There's no end to what these Royals can do!

[KerrAvon]

@ Roly. I haven't defended the rich, I've merely suggested that the BBC news isn't and should never be the preserve of any particular faction.

My position is about freedom of expression and thought, including the freedom for people to hold and express views that I personally disagree with. That's why I worry when I hear Corbyn talking about 'change' coming for the free press that we should cherish.

[rolymiller]

...and yet, by the same argument, should not Corbyn be allowed his own free thought and expression on the press?
What about people's right of free thought and expression through their unions whose powers have been curtailed by several governments.

What about people's right of free thought and expression through a biased press?

What about peoples right of free thought and expression through the judicial system?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-10182396.html

[KerrAvon]

...and yet, by the same argument, should not Corbyn be allowed his own free thought and expression on the press?
What about people's right of free thought and expression through their unions whose powers have been curtailed by several governments.

What about people's right of free thought and expression through a biased press?

What about peoples right of free thought and expression through the judicial system?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-10182396.html

Of course Corbyn has a right to express his views on the press. Who would argue otherwise? It is his rather chilling message that 'change is coming' for our free media that concerns me. What do you suppose he meant by that?

Union legislation has strengthened the voice of union members. The days of the likes of the NUM railroading it's members into strikes and setting a mob onto those who fail to follow its instructions are over.

A free and privately owned press will display a range of political biases. That's why the 'Left' leaning posters on here often link to The Guardian (the only newspaper I have ever bought on a regular basis, by the way). How do you propose to address that other than through state control, in which case, it's hard to see how the press would not become a Pravda style mouthpiece of government.

Agree completely on the judicial system, but it's hard to guard against unconscious bias when, by definition, you don't know you being influenced by it.

[millmoormagic]

A free and privately owned press will display a range of political biases. That's why the 'Left' leaning posters on here often link to The Guardian (the only newspaper I have ever bought on a regular basis, by the way). How do you propose to address that other than through state control, in which case, it's hard to see how the press would not become a Pravda style mouthpiece of government.

That is your absolutely best one yet, and if you ever were after folk accepting your arguments as 'normal' then that has blown you straight out of the water, laughing my head off here

80% of the British 'free press' is owned by 5 people, rich, right wing nutjobs, who make out in their rags how patriotic they are, while sitting on their tax free beaches and paying f - all in UK tax, glad you support them....

[rolymiller]

Unfortunately they don't display a range of political bias though Kerr. How many of the National press ever tell you to vote Labour at elections? And why would the owners, as mentioned byMMM above, have any interest in supporting the Labour party anyway?

[great_fire]

80% of the British 'free press' is owned by 5 people, rich, right wing nutjobs, who make out in their rags how patriotic they are, while sitting on their tax free beaches and paying f - all in UK tax, glad you support them....

I'd like to see a link to that please since The Express and Star are owned by the left-wing Mirror Group as is the Mirror, Sunday Mirror, People, then of course there's the Guardian and The Independent.

Going to have to call shenanigans on that one.

Please tell us who these 5 people are, which newspapers they own, and how this adds up to 80%.

[millmoormagic]

I'd like to see a link to that please since The Express and Star are owned by the left-wing Mirror Group as is the Mirror, Sunday Mirror, People, then of course there's the Guardian and The Independent.

Going to have to call shenanigans on that one.

Please tell us who these 5 people are, which newspapers they own, and how this adds up to 80%.

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicypr...dia-ownership/

The shenanigans you talk about have been going on for donkeys years, indeed you're one of the gullibles who falls for it tima and again, also, the express and star have recently been taken over, very recently by the trinity group, which does own the mirror, but left wing? your political bias and naivety show you up again....

Rupert Murdoch
Lord Rothermere
Barclay brothers

Right wing nutters with no interest in the UK apart from creaming their profits by gullible folk like you buying their crap, then stuffing thse profits in tax havens, once again, delighted you support these parasites...not surprised in the least.

[KerrAvon]

So what's your answer, MMM? State control?

Whatever the position with ownership, the fact is that there are a range of political editorial positions available. If you want to read a left leaning newspaper you can buy the Guardian or Mirror. If you want to buy a right leaning paper, there is a wider choice available (currently with a range of positions reflecting divisions over Brexit).

The fact that more people prefer right leaning titles to left leaning ones merely reflects the exercise of individual choice.

[KerrAvon]

Unfortunately they don't display a range of political bias though Kerr. How many of the National press ever tell you to vote Labour at elections? And why would the owners, as mentioned byMMM above, have any interest in supporting the Labour party anyway?

I think The Guardian is probably too grown up to 'tell' people to vote in any particular way. I should imagine the Mirror ran with vote Labour. And what is the significance of that as you see it? I can't see that many Mirror readers are died-in-the-wool Tories or that many Labour supporters buy the Daily Mail.

Does the fact that you only question the number of newspapers that support Labour give the game away here? Are you not so much concerned about press bias, but rather with the number of people you want to be 'told' to vote the way you would like them to be.

And what's your answer? State control?

[millmoormagic]

I think The Guardian is probably too grown up to 'tell' people to vote in any particular way. I should imagine the Mirror ran with vote Labour. And what is the significance of that as you see it? I can't see that many Mirror readers are died-in-the-wool Tories or that many Labour supporters buy the Daily Mail.

Does the fact that you only question the number of newspapers that support Labour give the game away here? Are you not so much concerned about press bias, but rather with the number of people you want to be 'told' to vote the way you would like them to be.

And what's your answer? State control?

Seeing as your fave rag is The Guardian, i suppose you'd agree with this then....

https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...-more-leftwing