Archive for June, 2008

Still looking for good journalism

Friday, June 6th, 2008

Today we received a leaflet through the door, advertising a new citizen-news website; an alternate news source to the main stream media.

They claim that the main stream media has agendas which do not fall into the category of ‘spread the truth’. I don’t need much convincing to believe that this is true. It must be so frustrating for a journalist working in these times; having to put up with such restrictive tight deadlines and editors choosing Britney type stories (does that really sell papers?). Stand up and go independent I say. Please!

Until that happens I look for hope wherever I can, so when I saw the leaflet I thought I’d check it out.

I was rather surprised to find that a site which wanted to be an alternative to the main-stream would just be a blog full of links to main-stream articles. No original content; not even a commentary. How does that make sense? Isn’t that exactly the opposite of what you would expect them to be doing?

My non-surprise was to find another conspiracy site based on wild speculation and a side of mass paranoia.

Then I realised how stupid I was being. This isn’t a conspiracy site at all! They are simply pointing out examples of where main-stream-media have written particularly bad articles. It took this post to finally make me come to my senses. I must say they are doing a great job; that’s one of the worst pieces of main-stream journalism I have ever seen.

Anyway, I’ll keep dreaming that one day someone will do some real investigative journalism.