NationStates Jolt Archive

A news story from Private Eye, a British satirical magazine. There's no online link for it, so you'll just have to trust that I've typed it accurately (I've left the original bolding).

"OVER THE COUNTER KILLER" shrieked a headline in the News of the World on 10 September, over the news that "terrorists hell-bent on mid-air murder can track EVERY aeroplane in the sky armed with a 'virtual computer radar' readily available on the internet."

"Hooked up to a laptop or PC the British-made gadget replicated exactly what flight controllers see on the monitors. And, chillingly, all the information is relayed LIVE," the paper revealed. "It could have potentially horrendous implications. A News of the World reporter was able to easily buy the £499 scanner from a leading specialist shop. Staff did not inquire why we wanted it or what we intended to use it for."

And what did the intrepid hacks do with this deadly piece of kit once they had finished with it? Why they flogged it off on eBay, of course! "press_snapper" put the gadget - "used for demonstration purposes (News of the World story) but like new" - up for sale on the auction site, where it fetched a handsome £440 (plus £5p&p) on 23 September. The new proud owner? One "warbird-nl".

Seriously - what would we do without these heroes of democracy stirring up fear and worry about these never ending imminent threats to our safety?

A news story from Private Eye, a British satirical magazine. There's no online link for it, so you'll just have to trust that I've typed it accurately (I've left the original bolding).



Seriously - what would we do without these heroes of democracy stirring up fear and worry about these never ending imminent threats to our safety?

Responsible journalism is still important. Blame the dumbasses who buy 'News of the World'.

A news story from Private Eye, a British satirical magazine. There's no online link for it, so you'll just have to trust that I've typed it accurately (I've left the original bolding).



Seriously - what would we do without these heroes of democracy stirring up fear and worry about these never ending imminent threats to our safety?

Western Journalists are so full of themselves and their own sense of self importance. My guess is 90% of the supposed "fearless" journalists out there in the west would be selling Tarot cards if they lived in Russia where a journalist actually gets executed for her bravery.

Responsible journalism is still important. Blame the dumbasses who buy 'News of the World'.
How much responsible journalism is there, though? The media will only do what the people want to see, and that's generally fear, cock-ups, murder and sex. The times we actually need them, such as the Bill that nearly made it through Parliament this year to give the Government unlimited and unrestricted legislative powers, and they're completely silent. Real politics just doesn't sell papers, no matter how serious the issue.

Ahhhhhh "Private Eye", worth buying just to read the private ads and know what Ian Hislop will be sued for next.:D

Ahhhhhh "Private Eye", worth buying just to read the private ads and know what Ian Hislop will be sued for next.:D
The people who give out their bank details with a creative reason why they need money always made me laugh. :p

How much responsible journalism is there, though? The media will only do what the people want to see, and that's generally fear, cock-ups, murder and sex.

You forgot lost anglo-saxon girls between 12 and 16 with rich parents.

You forgot lost anglo-saxon girls between 12 and 16 with rich parents.
True. I should also have included the all-important 'breaking news' stories on what Jordan is wearing tonight.

Responsible journalism is still important. Blame the dumbasses who buy 'News of the World'.

Seconded.

Seconded.

Thank-you!

How much responsible journalism is there, though? The media will only do what the people want to see, and that's generally fear, cock-ups, murder and sex. The times we actually need them, such as the Bill that nearly made it through Parliament this year to give the Government unlimited and unrestricted legislative powers, and they're completely silent. Real politics just doesn't sell papers, no matter how serious the issue.

Unfortunately, as one who is not American (and I'm making the assumption that you are), I must assume that the average journalist is going to want to write the story that is going to make their career. Undoubtedly, in a capitalist society, for the people who write in the supermarket tabloids, that is less difficult than a traditional broadsheet publication. At any rate, I generally hope that your assertion is wrong. In my opinion, a responsible journalist will find the story that a) not only people will want to read, but b) feel that reflects their personal interest.

Perhaps the way our journalistic enterprise is currently more to blame than journaism itself. At any rate, I'm the first in line to defend the career of journalism, since it was very nearly the road that I may have taken.

Erm, Mike? Philosphy is a Brit. And he's talking about British news-journalists.

Erm, Mike? Philosphy is a Brit. And he's talking about British news-journalists.
It even says so over there.
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:)

Journalists: Heroic Defenders of Democracy
Well in all fairness, it's a huge stretch to call anyone who works for News of the World a 'journalist'. So we can't really accuse journalists per se of having low moral standards.

Well in all fairness, it's a huge stretch to call anyone who works for News of the World a 'journalist'. So we can't really accuse journalists per se of having low moral standards.
Not for this, anyway (says the (hopefully) future-journalist).

Go back to ships, lets blow up all the planes and use ships more.

It even says so over there.
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:)

I clearly need to equip my computer with a breathalizer; that way, I will be less likely to post rediculous things while drunk.

(I don't even know where I was going with the America angle...)

Seriously - what would we do without these heroes of democracy stirring up fear and worry about these never ending imminent threats to our safety?

"Media should be the fourth estate, not for the state." Don't know the original source, but I think its relevant.