MURDOCH
Not
personally, but as an example of media monopoly influence.
Well,
personally, as he is not really an example, being sui generis
Steve
Davies' "A very special relationship" on Radio 4 this morning was
timely. Though Davies did not mention it the biggest mistake Blair made
was to let the Sun make the case for war for him. Blair did not lie but
he let the press lie and failed to contradict it on a few specific
points. This is why 'live by the sword etc..' applies in this case.
Apart from the business of getting elected and going to war, Blair
managed to avoid overusing the Murdoch weapon. Independence cost him
dear in ministers from time to time.
Cameron
has decided not to sell out to Murdoch, or so he claims. In my view,
unless the British public has the guts and nous to ignore not just
Murdoch but much of the other media opinion, the next election will be
like others - in the hands of those either pulling the strings or
having them pulled within the 'free' press.
Naturally
the media could give good advice, based on good intelligence.
After all, peer pressure in the UK if unguided and unchanelled can lead
in almost any direction these days, usually creating two or more
opposing but equally confused and irrational views on any question you
care to name. The British public, previously famed for solid values,
tradition and consistency boarding on obstinacy, now seems to have
little resistance to peer pressure. When stirred by media, overtly or
subtly, it can be decisive. I suggest a unit of peer-pressure,
equivalent to the Newton in physics, called a Murdoch (abbreviation
Mch). It takes 1 Murdoch to change the opinion of a standard UK citizen
from 'don't know' to for or against a proposition that costs them
£500 p/a. Purely Political Murdochs (abbreviation PMch) are
different. 5 PMch at least are required on matters of war, though only
2 on election of a government. If the local MP is a pressure factor
this can be more or less.
The
only healthy outlook now is for all political parties to ignore the
media and do their own overt spinning with an in-house party newspaper.
Do it on the web to save money. Refuse all cooperation and articles in
newspapers. Advertise regularly and briefly in all printed and
broadcast media to inform the public of the URL and headlines in the
political webcasts. For those of the public without PCs or wanting
hardcopy, special terminals which print on cheap, recyclable or even
reusable 'paper' should be available in supermarkets, post offices and
newsagents where for the same or less cost than a newspaper hard copy
of the party's news sheet would be available.
This
can put an end to election advertising, save millions after the initial
set up (billions in a few years) and also end the problem of financing
the political parties through encouraging donations and loans for
electoral campaigns.
As
has been true since the beginning of time, the solution of a problem is
the key to evolution and one so-called problem solves solves another.
In this case, the solution is not just to cease political spin but to
cease cooperation with the media. Keep the free press and broadcasting,
let them write and say what they wish. Treat them all as the enemy.
Fair enough. But politicians should speak direct in their own words
only, without interruption by a John Humphrys or the cynical twisting
of a Kelvin McKenzie.
I
realise that there are those who think Kelvin McKenzie was or even is a
fine example of Britishness, cool and sceptical, realistic, the
backbone of the nation. I could not possibly comment. As for Murdoch,
he is not necessarily always wrong politically, I just don't want him
running anything other than his business. Only the British public and
the leaders of all the political parties can take back the
responsibility they are supposed to exclusively possess.