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| Story now rapidly edited, but the credulous original still exists in the virtual world. |
Why check facts when you can just run sentimental crap?
Journalism? It's what you can get away with ©.
PS Richard Scott Kennedy's Facebook page.
For clarification: My point was how the gay media always goes with these squish squish boo hoo stories, regardless of facts. Happy to clear this up...
Journalism? It's what you can get away with ©.
PS Richard Scott Kennedy's Facebook page.
For clarification: My point was how the gay media always goes with these squish squish boo hoo stories, regardless of facts. Happy to clear this up...
Posts
Of course, you made extensive checks on the veracity of the email from the gay activist who was going to send a rainbow pancake to the Russian Senate. I do hope that it didn't go astray, because there is of course no such body.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, if someone has reported a crime to the police, what facts are there to check? People don't generally report made up crimes to the police because of the little matter of the offence of wasting police time. But you are probably right that no-one should report anything until the police have conducted a thorough investigation and confirmed that a crime has really taken place.
I am not responsible for other people's stupidity. x
DeleteNo but you are responsible for describing the story as credulous and strongly implying that Pink News had just printed the story without any checks. Pink News confirmed with the police that this crime had been reported. I repeat. What other facts was it supposed to check? Interview witnesses? View CCTV? It is not the job of journalists to conduct an investigation on behalf of the police.
DeleteYou are probably right that the Gay Media shouldn't rush to print stories about homophobic replies to children's party invitations, but wrong about this. If a homophobic attack has been notified to the police, then it should be reported to encourage witnesses to come forward and to warn others that there may be gaybashers operating in that area.
As far as I can see from a google search, only Pink News and the Mirror reported this "attack". They may be red faced now, but I think they should be commended for publishing the story based on the facts available at the time. If this had been an attack on a Granny, I suspect it would have been all over the front pages. The last thing we want is any media reluctant to publish stories about homophobic attacks as next time, while everyone's hesitating and waiting for the police investigation to conclude, the attackers might return to the area and kill someone.
Postscript PN tell me they were just going by a police report.
ReplyDelete"PN tell me they were just going by a police report."
ReplyDeleteThe original article started:
"A student from Blackpool suffered damage to his teeth and face in an assault which he claims was motivated by homophobia.
Lancashire police say they are currently investigating the incident although they cannot confirm if it was of homophobic intent."
Your portrayal of how PN reported and claimed about the event is misleading.
Maybe you should check your own facts before making an attention-seeking twat of yourself (again).
With respect, that's not what the above says.
DeleteYours, an attention-seeking twat (again). x
When Neil and Christine Hamilton were accused of rape it was widely reported, yet the allegation was completely made up. Why is Pink News expected to have higher journalistic standards than the BBC and "quality" papers?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I don't see why victims who have reported homophobic assaults to the police should be denied publicity that might encourage witnesses to come forward on the off chance that victim made it all up.
It's not that it is reported, it is the way it is reported and times we live in.
DeleteThe Facebook link to story reads: "A SHOCKING homophobic attack..." There is no "alleged", there is no "unconfirmed". That is buried in the article.
Case in point: Now many of the same social media commentators vilify Richard and say he should go to jail for his lies DESPITE THE POLICE CLEARLY STATING they are satisfied he was convinced his original statement to be true and will close the case now.
It's all about a bit of responsibility and accountability, as more and more of these stories (lesbian waitress and her non-tip, anyone) emerge and there's a real cry wolf vibe about this now. Just my $0.02