Part of the problem is the way our society has lost the ability to see the bigger picture. I am not sure why that is.

Take the media - they love to pick up and emote about individual cases - BBC News finds someone with a hard luck story and promotes the story. All well and good - may make for good television - but without context it is irrelevant. What is relevant is hard statistics - how many are affected? What percentage?

It was like the piece in the news about a woman who was unable to use food vouchers at Tescos for her and her child - horrible for her of course, but what we really need to know from a proper News service, is whether those who have such problems are one in ten thousand or one in ten, otherwise it is just a ploy to emote for no good purpose.

Its been happening for over 40 years since the human cancer that is Murdoch took over Fleet Street. 

I still despair that broadcast media still take their cue from newspapers all the time, Why do we have a nightly Press preview on Sky and BBC, not once but twice! Why don't they take stories from internet based news outlets as well

A pensioner approaching their 100th birthday doing a walk around their garden to raise money for any good cause would be highly praiseworthy under any circumstances. However, given that Captain Sir Tom took much time out to do this during the most difficult situation this country has faced since WW2 in order to raise money for the NHS during the biggest crisis it has faced during its existence more than merits the vast media attention on Captain Tom and the amount of praise that he has received.

Not everyone who gets the amount of media attention that he has had recently is anything like as deserving of it.

You are obsessed with Uncle Rupert for some reason (like many on the left).

What do you think of my post above? That many news organisations emote about the particular, rather than exploring the general (which is what matters to society as a whole).

That objection was based on misunderstanding and/or misrepresentation. The virus recovered from the monkeys could not be grown in culture. I.e., it was not active virus.

Agree, but it gets the Dead Body count off the front page for a day, There is only so much teacher and Union bashing the press can do 

You seem equally obsessed with the BBC

The National Education Union is providing plenty of ammunition - they look petulant, when they should be engaging in a constructive manner.

Home furnishings retailer Dunelm has reopened 39 stores in England as they are an essential retailer

• Blackpool


• Boston


• Bournemouth


• Bristol Cribbs Causeway


• Cambridge


• Chelmsford


• Chester


• Chesterfield


• Coventry


• Croydon


• Dartford


• Derby


• Dunstable


• Erdington


• Greenford


• Hastings


• Hemel


• Hereford


• Leeds


• Lincoln


• Maidstone


• Mansfield


• Northampton


• Norwich


• Nottingham


• Oldbury


• Plymouth


• Romford


• Sheffield Woodseats


• Stockport


• Stockton


• Sunderland


• Swindon


• Telford


• Thurmaston


• Trafford


• Weston-Super-Mare


• Worcester


• York

BBC 6-o-clock news is the worst example - they are always finding some individual to promote their hard luck story, regardless of whether the problem is systemic or particular - makes me cringe. Channel-4 news is as left wing biased as they come, but at least they do the legwork, examine the issues and bring on knowledgeable poeple to interview, instead of relying on Gladys from Glamorgan to sob on camera.

Agree completely with this, xioni.

I know that the BBC is still rated very highly by many people for the quality of its news coverage and general everyday output, but for me the quality of its news coverage, especially when it comes to politics, has dropped markedly from what I remember it being during my schooldays (I left school in 1997). For me, one thing that is wrong is that there seems to be as much, if not more, emphasis on entertaining the public as there is on informing them. The BBC is far from alone in this regard, though.

Not just him, all of the billionaire barons. When I was working for Priti the Bitch (nearly 20 years ago now), one of our clients was Richard Desmond, who owned the Express at the time. 

An absolute monster of a man with no redeeming features whatsoever. Maybe that's why they are so successful!

As for your Tesco story, it is important for the BBC to highlight flaws in the system, as that's often the only way they are fixed - awareness

You worked for Priti Patel?

What do mean "if"? 

You think it should be optional? 

Incredible how this charlatan is always treated like some kind of loveable rogue, just because he is good at making jokes and talks posh, and has funny hair

But you get the leaders you deserve. This country is finished

I suppose instead he could just have made a whopping donation to the Tory party and saved himself a lot of bother.

Those that do argue against it are living in cloud cuckoo land. 

Unacceptable.

A long time ago now, but thankfully not for long! I left the company in 2003 after I fell ill with an ear infection and couldn't work.  

As I explained previously, it's nothing of the sort.

The teaching unions are seeking a universal, nationally-implemented agreement on a framework of minimum standards to cover the whole UK (or at least E&W). They don't want teachers in individual schools weakening their collective bargaining position by making their own agreements which may be weaker than those sought by the teaching unions nationally.

Divide & rule is an age-old device used by those in power. The antidote is to stand united and strong and not be picked-off one by one.

Reminds me of the Blackadder Goes Forth sketch with General Melchett  

"Men, I will be right behind you as you go over the top...…."

Blackadder interjects - "about 35 miles behind you"

I've just amended that for you 

OMG - Cambridge University are having only distance learning for students for whole of next year !!! If other universities follow suit at this early stage it will be a national disgrace. We've wiped out a fair few of the elderly now we may be throwing away a whole life experience for our youngsters. I just can't imagine how devastated 18 year olds will be. They have lost the experience and excitement of doing their A'levels and to have this snatched away from them is unimaginable. At the very worst i thought there would be a term by term review. Furthermore they intend to charge the full tuition fee.

Lies from the Daily Torygraph, but it worked. The broadcast news seem to be repeating it this morning

I despair at this country

Bless

(the key role of the media is whatever their owners decide their role is - and in the majority of the print media at least, that role is to further the owners' economic interests)

Are you sure it wasn't Covid-19?

But they have also said that they will have smaller classes that are face to face to compliment the distance learning. And, it will be reviewed in line with government guidelines so may not be for the full academic year.