Media Hysteria

Has anyone noticed that the media nowadays seem intent on enhancing the news rather than simply reporting it.  This is in addition to any political bias their organisation may have that comes out in the reporting be it enhanced or simply selective.

Recently we have also had the abhorrent use of mobile phone hacking in relation to the Milly Dowler and Soham cases but I will say no more on that at the moment other than to say I find it disgusting and lacking in morals and ethics.  Maybe I will return to this in future.

I would like to illustrate my point with a number of instances, in two of which I have been closely involved.

The first happened many, many years ago at the Windscale/Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria.  It's name keeps changing to try and confuse people but as I lived nearby at the time I can see through those disguises.

Papers hit the news stands and letterboxes with headlines such as 'Leak at Atom Plant' and 'Leak at Nuclear Station Causes Departments to Close'  Certainly designed to grab the attention of the gullible public and in isolation they would stir up negative views on nuclear power.

Only by reading the article in detail - and many people may have only viewed the headline and first few lines - do you get to find out what really happened.  Yes, there was indeed a leak inside the confines of the facility.  Yes, some areas were closed.  No, it most certainly was not a risk to anyone - why, because the leak was in a mains water supply pipe to feed the drinking water taps and toilets in a number of buildings - so these were closed until the leak had been fixed.

Must have been a quiet news day!

The second instance relates to an aircraft crash at Blackpool Airport.

A popular tabloid described how a Cessna jet crashed at the airport.  The detail they quoted was extremely sketchy, principally because their reporter hadn't actually interviewed anyone, seen the crash, or looked at the wreckage.  It appears their entire story was based on hearsay from other non-witnesses.

Well it was at least a Cessna, but not a jet and the other sketchy details were inaccurate as well!

Finally we have all the concern around Derby about Bombardier making massive cuts to their workforce because the government awarded the Thames Link contract to Siemens, a German company.

Once again the headlines are designed to grab attention and create a reaction.

And again, if we look at the facts then we shall see that all is not as it seems.  I will discuss some of the detail behind this in a separate post and keep to the 'hysteria' element here.

Fact, Bombardier are laying off over 1,400 workers.
Fact, they lost the contract for Thames link
Fact, the contract has been awarded to Siemens
Fact, Siemens is a German company

But now for the elements that aren't mentioned in the headlines.

Bombardier were already planning on reducing the workforce by just under 1,000 - these were not people being made redundant as such but contract workers whose contract is not to be renewed.  Even if the Thames Link contract had been awarded to Bombardier, this reduction would have to go ahead.

Siemens is indeed a German company.  But Bombardier is a Canadian company, and indeed its rail transport division is ... German!  They are also talking of creating 2,000 jobs for the contract.  Note that this is for the contract, it seems this is the way these organisations work - keep a core staff and then hire contractors when required.

I feel sorry for those who have lost their jobs, but there is a possibility that they may be able to seek employment with Siemens, similarly for the suppliers to Bombardier they should be looking to forge links with Siemens.

In summary, the media should be more clear about the facts of a story and not an attention grabbing headline.  Report the news, don't make it up!