The world of politics remains in apparent lockdown.
The UK news media has almost nothing to say for itself, based on the morning's newsletters from them, to which I subscribe.
Overnight, we learned, as if it were a surprise, that Elon Musk is a fan of the so-called Tommy Robinson. That makes it very clear precisely where on the political spectrum he, the incoming US administration, and, for that matter, Farage stand when it comes to politics. Robinson is, of course, currently serving time and was a very obvious aggravator in last summer's race riots.
That apart, the feeling that much of the news is generated to feed the demands of the media rather than relating to matters that might be of real concern is strong as a result. Do we really need anything like the coverage that we actually get to know what is really going on in the world? In fact, is much of what passes as news really put out as cover for what is really happening? Does it simply provide dopamine hits for journalists, and maybe politicians, whilst actually ignoring the real issues of concern?
We get a great deal of tittle-tattle.
We receive endless reports of the day's supposed political events, most of which are artificially generated for this purpose.
We have the endless regurgitating of press releases.
But do we get news stories on what really matters? Where is the coverage or poverty, the loss of hope, the endless grind of trying to make ends meet, and the crises for families who cannot get the education their child needs, the social care a family member needs, or the medical appointment that they have been told is required?
Where come to that, when it comes to economics, are the stories on the debt burdens of households for whom high interest rates continue to mean massive familial stress and so much more? And where are the stories about people whose lives are made miserable by the relentless demands of work, with the risk of burnout that they create, often on minimum wage?
These are real stories. They go unreported, and yet they are the lived experience of many, whilst the media is intent on telling them tales of lives so remote from the reality of most of us that they have almost no meaning at all.
Is it a surprise that so many do not pay any attention to the news?
And could that almost be deliberate? Is it better, in the eyes of the politician, that we do not notice what is going on around us so that we do not critically appraise the performance (or lack thereof) of those self-same politicians?
But might it be that this is also the reason why the far-right can recruit - because detachment from reality is already hard-baked into our society, and so believing the tales that the far-right has to tell becomes so much easier?
I stress these are musings written off the cuff in reaction to the absence of news. However, as a wise person once told me, always look at what is not reported when you want to find out what is going on. Even in the absence of many of the so-called normal news stories that generally populate the press and broadcast media, the real issues in life are not getting a look in. And might it be that this is the issue? Are we living in a world where politicians and the media are so used to playing a game that revolves around each other that they cannot, will not, or do not want to face up to the reality of life as it is, which is why the right-wing fantasists get their chance?
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It’s much worse – factual programming budgets go on reality TV with terrible premises – fat gypsy etc. Despatched on Royals was a reminder of how campaigning work on telly was great during era of four channels. Lucky to have a public service broadcaster who doesn’t rely on advertising yet still sadly prioritises Westwingster gossip over genuine issues. Why do we need the closing stock market price which few understand and most cruelly why do we need small boat numbers?
The FTSE 100 is rarely news
I hate it being reported all the time
In my youth -the era of black and white TV-we had programs like World in Action. Real investigative journalism.
Since then much of the media has been taken over by corporate interests. They want ratings so serve up easy to digest mush.
Vested interests are likely to use lawfare to silence critics. One thinks of Carol Cadwalladr and her exposure of the activities around Brexit.
Will our politicians intervene on behalf of the people? I get the impression many would but party leadership is too beholden to donors.
Something will have to give surely? All those Labour back benchers who know they will not be re-elected. Maybe the Lib Dems too.
Corruption at the heart of government – the UK’s civil service? You betcha:-
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jan/02/errol-graham-disabled-man-death-review
I agree with your diagnosis, though I would point out the excellent work done by ITN on the appalling conditions many social tenants are forced to live in.
The real question is what should be done about it.
The root of the problem is that years ago there was a general belief “Opinions/Comment is free but facts are sacred” especially in journalism.
Thus the BBC and all news media kept its news departments seperate from their current affairs/comment/opinion department.
