February, 2013

Where does it hurt?

There’s a danger when you feel strongly about something that you’ll see attacks and opponents where none exist. Which is why I try to check my initial reaction to a lot of the things I encounter in the media.  Last Thursday was an example. I was watching The View, the BBC’s successor to Hearts and […]

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Where does it hurt?

There’s a danger when you feel strongly about something that you’ll see attacks and opponents where none exist. Which is why I try to check my initial reaction to a lot of the things I encounter in the media.  Last Thursday was an example. I was watching The View, the BBC’s successor to Hearts and […]

Continue Reading

Fearless and original journalism

I see the VO today is maintaining its usual creakingly-high standards of even-handedness . On p 18 Patrick Murphy lays into Gerry Adams and Sinn Féin, and on p 19 Newton Emerson lays into, um,  Sinn Féin and several others. It’s what we media people call balance. Murphy has a truly enquiring mind: he asks […]

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Fearless and original journalism

I see the VO today is maintaining its usual creakingly-high standards of even-handedness . On p 18 Patrick Murphy lays into Gerry Adams and Sinn Féin, and on p 19 Newton Emerson lays into, um,  Sinn Féin and several others. It’s what we media people call balance. Murphy has a truly enquiring mind: he asks […]

Continue Reading

Mindless violence? I think not.

Given the enduring nature of violence and political unrest, it’s tempting to conclude it’s in our nature. And what nature doesn’t supply is made up for by nurture, as old bad habits are handed on to a new generation. I hope I haven’t done Malachi O’Doherty an injustice by extracting that as a central notion […]

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Mindless violence? I think not.

Given the enduring nature of violence and political unrest, it’s tempting to conclude it’s in our nature. And what nature doesn’t supply is made up for by nurture, as old bad habits are handed on to a new generation. I hope I haven’t done Malachi O’Doherty an injustice by extracting that as a central notion […]

Continue Reading