A typical DM 'story'.

It is a case of whether it "reflects" views or whether it seeks to influence them. let me think for a nanosecond.

Jodi

Jodi people such as your midwife friend have always existed but I doubt they always will. There's a lot of confusing issues here and everyone seems to want to bring racism to the table. It's the economy (and I won't say 'stupid) The tensions felt over immigration stem from the poor economy. The people who are most affected are the poor, are the young and are the uneducated. Sadly there's a generation of such people who can't/won't compete with the EU migrants. These people will work for a pittance and will live in overcrowded housing. Whatever it takes. I admire them and wish we had a fraction of the same mindset.

JessM the majority of media seeks to influence your view. I'm not sure where your information comes from, probably what you read, what you watch or listen to. Are you seriously suggesting all that info is informed and impartial?

Just to go back to your comment Jodi about nasty, racist views: my children have friends of many colours and races. It wouldn't occur to them to think racially. So there is hope. I'm sure everyone knows that all tensions are hightened in tough times and the far right have, historically made use of that.

Leads me back to my origional point: it's the economy.

Oh was that the original point?

Origional?? again

Newspapers are written by members of society so, yes, taking a broad view of all of them, I do think they 'reflect' that society, broadly speaking. Just as schools do.

I guess that wouldn't work so well where there was censorship, such as has happened in some authoritarian states, because certain views, or kinds of views, do not get published.

I have actually read one or two very well written and interesting articles in the DM, though I tend to only look if something is recommended.

gracesmum just knew you'd fall for that

You mean like "tensions are hightened(sic)?" (try heightened)

Oh deer

Spelling wars? Typo wars? Guardian editors should duck at this point.
I have a scientific background sel so I like "evidence" to be straightforward, well researched and with the numbers carefully worked out. There is much poor practice in many areas of the press. My thread "scientists find cure for wrinkly buttocks" is meant to be a gentle dig at this.

Sorry sel I have a lot of respect for your views but I think you're being naive in this instance. I know you and yours are not racist. I know you are talking about the economy, but it's case of 'light the blue touch paper and ...'

Jodi well, knock me over with a feather duster, that was a surprise (the respect bit)

I so hope you're wrong though and I do believe you are. At heart this is the most tolerant country on Earth. That many people, and that includes people who have already emmigrated here, are expressing concerns, is not surprising given the state of the economy.

JessM the trouble in this instance is that numbers can be manipulated any whichway - also I don't think anyone really knows the true extent of the numbers. Quite funny with the Census, if you're here illegally, are you really going to fill one in?

I just posted a comment on the DM but on a different thread, it should have been this one.

Read the DM this morning and it had two articles on immigration, both 'negative'.

One about a drop in farmworkers wages because of immigration, another warning of a house price rise if immigration continues at the present rate.

I have a question.

Are those who object to articles like these saying

a) they are lies
b) they are true but should not be mentioned because of the risk of inciting intolerant folk to be even more racist.

I really want to know.

Oh and Jodi perhaps you're right re my naivety, I read JessM's 'wrinkly buttocks thread hoping for an answer!!

Well as I posted at some stage, other countries have a computerised system that allows them to know who has come in through airports etc and who has not. I don't think anyone is suggesting that we are overrun with illegal immigrants though are they?
petallus hi. For me it is the disingenuous nature of the journalism in which half truths (aka lies) are used to imply all kinds of things about both the undeserving poor and the tidal wave of unwelcome immigrants that are swamping this tiny crowded isle of ours.
Always struck, by the way, when flying Luton -Waterford that you take off from Luton and fly due west over farmland and then Welsh hills, with hardly even a village below the flight path, until you go past Fishguard. If lucky there are distant views of Cardiff, Swansea etc.

Immigrants (and plenty of other people) don't want to live in the back of beyond, though - they have to go where the work is, i.e. cities. Of course the UK isn't 'full' in the sense that there is no more space, but if there are no jobs and no money to build enough housing what's the answer?

Jodi

You used the term, it's a case of 'light the blue touch paper and'.

That's exactly what this thread was always going to do. It has been established the story mentioned in the OP was not sourced by the D.M. in it's initial stages and as someone said it is therefore 'a non story' why was it not reported in the OP to the Closer Magazine. After all the basis of those who dislike the D.M. with avengence always state they lie, spin and don't report facts accurately!.

This was a two dimensional thread and as with the thread on AIBU the most sensible comment came from Lyndie who said of immigration. 'It's the numbers, not the nationalities'.

I will reiterate the fact that just because someone reads a newpaper that does not mean they are, as inferred by some, to be indoctrinated by that paper. This continual attack to those GN's who read the D.M only divides, shows a lack of respect to other G.N.'s and forces G.N.'s to defend their right to read what the hell they like.

It's often said that anyone can have a go at those who read, say, The Guardian. I for one don't want to, why would I not respect it is upto any G.N. to read it.

It's not intended as an attack on GNetters who read the DM. The 'attack" (I'll accept your terminology) is at the DM isn't self. You are just in the line of fire POGS. However unlike many casualties of friendly fire you have the choice to duck or stand up and be counted.

The thread may have wandered onto issues such as immigration and benefits, but the OP was about the DM. If you wish to defend your readership of the DM then good, but no one forced you to defend your choice of paper. These forums are a vehicle for an honest exchange of views. No, we don't always agree but that's fine.

Incidentally I meant by my 'light the blue touch paper..'remark, that incendiary remarks in the DM may reap more than intended from some elements of the population. It wasn't aimed at GNetters at all.

Should read. 'DM itself'

In my earlier post I mentioned two articles on immigration in the DM, both about negative effects.

It has been suggested that these items were untrue or disingenuous implications.

However, picked up the Telegraph just now only to find that Theresa May is saying exactly the same thing that was reported in the Mail earlier.

'Uncontrolled, mass immigration displaces British workers, forces people on to benefits and suppresses wages for the low-paid'. She also talked about the deleterious effect on house prices.

So, is Theresa May in cahoots with the Daily Mail?

The plot thickens!

Don't know about cahoots, but you would expect tories to say such things. By he same token, Labour politicians will put another slant on it.

petallus, the DM and the Telegraph are both right-wing newspapers, so could be expected to send out the same message.

I would add that I was only made aware of that fact after I made a similar comparison, and someone on here kindly pointed it out to me, after which I made a point of finding out the political leaning of all the UK press publications!

The Telegraph were directly quoting Theresa May. She also said over a third of all new housing required was due to immigration.

I am very much aware of spin and political bias but are we to believe that the Government are giving us information which has no basis in fact whatsoever.