Under the editorship of former Guardian bigwig Alan Rusbridger, Prospect magazine has gone from an interesting and even occasionally balanced intellectual journal to an eyeball-crushingly dull and worthy parish newsletter for the liberal establishment. Sad times…
Guido hears from multiple newsroom sources – who have revealed their internal correspondence – that the magazine has hit tough times, with Rusbridger recently issuing an edict that its external commissions must be pared back. “We’ve gone from commissioning whatever we like to a max of a few bits a week“, said one disgruntled scribbler. Repeated, rehashed attacks on the Murdoch media have failed to garner the magazine the revival it had sought…
“We’re becoming super parochial”, said another. The ‘Prospect’ of job losses abounds…
It’s shoulder to the wheel time for BBC Verify’s more than 60 staff on another busy Monday: their first effort to ‘debunk’ disinformation today confirms a picture of a scantily-clad dancer at Donald Trump’s Halloween party is indeed real. The fact-checking ‘specialists’ over at Broadcasting House have, using their advanced verification techniques, “debunked” claims the photo was taken two years ago at Dua Lipa’s bash. Thanks for that…
“The Halloween bash was attended by the US president and several top administration officials, receiving extensive media coverage. We’ve managed to identify where in Mar-A-Lago the image was taken and verified a different video of the dancer at the party.
The Guardian’s ‘Today in Focus’ podcast has been in full pearl-clutching mode this week over the rise of new media. Yesterday host Helen Pidd invited Dr. Robert Topinka from Birkbeck University to moan about how online influencers are shaping the news agenda more effectively than the legacy press. Shock…
Pointing to X account Max Tempers for coining the term ‘Boriswave’, they said mass slogans now spread “from X in places like 4chan” until “slightly more legitimate publications can then pick it up.” They lamented:
“The right seem to be so much better at social media… [there are] extremely online people who spend their days posting and engaging in info wars… trying to get reactions out of their enemies… to own the libs, to mock the mainstream.”
The hand-wringing ended with the declaration that phrases or information arising online must have “the context explained and critiqued,” otherwise that information “will continue to see mainstream conversation.” Should have kept that X account…
Young Britons are breaking up with the mainstream media. A new Grayling Media/More in Common poll finds young Britons now trust AI, influencers and podcasters more than newspapers or the BBC. The new generation for new media…
Nearly half of Gen Z say they trust on online creators, YouTubers and podcasters more than legacy media outlets, while 48% say they use AI tools to get their news, more than double the number who read newspapers (22%). Only 40% of the public overall trust journalists at major outlets….
Luke Tryl, Executive Director of More in Common, said:
“Britons are searching for truth in very different places. For many older people, that means local radio and television news, while younger generations are drawn to social media, AI chatbots and podcasters. Young people’s instinct to look outside the mainstream for information helps explain not just their media habits, but their politics too, as young people turn away from established parties and towards new movements, from independent candidates to Jeremy Corbyn’s new party.”
Old media can’t outpace the rise of the new. Sign up here to join it…
Heather Blundell, Grayling’s UK CEO, said:
“The democratisation of media has made everyone a journalist, including those who spread outright falsehoods, which means anyone can now find their chosen version of the ‘truth’. If you want to believe that a company or brand is evil, you will find a news source to confirm it.”
The report also finds most Britons (56%) believe that there is no single truth about events in the world, rising to 66% for Green Party voters. No surprise there…
Only 35% believe there’s such a thing as objective facts. AI tools (48%) more than twice as often as newspapers (22%). Daily AI usage for information now matches newspaper usage nationwide (11% vs 12%). The reign of the dead tree press is over…
The BBC has published an article this morning on the government’s plans for Digital ID to be forced onto 13-year-olds. It’s an article about Cooper’s morning round…
It says:
“Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the consultation plans, saying “lots of 13-year olds already do” have a form of digital ID.”
In the meantime BBC News at Ten last night completely ignored the massive China spy scandal that is currently engulfing Labour. The Licence fee providing its usual value for money. How did this one get past BBC Verify?
The BBC has said it is sorry for “any offence caused” after a staff email referred to the October 7 terrorist attacks as “an escalation“. Which is putting it mildly…
The initial staff email, sent on the BBC’s intranet service, said:
“As we reach the two-year anniversary of the escalations in the Israel-Gaza conflict, we asked UK audiences what they want and need from news coverage moving forward.”
After staff complaints, the BBC apologised:
“This internal staff email should have been worded differently and we’re sorry for any offence caused. We are editing it and will replace the text on our intranet.”
Tim Davie has already had to apologise for the BBC’s Gaza documentary debacle. Now this…
Reform MP Danny Kruger welcomed adult film star Bonnie Blue’s support for the party, adding:
“I’m not going to be judgemental about people who want to vote Reform. We want all the support we can get – quite like Bonnie Blue.”
