Our guest ranter, Mr Mark Jones, seems to have nothing better to do than wax lyrical about the British media these days. He has become somewhat disillusioned with the way they behave and the quality of news they share with the general public in recent times. But if that motivates him to keep on writing stuff like this then long may it continue…

Last week saw Sir Paul McCartney’s soon to be ex wife, Heather Mills, appear on British television accusing tabloid newspapers of hounding her, and generally making her life a misery. Another point that Heather made was to accuse Journalists of making things up, mostly in regard to her impending divorce case with Sir Paul McCartney.

In the eyes of the British media, Heather Mills is a liar, a gold digger and a self publicist all rolled into one. In daily columns, British journalists have vented their anger at Heather’s antics, stern words appearing every day with new slants and new accusations. This fevered anger had been growing stronger by the day. Heather Mills had kept quiet and was only seen in paparazzi photos exiting countless airports to pursue her media career, which up to this point had included a stint on an American dance television show.

It seems that the mounting pressure and criticism pushed Heather over the edge, and on England’s favourite breakfast programme known as GMTV, she decided to vent her spleen. She accused the British tabloids of lying, and of inventing huge sums of money which she claims she has not demanded from Sir Paul McCartney. Heather rounded off the interview by stating that in the following days to come, the tabloids would increase their hate campaign against her. The general consensus among the public was that Heather Mills had played right into the hands of the tabloids and made a show of herself.

But had she?

The following morning after her exclusive interview, GMTV invited one journalist who has an intense dislike of Heather Mills into their studio to vent her anger at Heather’s rant. In the eyes of non biased British journalism - was there also a guest there to defend Heather’s complaint?

No.

The same bias occurred on the BBC’s breakfast programme where another tabloid journalist attacked Heather Mills with equal vigour. Once again there was not another panelist there to defend the complaints from Miss Mills. The weekend newspapers were equally scathing in their review of her actions “How dare you criticise us about criticising you” was the general consensus. This was topped off with the usual unflattering photographs of their enemy. When looking at the whole picture, it may seem likely to some that the media had played into Heather Mills’s hands.

In the following days, polls suggested that a large slice of the British population had begun to see eye to eye with the gold digger/liar/self publicist. I must admit I felt the British Media were acting like a mafia. Not one journalist suggested or considered what the incident was incurring on the individual involved. That would be what the mafia call an ‘Omerta’. Journalists it seems were covering each others backs. Perhaps it was the feeling that someone like Heather Mills could inflict damage to them, and more importantly their viewing and sales figures.

The general impression this incident gave of British journalism is not one I would like to see repeated. It may be true that Heather Mills is a gold digger and a self publicist (would she be the first?) but her treatment has resembled that handed out to society’s worst criminals such as murderers and rapists. Another cause for concern is the rise of the ‘Indoor Journalist’ as I like to call them. Many newspapers in Britain now feature columns run by celebrities who want to give us their unique view on the lives of other celebrities. Their comments are usually critical and scathing, but their articles are also turgid beyond belief. I can only imagine that their idea of journalism is to write a few sketchy articles (normally devoid of fact) while sat at home with a coffee, squeezed in-between their busy presenting career or whatever else they are supposed to be doing.

Meanwhile up and down the land, journalists of a better calibre are driving to and fro around the country, perhaps in other parts of the world conducting interviews, collecting facts, assessing the atmosphere, only to find that their articles are rejected in favor of the growing number of celeb journos who feel it is their duty to give us their thoughts on the private lives of other celebs (usually no mark red carpet walkers).

Am I defending Heather Mills? Not particularly, but her situation has highlighted a growing concern that is affecting British newspapers: they are becoming out of touch with the people of Britain. They must remember that they are dealing with a new, techno savvy generation who will not be fooled by manipulative photographs, or the building up and pulling down of celebrities (an activity that is becoming very tiresome). They would do well to rethink their strategies and to take a closer look at their own print. If they do not, then in this world of internet journalism they will not survive.

Mark Jones

Posted by Andromeda on Monday, November 19th, 2007 at 5:40 pm.