The merger to save money, demonstrated a willingness of senior management to ignore facts and instead engage in promoting worthless opinion. Thus the BBC still gives voice to baseless opinion such as anthropocentric climate warming denialists, and the nationialistic foghorns, as if their opinions were facts, when even a low cost check would reveal them like A certain recent priministers many stories to be fevered concoctions of a fertile imagination unmoored to reality. Hence Brexit, and party gate.
Thank you for your most relevant musings.
“The submerged management of the age in which too few live, and too many exist, is one of non-stop distraction. It makes it ever harder for us, especially the young, to develop the decently grounded curiosity and critical thinking needed for a sustainable, coherent society in which all may flourish.” (From Vivienne Westwood)
‘Just listening to the arch Tory Nick Robinson on R4 talking to someone from the NHS talking about cancer.
Apparently cancer is just a disease of old age and many of us are living longer. End of argument – thanks Nick for elucidating us.
Nothing was mentioned about diet, processed foods or how our wonderful corporations pollute our world that there is a link between corporate outputs and cancer. Cancer is a disease of modern industrial processes – like many other diseases that came out of capitalism from working with asbestos, to sulphur in matches or working with coal dust.
Your post is spot on.
Media?
How about just ‘mediocre’?
For that is what it is. It’s just corporation washing mostly.
I have just listened to a rant here about that interview – which utterly missed the point, as you say. The rant was from a cancer survivor (so far).
Just saw this article which doesn’t appear to have received much publicity. Situation will probably worsen due to heating allowance cuts and retention of the Tories’ 2 child benefit cap. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/symptoms-government-england-royal-college-of-gps-nhs-b2672277.html
Thanks
I’ve often thought that poverty and inequality, along with all the problems they bring should be the headline every day. Now, I’d add climate change and ecological destruction. We get almost daily reports, often front page, about the Windsor family’s dysfunctions. If the scandalous fact of poverty was the daily headline every day, along with govt complicity/failure to act, it would transform our view of the world. Instead, we get lies and distortion, we get victim blaming (i.e. you’re poor because of you, not because the jobs available are crap and poorly paid). Instead, we get client journalism (the BBC’s coverage of the monarchy being a prototypical case in point, an abject lesson in fawning obsequiousness), cut-and-paste corporate PR, equivocation. There is never a need to quote what politicians or corporate spokespeople say, but there is a need to report on whether they’re lying, and their actual actions. Verbatim reporting of politicians’ words is the very definition of laziness, what Peter Oborne calls “he said she said” journalism. It’s vapid, empty. But so familiar that we miss the intent behind it, which is to shape what people spend their day thinking about and, crucially, how they think about it.
And how can an unimaginably horrific genocide be almost ignored by our press and television. It is central to reporting on Al Jazeera. Genocide has been openly advocated by some of the highest ranking members of the Israeli government. Some of these have spoken of Palestinian men, women and children – civilians – as ‘animals’.
And how can our government be supporting Israel in this with funds but with very little mainstream comment?
How can our country be supporting atrocities with military services – to an unknown extent? Where is the shame – the outrage in the press?
Following a recent visit by our Prime Minister to Cyprus, there were television reports of his speech to an assembled military audience in front of British aircraft that are being used – for what? Applause, I understood, was less than full hearted. Many members of our armed forces will have joined up with a willingness to ‘right’ international ‘wrongs’. Some of those must surely be outraged at being required to participate in a genocide. It would be surprising if there were not some mutinous voices that Mr Starmer was hoping to quieten.
The Independent did report “Downing Street said that the prime minister and president (of Cyprus) are expected to discuss how to deepen cooperation on shared security challenges in the region”. In that report, the Independent appears to ignore British participation in genocide.
Al Jazeera have half hour discussions involving genuine experts on the subject.
I compare that to Newnight where we see Editors of the Spectator (never the New Statesman) recycled politicians, and people from the City or Wall Street. Never people like Richard or Steve Keen.
Radio 4 does better IMO but there is a smaller audience.
I am not sure there is much difference between the Spectator and NS these days
The BBC News bot on Mastodon/Fediverse the other day gave us its daily summary of world news.
