“I never watch the News’.

I had a discussion with my two adult sons, who were deriding our Prime Minister for disallowing news to be on Facebook.

Our government recently passed a bill C-18 which requires tech companies (Meta, Google) to pay news companies if they post their news.

So what did Facebook (Meta) do? They pulled all news links off their site.

I never saw any difference because I do not get my news sources from these sites, I get them directly from the source!

Of course we had a lively argument, the sons bashing the Prime Minister, me defending the government, and defending news corporations. Why should they not receive a cut of news they reported if viewed on another platform?

The thing that scared me is that this was the prime source of news for my sons. They don't have cable, so get everything off the internet, and only see quick sound-bites of news if it is worthy of being shared by their peers. I suspect there is a whole generation of under-30's that don't read or view news unless it directly affects them, and is going around on tic-tok or facebook.

DH and I gave them a bit of a telling-off, and told them to download some reliable news sources and to read directly from the source.

We also have a friend who feels all mainline media sources are biased and government fed, so he gets all his news from independant on-line ranters. Even his wife is now afraid that he is becoming a far-right radical, and being brain-washed by these sources.

I think I am fairly well rounded; watching news on tv, reading on-line from about 3 sources.

Mamie

I watch the French news at lunchtime and Channel 4 news in the evening and read The Guardian and Ouest France. 😊 It is very interesting to see the different priorities of the two countries.

I thought the same when I used to listen to World Service before/after BBC R4 News.

I watch the French news at lunchtime and Channel 4 news in the evening and read The Guardian and Ouest France. 😊 It is very interesting to see the different priorities of the two countries.

nanna8

I don’t read newspapers much now because by the time you get them the news is out of date and the standard of journalism is now so low they aren’t worth reading. I think the journalists have all done a bunk across to tv and radio and other forms of social media. I usually watch the evening news channel 9 on tv, not the ABC though because it comes on last and is usually 24 hours out of date. I get newsflashes from the British version, they are much better (BBC). Have to say every single one of them is biased one way or another.

I must take issue with you there. I read the Guardian online as I now live in France but used to buy the paper everyday when I lived in England. The Guardian is an excellent newspaper with some very good journalists. It also has articles from politicians from all parties.

News items are added or updated frequently. At the time of writing at least 10 items were added during the last hour.

I don't watch the news either as I dislike the bongo drums blasting off trying to "up" the sensation. I read the news though without all the theatricals.

I listen to radio 4 then switch to the phone in on radio 5. I listen to that driving the dogs to their enclosed field. (Avoiding the ‘professional dog walkers who dominate our park).
The phone in is interesting as Nicky Campbell is good at letting people talk/rant and the aim is to present a balance of views
Radio 4 at one.
Channel 4 at 7.
Maybe bbc/sky then off.
I read the awful DM on line, Guardian or I in paper. Sometimes the times
I listen or watch less than I did. It’s all often so depressing

I don’t read newspapers much now because by the time you get them the news is out of date and the standard of journalism is now so low they aren’t worth reading. I think the journalists have all done a bunk across to tv and radio and other forms of social media. I usually watch the evening news channel 9 on tv, not the ABC though because it comes on last and is usually 24 hours out of date. I get newsflashes from the British version, they are much better (BBC). Have to say every single one of them is biased one way or another.

To clarify, BBC didn't mention Johnson & Shapps on the 7am News. Half an hour later, they are now interviewing the current Transport Secretary about airport fiasco, and have added ULEZ to the tailend. Now Johnson and Shapps are being brought in. Current Secretary denies Shapps involvement (even though the letter is available on Social Media)

Have just watched a TV piece on ULEZ for several minutes, I thought of this thread. They obviously mentioned Sadiq Khan, as he's extended the boundaries today, but still no mention of Boris Johnson starting this 'tax', nor Grant Shapps manipulating Khan by threatening to withhold TransportForLondon funding. Such misinformation (that Khan started this) played a big part in a recent by-election.
Reading the papers and watching TV does not give a balanced view.

I have a quick look at the news on my tablet once or twice a day but unless its something Im invested in a lot of the stories pass over my head.

I don't watch the news, the stuff that matters filters through

A lot, I reckon.

I wonder how many of the WASPI women didn't bother reading or listening/ watching the news.

I don't know if it's me getting older, but most news sources are most definitely biased. I'm becoming more and more disillusioned with main stream reporting, and trying to access various sources to find a more balanced view,
I think it's amazing that we sneer at China/Russia etc., for their control of the news, but accept what we are fed as gospel.

Germanshepherdsmum

😱. How can people not know these basic things? Do they just talk about celebrities, sex and clothes all the time?

My friend doesn’t watch those, either.
Her main topic is benefit scrounges.

Of course. Why didn’t I think of that.

Germanshepherdsmum

😱. How can people not know these basic things? Do they just talk about celebrities, sex and clothes all the time?

Love Island and other such drivel!

😱. How can people not know these basic things? Do they just talk about celebrities, sex and clothes all the time?

Germanshepherdsmum

I still remember the woman who couldn’t recognise Starmer, and didn’t know who he was when told, quite a while after he had been elected party leader.

I remember the young woman, when asked by a reporter how she intended to vote in the referendum, asked "What referendum?" and then didn't know what the EU was.

Yes, Dinahmo, there is so much that is interesting on news channels and in papers, but the sort of person who prides themselves on never watching/reading/listening to any news. usually prides themselves on not doing anything but surfing on social channels and then complains when they failed to claim some benefit or similar that nobody told them about it and it is all a government plan to stop people claiming

There are some interesting "non" news programmes on the main BBC News Channel. On Sunday morning I watched an interview with Carlos Acosta. As I'm sure you know he is Cuban and was young when Russia supported Cuba.

Acosta's father decided when the boy was 9 that he needed more discipline in his life and so he was enroled in ballet school. He wasn't that keen and certainly didn't enjoy the classical training until, aged 13 he saw a performance with male dancers whose athleticism surprised him and he wanted to emulate them. So he knuckled down and at 16 he was entered for the Prix de Lausanne, which he won. The rest is history.

One thing that I found interesting was at that time in Cuba a child/teenager could train to become whatever they wanted - a lawyer and obviously a ballet dancer - for nothing - paid for by the state.

Anyway, that was something that I learned watching the news channel.

I don't watch it per se but do keep in touch with it online, read articles and watch documentaries;.

As for the BBC being reputable ....? Biased and reading from a Government script is my view on that. The MSM is owned by the elite and they spread whatever is in their interest. Follow the money ...

If anyone is seriously interested in what is going on, this is the documentary that pulls it all together -

twitter.com/i/status/1689237022689415168

... and this one about the NHS

t.co/WdP8qarqcz

I wonder if they vote?

gsm In the past I have heard people unable to name who the Prime Minister at the time was and being just as blank when given the name or shown a photo.

I still remember the woman who couldn’t recognise Starmer, and didn’t know who he was when told, quite a while after he had been elected party leader.