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Category Archives: Lazy journalism

Lord Reith would be spinning in his grave!

27 Monday May 2019

Posted by in Hs2, Lazy journalism, The BBC

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Over the past few years the quality of journalistic standards at the BBC has come under scrutiny. The corporation’s obsession with ‘balance’ is just once example. The Beeb gives far too much credence and easy passes to tinfoil hatters and shady lobby groups like the Taxpayers Alliance and the Institute of Economic Affairs without once asking “who funds you and sets your agenda”?

It’s the same with their flagship programmes like ‘Question Time’ where the audience is routinely packed with so many right-wing plants the programme really should be hosted by a presenter from ‘Gardeners World’. Balanced it ain’t.

Today, this tweet appeared from the BBC in the North-West.

BBC tweet

Really? The entirety of the House of Lords wants a ‘rethink’ of HS2? No. It’s complete bollocks. Ignoring for a minute there’s not even a link to a story, just a tweet that has no context or content and this isn’t even ‘news’. Let’s have a look at what the BBC didn’t say.

Twelve days ago the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee (which is made up of just 13 out of the 800 members of the Lords) delivered a report which was critical of Hs2 – although it did not call for its scrapping. The report was widely criticised around the regions for its laxity and the fact it ignored large chunks of the country and the positive impact Hs2 would have on them.

The Committee is hardly representative of the Lords as a whole. When they voted on the Hs2 phase 1 bill the Lords passed it by 386 votes to 26, giving the project a massive majority of 360. Funnily enough the BBC neglected to mention any of this in their tweet, so forget the Reithian values that the BBC should “educate and inform”. The BBC’s tweet is nothing but spin.

It’s desperately sad to see the national broadcaster brought down to these levels, but that’s a sad reflection of the sorry state much of the media is in now. Nowadays, facts are what you make up. On seeing this tweet, Nigel Harris of RAIL magazine was moved to say this in response to Railway Magazine Editor Chris Milner.

nigel H

Guess who hasn’t responded to any of this? The BBC. I’m writing this at 21:13 and the tweet’s still on their website.

 

 

 

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Another Stophs2 (fake) storm in a teacup!

17 Friday Aug 2018

Posted by in Anti Hs2 mob, Carillion, Fake News, Hs2, Lazy journalism

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Sometimes it’s fake news that causes problems, sometimes it’s lazy journalism and other times it’s people who are either utterly incapable of reading and understanding factual material or who twist it to suit their own ends.

The latest storm in a teacup over Hs2 has elements of all this. Here’s the straight story as reported by Rail Technology Magazine.

“The former boss of Carillion’s UK infrastructure business is set to take over Balfour Beatty Vinci to lead its HS2 joint venture.” His name is Mark Davies, which is pretty easy to remember. He’s had a 30 plus year career in the Civils industry and joined Carillion after its acquisition of Alfred McAlpine in 2004. His correct title was Managing Director – Carillion Infrastructure, one of the divisions of the company.

As Carillion imploded in spectacular and controversial fashion, Mr Davies has obviously had some time on his hands, leading him to being recruited by the Joint Venture.

This is where the fun starts. In a combination of lazy journalism, mischief making and downright lies, Mr Davies has been spun as the ‘boss’ of Carillion, taking over at Hs2 itself. It’s complete tosh of course, but those who’re opposed to Hs2 are spinning like tops to make out this is the case. There’s a couple of rather major flaws with their story. Mr Davies was never the ‘boss’ of Carillion. He was never even on the Board of Directors!

The ‘boss’ (or bosses to be more precise) of Carillion when it collapsed were the chairman, Philip Green, along with Keith Cochrane who became its Interim Chief Executive on the 10th July 2017, a position he retained until the company went into liquidation in January 2018.

Whilst the Chairman and the Board of Directors have been quizzed by Parliamentary Committees and been criticised for their actions. I’ve not seen anything to suggest Mr Davies has been accused of anything. Not that this has stopped Hs2 antis trying to smear by association – as usual!

As for the ludicrous claims that he’s been made ‘boss’ of Hs2 –  I despair! He’s the MD of a joint venture that’s won an HS2 construction contract, nothing more, nothing less.

Still, facts eh?