Apparently the systematic elimination by Israel, of medical care in N Gaza (a well attested war crime), including shooting staff & patients, forced evacuation (fatal in case of patients on oxygen) and arrest (for detention & torture/execution of senior medical staff) and bombing of hospitals has either stopped or is not considered newsworthy by the senior execs who approve that bot’s editorial algorithm.
No. I don’t trust the BBC. It”s a gov’t mouthpiece nowadays.
“News” is defined as reports on changes within the last 24 hours, or less. Hence the focus on FTSE 100, lives of Royalty, government statements . . almost all ephemeral. Poverty doesn’t change within 24 hours, unless someone wins the Lottery; this will be news.
The other reason for “news” and editorial comments is to surround the adverts, and delude us into thinking that it’s not about the adverts!
I know this, but don’t behave as if I believed it. Others too?
On my facebook page, that’s where the real news is. My local mosque running convoys direct into Gaza and providing food and water, what my friends are hoping for 2025, how my close friends are coping with poverty, bereavement, and depression, ideas for what the groups I belong to want to do this year, how to support local initiatives such as the winter shelter, soup kitchen, and help for Ukraine. All the things that should be in the mainstream news but brought right down to village and county town level. There’s no ‘celebrity’ gossip or endless dissection of what the Royals are up to, but there is considerable social (and socialist) commentary. All in all, it’s a much kinder, optimistic, and healthier place than the usual news outlets.
You make a very good point.
We have built our own media.
Thinking global and acting locally like you do is the only possibly sustainable way to restructure societies. I have noticed the increasing number of articles and BBC radio 4 news items massaging the message that only severe cuts to public welfare institutions can deliver much needed ‘growth’. I am not an expert in these economic neo liberal shark infested political waters and so tip my toe in them with trepidation but I do wonder how much of this reportage is being pushed by international corporate finance. If so, being aware of just whose benefit Sunak’s (& Mandelson’s) SEZ post hard Brexit all Britain project is really for might prove be useful in facing what the single transferable cartel at Westminster is planning to impose upon the UK in the near future :
https://europeanpowell.substack.com/p/uk-local-councils-dismantled-to-pave/comments
Richard, another spot on post. In all honesty, I rely on yourself with this blog to get a lot of my daily news, as you tend to raise the important issues going on in society. I of course do engage with the BBC news app but know I cannot fully trust/rely on this source for non-bias and fully truthful news. Thank you for the work you do. Cheers
Thanks
There are alternative media but it is very small like the Big Issue magazine for the homeless, Morning Star, Novara Media etc
occasional bits in the Guardian not to mention our rising star – RICHARD MURPHY.
The collapse of the business model of the newspapers has significantly reduced the budget for investigative journalism and the funding of the BBC has also had a similar impact. Unfortunately gossip helps sell newspapers and is relatively cheap to produce. Local newspapers that report on genuine local issues have all but disappeared. I am not sure what the solution is but as you comment I am sure we need a strong “fourth estate” to hold politicians to account.
“Real issues in life” do not sell newspapers and/or generate click$ for revenue$.
Nigel Farage throws a wild on-air tantrum while on “insert your favorite or least favorite show” or Meghan separates from Prince Harry with intention to divorce sells newspapers and/or generate click$ for revenue$.
Also, the English tabloid press is not only part of the mainstream UK press but is deeply embedded in the mainstream press of the UK.
The Yank tabloid press is NOT part of the mainstream press in the USA.
A very apt New Year post Richard and so many pertinent responses on here.
Part of the answer would be to have a genuninely independent ‘public service broadcaster’ which the BBC has never really been in all its history (1929 crash, general strike, onwards )- although maybe somewhat more so immediately post WWII.
That would be part of the necessary constitutional reset – which removed money from politics – which now corrupts it from top to bottom, – and opens up public appointments , including to the BBC- to transparent open public scrutiny – so removing the political corruption of specialst agencies like @UKHSA which has consistently put out misinformation on how covid is spread because Jenni Harries – and the top team are obviously there to promote govt’s ‘back to worK ‘ mantra.
We know the Russian media is state propaganda – but we are told and largely believe that ours is ‘free’ and telling it like it is.
