J Surman
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I think we’re on the wrong thread? – but hey ho here we go – another independent journalist here , Jonathan Cook, on Monbiot’s attitude to the Assange case:
George Monbiot’s Excuses for Not Speaking out Loudly in Defence of Assange Simply Won’t Wash
I wonder if any of you have considered taking this subject to Discord for a fuller discussion? You could cover a lot more in a couple of hours on that forum and perhaps explain yourselves more clearly rather than having to refer back to each other’s comments after several hours absence.
Just a thought.
Yes thanks Robbo, I know that – but how much on/in UK media. Binoy Kampmark and Craig Murray are publishing each day. Jonathan Cook frequently. John Pilger went to the court on day 1 but was not allowed access.He made a speech outside the court and has also written about it. Only six people were allowed in court (family members, for which C.M. got a pass) . The ‘press room’ on video link had very few attendees. Banned were Amnesty, Reporters without Borders and other similar organisations.
Sorry, don’t want to derail the thread, but this is important.
I agree with your first two paras ALB, however as far as conspiracy theories go I believe we should be prepared to seek out information that doesn’t get an unbiased coverage in MSM, much of which presents limited and clearly biased coverage of events.
The BBC, Guardian, etc have an agenda and fail to cover topics which don’t fit that agenda. I prefer to check out individuals I have learnt to trust over time because they have been proved to be accurate in their coverage most of the time.
Some examples – Jonathan Cook, Media Lens, John Pilger, Grayzone.
I notice that a number of SPGB members regularly give links to the Guardian, BBC, Telegraph, etc, but are we expected to take those as accurate information?
One only has to check out the coverage, or almost no coverage of the current Julian Assange case on MSM which is surely one of the most important cases ever for press freedom – and so little of it is being covered.
Unfortunately journalists and presenters are paid to toe the line, if they don’t they’re out on their ear. So they know what they have to do to keep the pay cheque coming in.
It’s too late in the day for them, but anyway as put succinctly by Media Lens their jobs depend on them sticking to their corporate guns:
‘Absolute And Arbitrary Power’: Killing Extinction Rebellion And Julian Assange
Very few of those working in the msm have the balls to step out of line. There are some who make the decision to leave (ex-Guardian Jonathon Cook for instance) then they probably work as independents online with no secure income coming in.
Thanks AJ and Matt, some very interesting info and ideas on those links. Looking outward rather than inward.
Interesting post by a former Foreign and Commonwealth Organisation and former British ambassador. he points out that which most UK news media ignores – that they behave just like Russia’s media but with even greater back-up from the ‘regime’.
The final para – added after comments have started is also worth a look.
Alan, this is such a good article. have you submitted it to the Socialist Standard editors?
I shall be sending it to my personal contacts as I choose not to be on social media.
