The pound in your pocket

[Gambrinus]

Whilst newsdesks are bound to the truth, all of them manipulate the way the news are transmitted to best suit their needs. Focussing more strongly on who for instance, will inevitably lead the viewer/reader down a different path than the newsdesk that focusses on the why.

Ultimately, what you choose to analize will shape the direction of the effect your news story will have.
Germany announced their stimulous package today - lower social security payments, bonifications on certain purchases like a new car - bearing in mind tha the car industry is the flagship of the german economy, probably not a bad idea. It was broadcast and watched all over the country and each newsdesk started dissecting it for the evening news. Out of curiosity I took the time to watch the news on two completely different channels, RTL and ZDF.

All good and well on RTL, who hailed this as a solid, albeit overdue stimulous package and went on to explain the core benefits and how average Joe (not the plumber) would benefit.
ZDF on the other hand, besides outlining the benefits also did the math and came to the conclusion, that the national deficit has now effectively been catapulted to over one billion euros by the end of 09, and that is just the state - the communal deficit would make up for another half billion. Just to make it palpable, they equated this to a stack of 50€ bills that would reach about 2000kms into the sky and drew a nifty little picture.

Essentially the same story, but whoever watched ZDF now wonders how his kids and grandkids are going to pay for the money being spent today.

[cereza]

Gambrinus - I don't know these 2 TV stations but it seems to me that ZDF is just a lot better at disseminating the facts quickly. Whats the betting that RTL will come out with the same story in a catch up effort.

[Gambrinus]

I seriously doubt RTL will develop this further on primetime news. Whilst RTL is a private station, ZDF is public funded and are therefore not threatened by a backlash from interest groups.

Watching the weekly report shows on both channels you can clearly see the different approach to reporting. ZDF delivers hard-hitting and often controversial documentaries whilst the private stations mostly limit themselves to what you could describe as light entertainment - celeb cooking, ski resort party scene, etc.

There is also a stark difference between the choice, sequence and presentation of the headlines. ZDF only delivers relevant topics whilst the privates will happily report on Joe the Plumber corresponding from Israel.

Given that millions of people (still) put their trust in media outlets to supply them with accurate, relevant and well-researched information, I find it shocking how easily some stations with quotas in the several millions will succumb to feeding such drivel to the masses.

If you consider the psychology of the masses (generally panicky and impulsive), I think it is fair to say that media coverage does have some impact on how certain events unfold.

[cereza]

Ok Gambrinus - you obviously know these companies far better than I do.

[cereza]

I see Brown has come out with another good policy today -Loan Guarantees for smaller companies - I remember Cameron advocating this about 3 months ago. Can anyone give me any GOOD policies that are Browns own idea?
On the stock market Browns mens decision to lift the ban on short selling of banks today just happened to be when we saw yet another crash in bank share prices - what a coincidence!!

[EMM]

I thought that the tory view is to let the markets look after themselves and limit goverment involvement.

You can,t have it both ways, either Brown was right to step in or he was not.
Make up your minds !!

[cereza]

I think you have selective hearing Emm.

[Dust Devil]

I would say that EMM has very good hearing.
What angers me is when you look at the Tory front bench of men from highly privileged backgrounds,laughing when something serious is being debated with peoples jobs homes at stake.But they would wouldn't they?They have no idea what it is to struggle with not only their comfortable incomes as mps but their other cosy jobs,directorships of companies etc.
Its all a big joke to them.
The phrase comes to mind of Nero fiddling while Rome burns.

[Bruce Wallis]

I would say that EMM has very good hearing.
What angers me is when you look at the Tory front bench of men from highly privileged backgrounds,laughing when something serious is being debated with peoples jobs homes at stake.But they would wouldn't they?They have no idea what it is to struggle with not only their comfortable incomes as mps but their other cosy jobs,directorships of companies etc.
Its all a big joke to them.
The phrase comes to mind of Nero fiddling while Rome burns.

I see your parents taught you well.
The next stage in your development will be to have some original thoughts.

[cereza]

Can you tellme which Labour or Liberal front benchers have had to struggle? What about Harriet Harman - what a privileged background she has! and despite trying to force people to send their kids to comprehensive schools she made sure hers went to privileged schools just like Blair and Dianne Abbot - what hypocites.

I just get fed up with people spouting the regular Labour line without thinking about it. Emm only heard what he wanted to hear - nobody has ever said that they would not intervene in the current economy and as far as todays Labour policy for £20 million in Loan Guarantees , Camerons idea was for £50 million so I am sorry to say that this is selective hearing.

[EMM]

I am not talking about Batman and Robins ( Cameron and Osborne ) knee jerk reaction to todays events but to that of the Tory Party as far back a the N Rock crisis .

The Conservative party beleives in Free Trade and letting the Market find its own level

That is THATCHERISM.

The dynamic duo seem to be pro public spending when it suits but against it in principle.
Just have a look at their web site, on one hand , more support for business on the other hand public spending out of control with the support given to Banks etc to date.

[Bruce Wallis]

I am not talking about Batman and Robins ( Cameron and Osborne ) knee jerk reaction to todays events but to that of the Tory Party as far back a the N Rock crisis .

The Conservative party beleives in Free Trade and letting the Market find its own level

That is THATCHERISM.

The dynamic duo seem to be pro public spending when it suits but against it in principle.
Just have a look at their web site, on one hand , more support for business on the other hand public spending out of control with the support given to Banks etc to date.

Listen mate......there is nothing wrong with Thatcherism. It lifted this country out of the terrible mess the labour party and their masters the unions left it in last time

If history is repeating itself.....and lets be honest the similarities between the death throes of this labour government and the last one are markedly similar.....maybe what we need is another radical Tory government to repair the damage.

[Dust Devil]

I would say that EMM has very good hearing.
What angers me is when you look at the Tory front bench of men from highly privileged backgrounds,laughing when something serious is being debated with peoples jobs homes at stake.But they would wouldn't they?They have no idea what it is to struggle with not only their comfortable incomes as mps but their other cosy jobs,directorships of companies etc.
Its all a big joke to them.
The phrase comes to mind of Nero fiddling while Rome burns.

I see your parents taught you well.
The next stage in your development will be to have some original thoughts.

That is a very rude remark.I make my own mind up on politics thank-you.

[EMM]

PLease remind me who was in power last time we had 3million unemployed.
But of course it had nothing to do with goverment was it, it was a global recession.
What did our humiliating exit from the ERM have to do with Unions ??., who was in power then !!!

Who closed the mines leaving us at the mercy of the Russian mafia for our energy supplies.

I think we all have a bit ( a lot of selective hearing/memory ).

[cereza]

EMM
What knee jerk reaction?
Does Labour not believe in Free Trade or are they protectionists?
Has Labour ever intervened to stop a market from reaching its own level?
Every Government spends Public Money - just the amount varies.
- the question now should be about Public Borrowing.
Thatcherism was based on Monetarism and it worked - thats why Labour never changed the financial policies inherited from the Tories for the first 2 years of their 1997 government. Things only went downhill when they changed the policies in 1999.
This idea of screaming "Thatcher" as if she was some sort of Hitler is an old Labour ploy based on if you say something often enough you will believe it but its just not true!
In the same way why the references to Batman and Robin? - trying to label people again - but in this case the dynamic duo fought for good and to uphold the law so maybe its not a bad analogy after all !!

Finally I have looked at the Torys websites and frankly I don't see what you see- again its a case of selective reading .