So our state propaganad is a bit more subtle than theirs – but seems to be getting less subtle – and fooling less of the people less of the time.
The whole edifice of neoliberalism is built on propaganda. How else to explain how many people have voted for it, when it is not intended to help them, and not aware when
they voted that it would only lead to no other outcome than our present state of chaos, and in too many cases distress.
There is a growing number of independent newspapers:
https://bylinetimes.com/ has network of regional bylines
https://thebristolcable.org/
https://themeteor.org/
Probably a growing number…
Without wishing to embark on conspiracy theories it seems to me that (at least with regard to all the really big issues) the western mainstream media has been largely ‘captured’ by a coalition of interests that has been called various names, e.g. the ‘deep state’.
They clearly lied to us about Iraq and WMD – why should we trust them on what is happening now in the world?
Thank goodness we have the Internet (but for how long?). I suggest that really the only sensible course for any concerned citizen is to deliberately and consciously “triangulate”, i.e. to seek out alternative information sources, compare and contrast with what the maisntream media are saying and then make up our own mind.
A few “go-to” sources that I’ve regularly found useful:
https://www.medialens.org
https://www.declassifieduk.org
https://www.doubledown.news
https://consortiumnews.com
I have been saying something similar for years. Where are the stories that hold people to account?
Here’s an example. You observed that the government could satisfy its NHS doctor numbers promises in an afternoon (rather than the decade that accompanied the promise), if it simply reinstated all the locums it had just got rid off.
This is exactly the kind of “news” we need to hear, and it was dispiriting that this went unreported by the major news channels.
Agreed
There is some credit due to the ‘News Media’ of your heading for engaging with the ‘real life’ issue of widespread obesity. Unscrupulous corporations, including to some extent the supermarkets, are pushing poor quality and manipulated foods – ‘ultra processed foods’ in particular.
Our government is failing to adequately to protect us.
More credit still is due to Dr Chris van Tulleken, the BBC and the Royal Institution – for the skill with which they have produced this year’s Christmas Lectures for children.
Chris calls his third lecture ‘The Big Food Hack’.(still available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b00pmbqq/royal-institution-christmas-lectures). He demonstrates that ‘the vast majority of our calories now come from just a few species. These are industrially processed into products whose effects on our bodies we’re only just beginning to understand. A typical teen gets around two thirds of their calories from these ultra-processed foods. And, globally, poor diet has overtaken smoking as the leading cause of premature death’.
The programme also shows how, ‘the modern science of food processing hasn’t only created problems – it also offers solutions’.
One can hope that the young people who have watched these episodes (often with their parents) will be able to have some influence on our politicians. The necessary decisions in protection of all of our nation’s children.
A flash of light on an otherwise gloomy scene?
Thanks
I must watch. Maybe tonight
[…] By Richard Murphy, part-time Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School, director of the Corporate Accountability Network, member of Finance for the Future LLP, and director of Tax Research LLP. Originally published at Fund the Future […]
SO PLEASED to see this said..
Personal experienced with the local Board of Adjustment finally corroborated with a (unrelated) news story mentioning “judicialocracy” and the proliferation of quasi judicial bodies obscuring accountability with government..HUGE…hardly a word, and transfers rights to legal proceedings requiring lawyers…such a corruption.
“Are we living in a world where politicians and the media are so used to playing a game that revolves around each other that they cannot, will not, or do not want to face up to the reality of life as it is, which is why the right-wing fantasists get their chance?”.
In broad terms I have been banging that drum for a long time, except to me the whole sham is more purposive, and structured. The aim is to control the News Agenda. It used to be to make sure the public followed a line the government approved, and was largely empty of content, fluff and guff (often while government did something else it wanted to do quietly, largely unreported). Now, the scale of the problems are so large, so intractable, so far outside the politicians skill-set, so overwhelming (all because of their failures over decades, and voter inertia, because the voters have believed the News Agenda); managing the News Agenda has now become the function of government. everything else is just kicking the can down the road endlessly (paralysed by the fear of debt, and the fear of doing anything). We are reaching the point that active, positive Government is now impossible. The State is failing, in front of our eyes.