Xan_Asmodi
September 30th, 2011, 08:27
Whilst not exploration related, I thought it might be worth bringing this book to your collective attention. I'm just listening to the unabridged version of this book on the recommendation of an acquaintance, Michael Marshall (http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/tag/michael-marshall/), and I think it sums up the reason for all the shitty news reporting that we suffer under in the general course of publicity of activities.
http://www.end-of-journalism.org/files/images/flatearth.jpg
From a review on the Amazon page (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flat-Earth-News-Award-winning-Distortion/dp/0701181451):
I'm sure you have noticed how very similar versions of the same stories are posted online by apparently independent and well funded news organisations - especially in America for news outside the US. This book explains why, and how the facts of these clone stories are often unchecked by the trusted organisations putting them into the public domain.
The book also covers the pernicious effects and influence of PR and also, perhaps most depressingly, the outright lying of major newspapers who are left barely challenged by the Press Complaints Commission and whom average people cannot afford to defend themselves against.
All of it seems to root back to money. Selling more papers through sensationalism, pandering to racism and lying; cost cutting exercises that have reduced the number of journalists available to cover an ever increasing number of stories, leaving them without the time to check their sources properly.
Very depressing, but a fantastic inoculation against the effects of this 'disease'. The book will help you take a more critical view of what you read, see and hear and understand the motivations that lie behind much of the news we are fed. The final summary provides some ideas about where good journalism can still be found - basically it exists where advertising does not - or where reporting is guided (or protected) by highly ethical 'old school' editorial policies.
Despite only having listened to part of this book, I'd thoroughly recommend reading it if you get pissed off with the shite we have foisted upon us by the 'journos', such as this gem (http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=63164):
God the press are getting desparate for a story.
In this case they have made a story not out of a report on here - but out of a 'Lead or rumour' post FFS :rolleyes:
Urban explorers warned to stay out of Parkside fire station
A SENIOR figure at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has warned ‘urban explorers’ to stay out after Parkside fire station as demolition begins.
The comments come after the site was suggested on a specialist website as somewhere to break into and explore.
Break in and explore?? - another cutting edge bit of reporting there!!!
Full fairy story, sorry article HERE (http://www.cambridgefirst.co.uk/news/urban_explorers_warned_to_stay_out_of_parkside_fir e_station_1_977630)
.
http://www.end-of-journalism.org/files/images/flatearth.jpg
From a review on the Amazon page (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flat-Earth-News-Award-winning-Distortion/dp/0701181451):
I'm sure you have noticed how very similar versions of the same stories are posted online by apparently independent and well funded news organisations - especially in America for news outside the US. This book explains why, and how the facts of these clone stories are often unchecked by the trusted organisations putting them into the public domain.
The book also covers the pernicious effects and influence of PR and also, perhaps most depressingly, the outright lying of major newspapers who are left barely challenged by the Press Complaints Commission and whom average people cannot afford to defend themselves against.
All of it seems to root back to money. Selling more papers through sensationalism, pandering to racism and lying; cost cutting exercises that have reduced the number of journalists available to cover an ever increasing number of stories, leaving them without the time to check their sources properly.
Very depressing, but a fantastic inoculation against the effects of this 'disease'. The book will help you take a more critical view of what you read, see and hear and understand the motivations that lie behind much of the news we are fed. The final summary provides some ideas about where good journalism can still be found - basically it exists where advertising does not - or where reporting is guided (or protected) by highly ethical 'old school' editorial policies.
Despite only having listened to part of this book, I'd thoroughly recommend reading it if you get pissed off with the shite we have foisted upon us by the 'journos', such as this gem (http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=63164):
God the press are getting desparate for a story.
In this case they have made a story not out of a report on here - but out of a 'Lead or rumour' post FFS :rolleyes:
Urban explorers warned to stay out of Parkside fire station
A SENIOR figure at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has warned ‘urban explorers’ to stay out after Parkside fire station as demolition begins.
The comments come after the site was suggested on a specialist website as somewhere to break into and explore.
Break in and explore?? - another cutting edge bit of reporting there!!!
Full fairy story, sorry article HERE (http://www.cambridgefirst.co.uk/news/urban_explorers_warned_to_stay_out_of_parkside_fir e_station_1_977630)
.