderful and awful by turns. We aim to keep a useful eye on this intriguing beast.

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Who warned us about the credit crunch?

Why we posted this: Many people failed in the run-up to the current credit crunch and recession. Should journalists share some of the blame? Aren’t they supposed to know what’s going on and tell the rest of us? More »

Themes: Interrogating the Media / Media / Money. Posted by Richard D North on December 13th, 2008

Who’s honest about the economy?

Why we posted this: What’s the right response to the financial crisis? Are commentors and politicians speaking their minds or are some spouting conveniently compassionate guff?  More »

Themes: Interrogating the Media / Media / Money / Politics / Rights. Posted by Richard D North on November 25th, 2008

Black voters feel free in 2008

Why we posted this: The media has mostly accepted as reasonable the idea common amongst blacks that until Obama it wasn’t worth voting. This is worth challenging.  More »

Themes: Interrogating the Media / Politics / Rights / Truth & Trust. Posted by Richard D North on November 5th, 2008

The BBC: clinging to the edge, on purpose

Why we posted this: The BBC has no idea how to be a respectable broadcaster, and not much desire either. How could it? Its biggest fear is that it won’t hit its numbers.  More »

Themes: Interrogating the Media / Media / Society. Posted by Richard D North on October 29th, 2008

Getting past the Web’s nonsense

Why we posted this: The web – especially in Web 2.0 mode – spreads dangerous nonsense. Sure, but we should hold our nerve and redress the balance. More »

Themes: Interrogating the Media / Media / Money / Society / The Good Corporation / Truth & Trust. Posted by Paul Seaman on September 17th, 2008

“The death of capitalism”

Why we posted this: A leading economics columnist tells the nation that there are no capitalists now. Is he being ironic, using a rhetorical flourish  - or just plain wrong? More »

Themes: Interrogating the Media / Money / The Good Corporation. Posted by Richard D North on September 14th, 2008

Radiation and Chernobyl realities – at last

Why we posted this: Radiation risk is often exaggerated, and especially in the case of the Chernobyl accident in 1986. The BBC – almost always “environmentalist” in instinct – was almost always wrong about Chernobyl for 20 years. This 2006 Horizon show was its first really decent contribution. More »

Themes: Chernobyl / Green / Interrogating the Media / Nuclear's Future. Posted by Paul Seaman on April 9th, 2008

BBC bungles Bali’s climate policy story

Why we posted this: These pieces show the BBC doing a bad job in an area it thinks it takes seriously. More »

Themes: Global Warming / Green / Interrogating the Media / Media. Posted by Richard D North on November 14th, 2007

The BBC bungles crucial climate report

Why we posted this: It’s a clue to why the BBC’s handling of climate change policy is poor. More »

Themes: Global Warming / Green / Interrogating the Media / Media. Posted by Richard D North on November 14th, 2007