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Charlie Beckett

July 10th, 2008

Good News Is Bad News

2 comments

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Charlie Beckett

July 10th, 2008

Good News Is Bad News

2 comments

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

The news media is constantly accused of peddling negative stories and talking down politicians and life in general. Journalists are carping, cynical, reckless and irresponsible. The media makes us miserable. So how about a law to make the news more positive?

A Romanian journalist tells me that is precisely what law-makers in his country are trying to do. What could be nicer than a quota of 50% positive coverage in state broadcast news? Of course, various do-gooding media watchdogs and nit-picking human rights campaigners are opposing this enlightened legislation.

Don’t they realise that they are standing in the way of harmonious news output that is currently only enjoyed in places like North Korea? Why are they so desperate to stop a return to the happier times of Nicolae Ceausescu? Perhaps this positive approach to media management will spread through to other members of the EU. It could be the only way that Gordon Brown is going to get some decent coverage.

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Charlie Beckett

Posted In: Development | Journalism

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