Thursday, February 19, 2009

This week, I particularly liked this http://www.allmediascotland.com/articles/3647/18022009/belated_recognition_for_bbc_alba_tale on the ever-excellent allmediascotland site.
It speaks legions about how denuded and netuered our domestic press has become. Here's a very decent, home-spun tale about something which is - yes - historical, but which has massive ramifications on the present, and even the future - ie Scotland's ability to govern itself and state collusion to suppress this.
Yet our poor, weakened press refuse to pick it up, preferring to rely on the poisonous drip-feed of wire and agency copy.
This is not a reflection on the quality of Scottish journalists at the nationals - but rather on their state of demoralisation.
Why be arsed to stand up such a tale when:
A. Management don't seem to give a toss what stories you break.
B. Let's face it, it's easier to just take the agency stuff and hope to get out the office roughly on time and
C. Anyone who would have been capable of taking the tale forward is no longer on staff or is keeping their heads down. And trying to get out the office on time.
Journalism, at its best, has always been a weird mix of people feeling the pull of calling and ego. With this comes sacrifice - whether in time or effort.
When you're undermined and decimated continually, you're left with just entropy and withering.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It is never too late to learn. ..................................................